missing hyphen in 'run on'

They're, their, and there sound the same but do different jobs. Use a quick test, scan the ready-made wrong→right pairs, and apply the rewrites to fix slips in emails, essays, and chats.

Short examples and simple checks make it fast to pick the right word and stop repeating the same error.

Quick check - which one to use?

Ask two quick questions: Can you expand it to 'they are' (or 'they have')? Use they're. Does it show ownership? Use their. Is it a place or the dummy subject in 'There is/are...'? Use there.

• If 'they are' fits, write they're (they're = they are / they have).
• If the word modifies a noun (their car, their idea), write their.
• If you point to location or begin with 'There is/are', write there.

Core explanation: the precise roles

Each form has a clear role. Match meaning to role, not sound.

• They're - contraction of they + are (or they + have). Use only where that meaning fits; it cannot directly modify a noun.
• Their - possessive adjective that modifies a noun (their plan, their notes).
• There - locative or existential (over there; there are three options).

• They're = they + are / they + have - check by expanding.
• Their = possession - must be followed by a noun or noun phrase.
• There = place or existential subject - often pairs with 'is/are'.

Common wrong → right pairs (fast scan)

Apply the expand-to-'they are' and possession/place tests, then copy the corrected line.

• Wrong: Their going to the meeting. -
  Right: They're going to the meeting.
• Wrong: They're laptop is on the table. -
  Right: Their laptop is on the table.
• Wrong: Put the signs their. -
  Right: Put the signs there.
• Wrong: There opinion changed after the test. -
  Right: Their opinion changed after the test.
• Wrong: Their's the best seat in the house. -
  Right: Theirs is the best seat. / That's the best seat for them.
• Wrong: They're going to bring there books. -
  Right: They're going to bring their books.

Real usage: corrected lines for work, school, and casual contexts

Short, copy-ready corrections for common situations.

• Work - Wrong: Their planning to submit the report by EOD. -
  Right: They're planning to submit the report by EOD.
• Work - Wrong: Please leave the invoices over their desk. -
  Right: Please leave the invoices on their desk.
• Work - Wrong: I redirected the files there account to the new folder. -
  Right: I redirected their account files to the new folder.
• School - Wrong: They're thesis was well-received in class. -
  Right: Their thesis was well-received in class.
• School - Wrong: There going to hand in the group assignment late. -
  Right: They're going to hand in the group assignment late.
• School - Wrong: The lab notes are over they're on the table. -
  Right: The lab notes are over there on the table.
• Casual - Wrong: They're house always has the best snacks. -
  Right: Their house always has the best snacks.
• Casual - Wrong: Put the drinks over their. -
  Right: Put the drinks over there.
• Casual - Wrong: They're playlist is fire tonight. -
  Right: Their playlist is fire tonight.

Editing checklist: how to fix a sentence in 3 steps

Run this on any sentence. If a check fails, rewrite rather than forcing a wrong form.

• 1) Expand test: replace the word with 'they are' (or 'they have'). If it still makes sense, use they're.
• 2) Possession test: is the word modifying a noun? If yes, use their.
• 3) Place/existence test: does it point to a location or start 'There is/are ...'? If yes, use there.
• If none fit, rewrite the sentence to remove the ambiguous form.

• Example: "Their going to review the proposal." - Expand to 'They are' → use they're.
• Example: "Put the equipment their." - Possessive? No. Place → use there: 'Put the equipment there.'
• Stuck? Rewrite: "The team will review the proposal tomorrow."

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence, not just the word. Context usually makes the right answer clear.

Rewrites: correct the grammar and improve clarity

When a swap sounds clumsy, try one of these rewrite patterns: use the full verb form, convert to an active verb, or split into two sentences.

• Rewrite:
  Wrong: "They're opinion about the budget is strong." →
  Correct: "Their opinion about the budget is strong." → Better: "They strongly support the budget."
• Rewrite:
  Wrong: "Put the files their on my desk." →
  Correct: "Put the files there on my desk." → Better: "Leave the files on my desk."
• Rewrite:
  Wrong: "Their going to be late, I think." →
  Correct: "They're going to be late, I think." → Better: "I think they'll be late."
• Rewrite:
  Wrong: "There decision surprised everyone." →
  Correct: "Their decision surprised everyone." → Better: "Everyone was surprised by their decision."
• Rewrite:
  Wrong: "They're laptop's battery died." →
  Correct: "Their laptop's battery died." → Better: "The battery in their laptop died."

Memory tricks, spacing, and hyphenation

Short aids and small typing rules that stop common typos.

• They're = they + 're (apostrophe replaces the missing letter in are). If you can say 'they are', you need the apostrophe.
• Their behaves like my/your/our - it always modifies a noun (their dog, their idea).
• There shares the vowel with where - both point to place.
• Never write "their's". The possessive pronoun is "theirs".
• Don't drop the apostrophe in they're in formal writing - "theyre" is a misspelling. Watch autocorrect swaps.
• Spacing/hyphenation: these are single words without hyphens; treat them as three distinct spellings.

• Wrong: "their's" →
  Right: "theirs" or "their" depending on sentence.
• Wrong: "theyre coming soon" →
  Right: "they're coming soon" or "they are coming soon."

Similar mistakes to watch for

If these three trip you up, you may also confuse other pairs.

• your vs you're - expand to 'you are' to check you're.
• its vs it's - expand to 'it is' or 'it has' to check it's; possessive uses its (no apostrophe).
• then vs than - then is time/order; than is comparison.
• affect vs effect - affect is usually a verb (to influence); effect is usually a noun (the result).

• Wrong: Your going to love this -
  Right: You're going to love this.
• Wrong: The dog hurt it's paw -
  Right: The dog hurt its paw.

Quick practice (try these, then check the answers)

Fill each blank with they're / their / there. Answers follow.

• 1. _____ going to review the contract at noon.
• 2. Is that _____ car over by the entrance?
• 3. _____ are 12 attendees on the list.
• Answers: 1) They're. 2) Their. 3) There.

FAQ

How do I remember they're vs their vs there?

Use the expand test: if 'they are' fits, write they're. If it shows ownership, write their. If it points to place or starts 'There is/are...', write there.

Is 'there' ever possessive?

No. There never shows possession. Use their for ownership and theirs for the possessive pronoun (e.g., "The choice was theirs").

Can I use they're before a noun (e.g., 'they're house')?

No. They're is a contraction for 'they are' and cannot directly modify a noun. Use their or rewrite: "They own the house" or "Their house."

What's wrong with writing 'theyre' informally?

It's a misspelling. In quick chats it appears, but in any writing that matters use they're or they are for clarity.

I keep making the same mistake. Any final tip?

Add the expand-or-possession check to your proofreading routine: 1) Try 'they are' 2) Ask if it shows ownership 3) If unclear, rewrite the sentence. Repetition plus targeted feedback breaks the habit.

Still unsure? Get a fast second look

Paste a sentence into a checker or ask a reviewer when you're unsure. Use the examples and rewrites above as templates - copy the corrected sentence, tweak the nouns and verbs, and you're done.