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Quick answer

"Their going to" is almost always wrong in edited English. If you mean "they are," write "they're going to" or "they are going to". Use "their" only for possession (their plan) and "there" for place or existence (there is).

Core explanation

What looks like "Their going to" mixes a possessive pronoun ("their") with a verb phrase that needs a subject and auxiliary ("they're" = they are). The correct written choices depend on meaning:

They're / They are going to = subject + auxiliary (future/intention): They're going to arrive soon.
Their = possessive: Their arrival is expected at noon.
There = place/existence: There are three people coming.

Spacing and hyphenation matter: "going to" stays two words in standard writing. Avoid joining words or inventing hybrids that confuse readers.

Real usage

Choose the form that matches the role in the sentence. Read the whole sentence-nearby words usually reveal the right choice.

If the sentence needs a subject + verb: use they're / they are.
If the sentence shows ownership: use their.
If you're pointing to a place or saying something exists: use there.

Examples that show how meaning changes with each form:

They're going to call later. (subject + auxiliary)
Their answer arrived this morning. (possession)
There is a message for you. (existence/place)

Rewrite help (quick steps)

A short checklist to fix "Their going to" mistakes fast:

Read the full sentence aloud to hear whether it needs "they are" or a possessive.
Replace with "they're going to" or "they are going to" when you mean "they will/intend to."
Use "their" only if what follows is something they own or are associated with.
Reread the sentence to confirm tone and clarity; sometimes a different structure reads more naturally.

Examples you can copy (work, school, casual)

These wrong/right pairs highlight common contexts. Each corrected sentence uses the standard written form.

Work - Wrong: Their going to finish the report by Friday. Work -
Right: They're going to finish the report by Friday.
Work - Wrong: The deployment window is their going to next week. Work -
Right: The deployment window is next week. They're planning it carefully.
Work - Wrong: Their going to review the design at noon. Work -
Right: They're going to review the design at noon.
School - Wrong: Their going to hand in the essay tomorrow. School -
Right: They're going to hand in the essay tomorrow.
School - Wrong: Their going to group presentation needs more practice. School -
Right: Their group presentation needs more practice. (If you mean the presentation they own)
School - Wrong: Is their going to be a test next week? School -
Right: Is there going to be a test next week?
Casual - Wrong: Dinner tonight is their going to. Casual -
Right: Dinner tonight? They're going to cook.
Casual - Wrong: Their going to join us later. Casual -
Right: They're going to join us later.
Casual - Wrong: Their going to the beach this weekend. Casual -
Right: They're going to the beach this weekend.

Rewrite examples (quick edits)

Short rewrites that keep original meaning while repairing the error.

Original: This plan is Their going to if everyone stays late.
Rewrite: This plan will work if everyone stays late. (Clear and natural)
Original: The assignment feels Their going to now.
Rewrite: It feels like they're going to finish the assignment now.
Original: Is that Their going to this afternoon?
Rewrite: Are they going to meet this afternoon?

A simple memory trick

Link form to meaning, not sound. Picture each word as a different role:

They're / They are = action (they will do something).
Their = ownership (something belongs to them).
There = place or existence.

When you hear "they're," imagine the phrase expanding to "they are" in your head-that helps you pick the written contraction.

Similar mistakes to watch for

Smoothing one habit often uncovers others. Scan for these nearby errors:

Splitting closed forms (e.g., "alot" vs "a lot")
Mixing contractions and possessives (your vs you're)
Wrong verb forms after modal phrases (they're going vs they going)
Confusing homophones with similar sounds (to / too / two)

FAQ

Is "Their going to" ever correct?

Not as written. If you mean "they are," write "they're going to" or "they are going to." Use "their" only for possession and "there" for place or existence.

When should I use "they're" versus "they are"?

"They're" is a contraction of "they are" and fine in informal and most formal writing; use "they are" for emphasis or a more formal tone.

How do I quickly check which word to use?

Substitute "they are" into the sentence. If it reads correctly, use "they're." If it doesn't, test "their" and "there" for possession or place.

Can speech help decide spelling?

Speech shows intent but not spelling. Many errors come from writing what sounds right in speech; always confirm the written form against the sentence role.

Will spellcheck catch this mistake?

Often not. Spellcheck flags nonwords but won't always flag wrong homophones. A quick sentence read-through catches context problems better.

Check your sentence before you send it

Small errors stand out less in isolation and more in context. Read the full sentence, pick the form that fits meaning, and, when in doubt, rewrite for clarity.