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This article was co-authored by Michelle Golden, PhD. Michelle Golden is an English teacher in Athens, Georgia. She received her MA in Language Arts Teacher Education in 2008 and received her PhD in English from Georgia State University in 2015.
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The English language has many words much like there, their and they're. Most native English speakers pronounce each the same way (they're homophones - words making the same sounds); therefore, it can be tricky to determine which spelling fits the way it is being used in each case. Such spelling problems are sometimes called "demons of spelling". Each spelling means a different thing, and it is important to communicate clearly and correctly in your own written correspondence, especially business or academic writing.
Steps
Method 1 of 1:Choosing Which Word to Use
Method 1 of 1:
- 1Inspect what you have written, and think about which word you are using and decide how to spell the word you are concerned of using correctly. (Of course, your word would logically have followed information indicating or naming of whom or about what you were talking.) The chosen word would need to agree with its "subject/topic" to which you refer.
- 2Use there when referring to a certain place; compare "there" to "here" and "where". The place can be either concrete ("over here or there by the building") or more abstract ("it must be difficult to be there in your mind").[1]
- 3Compare there are, to "here are" and "where are". There plus a "to be" verb such as "are" indicates the existence of something mentioned.[2]
- "There are antiques here -- where? Look there. Oh, and, see here we've found them!"
- "Are there many of the documents stored here? Yes, see them here, where they are safe. Do you see where they are -- right over there!?"
- "There will be a picnic here, and there is a monstrous campground over there across the river. There is one of the places where they are staying tonight."
- 4Use their and theirs to indicate possession. Compare to "heir -- to inherit possessions as "an heir of their uncle who had no children." Their is a possessive adjective and indicates that a particular noun belongs to them.[3]
- "Sam and Jan are heirs of their parents' land and possessions as "their legal heirs"."
- "Their things were broken." Compare "Our things were broken." Yes, it shows possession.
- "I see their flowers are blooming in their garden." "Yes, from the seeds their grandmother gave to them last fall."
- 5Remember that they're is a contraction of the phrase they are. It is not a modifier, but only a pronoun (for a name of who or what) plus the contraction " 're" of the verb "are" (a state of being verb).[4]
- They're my friends." Check that " They are my friends." makes sense. Yes!
- I would go with you, but they're going to take me. Check, " they are going to take me". Yes!
- 6Ask test questions. Ask yourself these questions, but they may not work in a few cases:
- For there, will the sentence still make sense, if you replace "there" with here or where? If so, it's right.
- For their, will the sentence still make sense -- if you replace "their" with our (to see whether it is a possessive sentence), but of course that test phrase would change to whom it belongs. Ours belongs to us, but theirs belongs to them. Still, if "our" fits logically it is right because it is possessive.[5]
- For they're, will the sentence still make sense, if you replace "they're" with they are? If so, it's right, but if not, then they're is the wrong word.
- 7Recognize incorrect examples and learn from the mistakes. By looking over others' work with a critical eye, especially by offering proofreading or copyediting help, you can become more sensitized to correct usage and practice it yourself.
- Wrong: Their is no one here.
- Wrong: Shelley wants to know if there busy.
- Wrong: The dogs are happily chewing on they're bones.
- RIGHT: I can't believe they're leaving their children there, alone!
- 8Practice, practice, practice! Get your English teacher or friend to say several sentences aloud that include one of these three words and write down which version they are using. Find grammar quizzes on the internet.[6] Hire a private English tutor if you're still having trouble.Advertisement
Community Q&A
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- Question"Accomadate their request."DonaganTop Answerer"Their" is correct. The first word is spelled "accommodate."
- QuestionHow do I say: A person's daily schedule will tell you what they're really after in life?Community AnswerYou've said the sentence correctly. They're is short for "they are", as in "they are really after".
- QuestionIs it right to say: Sorry, I can't be there for your birthday?Community AnswerYes, this is correct. You are referring to not being at a place.
- QuestionWhich one is correct: "they are many tables" or "there are many tables?"Community AnswerThere are many tables.
