the and (end)

Quick answer

"Their going to" is almost always wrong. "Their" is possessive. If the sentence needs "they are," write they're (contraction) or they are (full form).

Wrong: Their going to the meeting.
Right (contraction): They're going to the meeting.
Right (full form): They are going to the meeting.

Core explanation: what's actually wrong

"Their" shows ownership (their phone). "They're" is short for "they are." "There" indicates place or existence. A clause like "they're going" requires a subject + verb, not a possessive.

their = possession (their idea, their car)
they're = they are (they're ready)
there = place or existential (there is a problem)

If the sentence still makes sense when you expand they're → they are, swap in they're or they are. If it shows ownership, keep their.

Spacing and typing errors: how the slip happens and a quick spot-test

Most errors are a missing apostrophe from fast typing, autocorrect, or habit. Treat it like a punctuation typo: a quick read-aloud or the expand test finds it.

Autocorrect can replace or remove an apostrophe; glance at contractions after autocorrect.
On mobile, the apostrophe is easy to miss-double-tap a suspicious "their" and check.
Spot-test: expand they're → they are. If it fits, correct it.

Wrong: Their going to arrive at 8am - don't leave.
Right: They're going to arrive at 8 a.m. - don't leave.
Wrong: Their staying with us this weekend.
Right: They're staying with us this weekend.

Contractions vs full form: when to use they're and when to write they are

Choose based on tone and formality. Use they're for conversation, quick messages, and dialogue. Use they are in formal writing, emphasis, or when contractions are not allowed.

They're = conversational: "They're joining the call."
They are = formal or emphatic: "They are required to submit the form."
Be consistent in tone: don't mix formal full forms and casual contractions without reason.

Casual: They're going to swing by later. (text/chat)
Work: They are going to submit the inspection report by Friday. (formal email/report)

Real usage: ready-to-copy examples for work, school, and casual contexts

Each corrected line can be copied directly or adapted slightly to match your tone.

Work - Wrong: Their going to review the budget this afternoon.
Work - Right: They're going to review the budget this afternoon. (internal email)
Work - Right: They are going to review the budget this afternoon. (formal report)

School - Wrong: Their going to hand in the lab report tomorrow.
School - Right: They're going to hand in the lab report tomorrow. (casual message)
School - Right: They are going to hand in the lab report tomorrow. (essay/instruction)

Casual - Wrong: Their going to come over later, should we order food?
Casual - Right: They're going to come over later; should we order food?
Casual - Right: They are going to come over later if that helps you plan. (slightly more formal)

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence, not just the phrase. Context usually makes the intended meaning clear.

How to fix your sentence quickly (rewrite help and templates)

Checklist: 1) Read the sentence aloud. 2) Expand to "they are." 3) If it works, use they're or they are. 4) If the sentence shows possession, keep their.

Step 1: Expand - does "they are" fit? If yes, correct the contraction.
Step 2: Choose tone - contraction for casual, full form for formal.
Step 3: Recheck punctuation (times, commas) after fixing the contraction.

Rewrite:
Wrong: Their going to postpone the launch, right? → They're going to postpone the launch, right?
Rewrite:
Wrong: Their going to be late because of traffic. → They're going to be late because of traffic.
Rewrite:
Wrong: Their going to need more time to finish the assignment. → They are going to need more time to finish the assignment. (formal)

Examples bank: common wrong/right pairs to copy or memorize

Practice these pairs: say why the wrong line fails, then read the correct form aloud.

Wrong: Their going to post the update at noon. -
Right: They're going to post the update at noon.
Wrong: Their going to share their slides after the meeting. -
Right: They're going to share their slides after the meeting.
Wrong: Their going to call in for the discussion. -
Right: They're going to call in for the discussion.
Wrong: Their going to set the agenda for tomorrow. -
Right: They're going to set the agenda for tomorrow.
Wrong: Their going to be the ones presenting. -
Right: They're going to be the ones presenting.
Wrong: Their going to update the spreadsheet tonight. -
Right: They're going to update the spreadsheet tonight.

Memory tricks and quick editing tests that work every time

Two fast tests catch almost every case:

Expand test: Replace they're with they are. If it reads correctly, use they're/they are.
Possessive swap: Replace their with "someone's." If that makes sense, keep their.

Mnemonic: "They are = they're. Their owns." Say it aloud to check meaning.

Punctuation, hyphenation and brief grammar notes

Apostrophes mark omitted letters; they are not hyphens. Never add a space before an apostrophe (they 're is wrong). Hyphens join words (well-known); apostrophes show omission or possession (they're, it's).

No space: they're (not they 're). No hyphen: they're (not they-re).
Don't confuse its (possessive) with it's (it is/it has).
Formal writing tip: prefer they are and avoid contractions if the style requires formality.

FAQ

Is "their going to" ever correct?

No. "Their" is possessive and cannot replace the contraction they're. Use they're or they are unless you mean possession (their car).

Can I skip the apostrophe in casual chat?

People do, but it remains a typo. You will be understood, but omitting the apostrophe is nonstandard. Use they're or they are for clarity.

How do I choose between they're and they are in an email?

Use they're for internal or conversational messages. Use they are in formal emails, reports, or when you need emphasis.

What quick tests catch this mistake before sending?

Two fast tests: expand with "they are" and try the possessive swap with "someone's." If the expansion works, correct the contraction; if the swap works, keep their.

Any tips to stop autocorrect from changing they're to their?

Proofread autocompleted text, add common contractions to your personal dictionary, or enable a grammar checker that flags missing apostrophes.

Need a second check?

Paste uncertain sentences into a grammar tool or run the three quick tests above. Small fixes like adding an apostrophe take seconds and improve clarity. Use the copy-ready rewrites here as templates to speed editing and reduce errors in work, school, and casual writing.