missing hyphen in 'daisy chain'

"Their going to" almost always misuses the possessive their where a contraction (they're) or the full verb phrase (they are) is required. Use "their" only before a noun: their plan, their laptop.

Below: a quick test, clear wrong/right pairs grouped by context, copy-ready rewrites, spacing and hyphen notes, memory tricks, and related homophone traps.

Quick answer

"Their going to" is nearly always incorrect. Replace it with "they're going to" (contraction) or "they are going to" (formal). Use "their" only when it directly modifies a noun.

• "They're" = they are → They're going to join the call.
• "Their" = possessive determiner → Their report is attached.
• Quick test: substitute "they are." If the sentence still reads correctly, use they're/they are; if a noun must follow, use their.

Core explanation: the quick grammar test

"Their" is a determiner like my, your, our and must precede a noun. "They're" is a contraction of "they are" and must behave like a subject plus auxiliary verb.

• If a noun follows (their idea), use their.
• If a verb follows (they're going), use they're or they are.
• Test: swap in "they are." If it works, choose contraction or full form for tone.

Grammar brief: why the parts of speech matter

A determiner cannot directly precede a verb. "Their going" mixes a determiner with a verb phrase, so it's a category mismatch. Contractions replace omitted letters; determiners show possession.

• Correct: their team, their answer.
• Correct: they're arriving, they are finished.
• Wrong|right: Wrong: Their going to send the files. |
  Right: They're going to send the files.

Real usage: tone and context - when to write "they're" vs "they are"

Choose "they're" for casual messages and quick workplace updates. Use "they are" in formal docs, reports, or when you want emphasis (They are responsible).

• Work (formal): They are scheduled to deliver the audit by Friday.
• Work (informal): They're updating the dashboard now.
• Academic: They are unlikely to replicate those results without changing the method.
• Casual: They're on their way - meet you outside.

Concrete examples: wrong/right pairs (work, school, casual)

Each pair shows the frequent error and the straightforward correction. Use the exact right-hand sentence when it matches your meaning.

• Work:
  Wrong: Their going to present the Q3 deck at 10. |
  Right: They're going to present the Q3 deck at 10.
• Work:
  Wrong: Their going to need admin rights for the server. |
  Right: They're going to need admin rights for the server.
• Work:
  Wrong: Their going to review the vendor contract today. |
  Right: They are going to review the vendor contract today.
• School:
  Wrong: Their going to hand in the literature review on Monday. |
  Right: They're going to hand in the literature review on Monday.
• School:
  Wrong: Their going to meet the tutor after class. |
  Right: They're going to meet the tutor after class.
• School:
  Wrong: Their going to change the bibliography format. |
  Right: They are going to change the bibliography format.
• Casual:
  Wrong: Their going to bring snacks to the party. |
  Right: They're going to bring snacks to the party.
• Casual:
  Wrong: Their going to call later-don't pick up. |
  Right: They're going to call later - don't pick up.
• Casual:
  Wrong: Their going to post photos from tonight. |
  Right: They're going to post photos from tonight.
• Work:
  Wrong: Their going to need new access badges before Monday. |
  Right: They are going to need new access badges before Monday.
• School:
  Wrong: Their going to finish the lab early because they worked ahead. |
  Right: They're going to finish the lab early because they worked ahead.
• Casual:
  Wrong: Their going to watch the game at Sam's. |
  Right: They're going to watch the game at Sam's.

Fix your sentence: step-by-step rewrites you can copy

Three quick steps: (1) Replace the phrase with "they are." If it reads correctly, use "they're" or "they are." (2) If a noun should follow, use "their + noun." (3) If ambiguous, name the subject or rewrite to remove the homophone.

• Full form for formality or emphasis: they are going to.
• Rewrite to be specific: The marketing team is going to...
• Convert to active voice where helpful: Reviewers will need supporting documents.