- QuestionHow do I say this properly?: I am always going to be there, they a mother is always their for her babies no matter how old they are.Community AnswerI am always going to be there. A mother is always there for her babies no matter how old they are.
- QuestionWhich there or their should be in the sentence: This is their new car?Community AnswerYou've used the correct version, it is definitely: This is their new car. It refers to the people's possession of the new car.
- QuestionIt is their or there for: There good work?Community AnswerThe correct answer is: Their good work. You are referring to the work of those people.
- QuestionWhich word is used in the phrase: I loved watching their movie back then?Community AnswerYou've used the correct word, as you're referring to the movie made by those people.
- Question"...Or any material contained there in." Is this correct?DonaganTop Answerer"Therein" (one word).
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Tips
- If you're unsure if you're using "their" correctly, try replacing it with "my" —the sentence should work with the substitution. For example: Their house is purple. If you replace "their" with "my" the sentence still makes sense: My house is purple. So, you know you're using "their" correctly.Thanks!
- If you've ruled out "they're" or "their" as the correct form, then "there" is one you should go with!Thanks!
- Learning to spell correctly can help you succeed in school, get a great job, and be a contributor to wikiHow articles.Thanks!
- If you have "there is" or "there are" then it's always "there" -- you'd never say "they're is" or "they're are" or "their is" or "their are".Thanks!
- Another hint: “there” has “here” buried inside it to remind you it refers to place, while “their” has “heir” buried in it to remind you that it has to do with possessionThanks!
- Try imagining this scene: you see your neighbours standing outside their house, picking up rubbish that they accidentally spilled on the ground. You point at them and say to your friend: "Look over there [location], they're [they are] picking up their rubbish [possession]"Thanks!
- Turn off the auto-correct feature in your word processor. People tend to get lazy and forget special rules when the computer automatically corrects mistakes like the ones listed above.Thanks!
- Remember there, their, and they're by the following rules:
- there: the word here is in there so refer to there as a word for location.
- their: the word he is in their so refer to their as a word for people.
- they're: there is an ' in they're so they're is like they are. Instead of saying they're, say they are to see if it makes sense.
Thanks! - Spell out your contractions. Replace can't with cannot, you're with you are, and they're with they are. This way, you will catch yourself if you make a mistake in writing.
- The students misplaced they're books would become: The students misplaced they are books.
- Here, the second sentence makes no sense; hence, it is improper usage.
Thanks! - The students misplaced they're books would become: The students misplaced they are books.
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References
- ↑ http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/page_14.htm
- ↑ http://guidetogrammar.org/grammar/to_be.htm
- ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/there-their-theyre/
- ↑ https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-usage/using-contractions.html
- ↑ https://www.grammar-monster.com/easily_confused/there_their_theyre.htm
- ↑ http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/page_59.htm
About This Article
PhD in English, Georgia State University
This article was co-authored by Michelle Golden, PhD. Michelle Golden is an English teacher in Athens, Georgia. She received her MA in Language Arts Teacher Education in 2008 and received her PhD in English from Georgia State University in 2015. This article has been viewed 7,375,804 times.
Co-authors: 147
Updated: April 28, 2020
Views: 7,375,804
Article SummaryX
To use "there," "their," and "they're" correctly, remember that there, spelled "e-r-e," refers to certain places or things, as in "let's go over there," or "there are the numbers." "Their," spelled "e-i-r," indicates possession, as in "their flowers are in bloom." You can see that it includes the word "heir"—someone who inherits possessions. To use "they're," with an apostrophe "r-e," remember that it's a contraction of the phrase "they are," as in, "they're my friends." You should be able to replace it with "they are" without changing the meaning of the sentence. For examples and more tricks to help you remember, read on!
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In other languages
Português:Usar There, Their e They're
Español:utilizar there, their y they’re
Nederlands:There, their en they're gebruiken
Bahasa Indonesia:Menggunakan "There", "Their", dan "They're"
العربية:استخدام There و Their و They're
Tiếng Việt:Sử dụng There, Their và They're
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 7,375,804 times.
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