• Rewrite:
  Original: Their going to review our proposal next week. | Quick fix: They're going to review our proposal next week. |
  Formal: They are going to review our proposal next week. | Clear
  rewrite: The committee will review our proposal next week.
• Rewrite:
  Original: Their going to the conference - tickets were emailed. | Quick fix: They're going to the conference - tickets were emailed. | Clear
  rewrite: The attendees are going to the conference; tickets were emailed.
• Rewrite:
  Original: Their going to approve the budget, I hope. | Quick fix: They're going to approve the budget, I hope. | Alternative
  rewrite: I hope they will approve the budget.
• Rewrite:
  Original: Their going to need support documents. | Quick fix: They're going to need support documents. | Clear
  rewrite: The reviewers will need supporting documents.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence, not just the phrase. Context usually shows which form fits. If in doubt, substitute "they are" and listen for what sounds right.

Memory tricks and editing habits

Apostrophe = missing letter: picture the apostrophe as the omitted "a" in "they are." If you can mentally insert "they are," use they're. If a noun follows, use their.

Editing habit: search your document for "their going" (and variants like "their gonna" or "their're") and fix each hit before sending.

• Mnemonic: they're = they + are (apostrophe marks the missing a).
• Quick check: replace with "they are" - if it reads well, choose contraction or full form.
• Make a one-line find (their going, their gonna) part of your final check routine.

Spacing and punctuation gotchas

Do not add spaces inside contractions (they're, not they 're) and never create hybrid forms like "their're." Fix the word first, then tidy commas or dashes for clarity.

• Wrong: they 're / they-re / their're →
  Right: they're
• If you see a hyphen used like their-going, remove it and rewrite: their plan to go / they're going to go.
• Wrong|right: Wrong: Their're going to arrive soon. |
  Right: They're going to arrive soon.
• Wrong|right: Wrong: they 're going to be there. |
  Right: they're going to be there.

Hyphens, apostrophes and contractions: what belongs where

Apostrophes mark omitted letters in contractions and show some possessives. Hyphens join words or form compound adjectives. They are not interchangeable.

• Correct contraction: they're → they are (apostrophe replaces the a).
• Incorrect: they-re, they 're, their-re → punctuation errors; replace with they're or rewrite.
• Wrong|right: Wrong: they-re going to update the doc. |
  Right: they're going to update the doc.
• Wrong|right: Wrong: their-going-to (used like an adjective). |
  Right: their plan to go / they're going to go.

Similar mistakes to watch for

Confusing a possessive determiner with a contraction is a common pattern. Use the same expansion test: replace the suspect form with the full words to check meaning.

• your vs you're → replace with you are to test.
• its vs it's → replace with it is or it has to test.
• there vs their vs they're → identify place (there), possession (their), contraction (they're).

• Wrong|right: Wrong: Your welcome to join us. |
  Right: You're welcome to join us.
• Wrong|right: Wrong: Its going to rain today. |
  Right: It's going to rain today.
• Wrong|right: Wrong: Whose coming to the meeting? |
  Right: Who's coming to the meeting?

FAQ

Is "their going to" ever correct?

Almost never. Only in contrived uses where "going" is a noun modified by "their" (e.g., "their 'going' to the store was unexpected") - but that feels awkward. In normal sentences, use they're or they are.

How can I quickly test which form to use?

Replace the suspect word with "they are." If the sentence still makes sense, use they're or they are. If a noun must follow, use their.

Which is better in formal writing: "they're" or "they are"?

"They are" is safer in formal writing and essays. Avoid contractions when the style guide or instructor asks for formality.

My spell-check didn't flag my sentence - why?

Spell checkers rarely catch correctly spelled homophones. Use a grammar checker or search for the string "their going" to find likely mistakes.

Any fast editing rule before sending an email?

Search for "their going", "their gonna" and "their're" and fix each instance. Read sentences aloud and expand contractions mentally to confirm the right form.

Want to check a sentence quickly?

Paste a sentence into a grammar tool or run a document search for "their going." Expanding the contraction to "they are" usually reveals the correct choice. Make that find part of your final check before you hit send.