DT VBZ they're (their) NN

They're and their sound the same but serve different jobs. Use a quick test or a simple rule to pick the right form, then scan the whole sentence to make sure the meaning still fits.

Quick answer

Use "they're" when you mean "they are." Use "their" when something belongs to them.

They're = they + are (contraction). Example test: replace with "they are" - if it works, use they're.
Their = possessive adjective before a noun. If something belongs to them, use their.
Quick check: try the replacement test, then read the full sentence aloud to confirm meaning.

Core explanation

"They're" is a contraction that combines two words and always contains an apostrophe to mark the missing letter (they're = they are). "Their" is a possessive adjective that appears before a noun or noun phrase to show ownership or association.

Remember the difference from "there," which points to a place or introduces a clause. The three forms answer different questions: "They're" answers what they are doing or their state, "their" answers whose, and "there" answers where.

Real usage: work, school, casual

Work: They're reviewing the budget this afternoon. Their presentation is scheduled for Friday. If you mean "they are," use they're; if you mean ownership, use their.
Work: Their client list grew last quarter. They're happy with the results.
Work: If they're ready, move their files to the archive.
School: They're meeting after class to study. Their notes cover chapter seven.
School: Their project earned high marks because they're thorough in research.
School: If they're absent, ask their lab partner for the data.
Casual: They're coming over for dinner, and their dog loves guests.
Casual: I think they're joking - their tone is usually serious.
Casual: If they're late, check their text messages before you call.

Wrong vs right examples you can copy

Wrong:
Incorrect: They're dog is loud tonight.
Right:
Correct: Their dog is loud tonight.
Wrong:
Incorrect: Their going to join the call in five minutes.
Right:
Correct: They're going to join the call in five minutes.
Wrong:
Incorrect: I left it over they're on the table.
Right:
Correct: I left it over there on the table.
Wrong:
Incorrect: Their meeting is at noon, so they're running late.
Right:
Correct: Their meeting is at noon, so they're running late.
Wrong:
Incorrect: Are their ready to present?
Right:
Correct: Are they're ready to present? (Better: Are they ready to present?)
Wrong:
Incorrect: I like they're taste in music.
Right:
Correct: I like their taste in music.

How to fix your sentence (rewrite help)

A direct swap often works, but sometimes the sentence needs a cleaner rewrite for tone and clarity. Follow three quick steps: identify meaning, test with "they are" if needed, then read the sentence aloud.

Original: This plan is they're if everyone agrees.
Rewrite: This plan works if everyone agrees.
Original: Is their coming later?
Rewrite: Are they coming later?
Original: Their not sure about the schedule.
Rewrite: They're not sure about the schedule.

A simple memory trick

Use two small tests:

Replacement test: replace the word with "they are." If the sentence still makes sense, use they're.
Possession test: if the word comes before a noun that belongs to someone (their car, their idea), use their. You can also picture heirs - "their" contains "heir," which hints at ownership.

Similar mistakes and spacing notes

Other common confusions are "there" and "it's/its." Apostrophes mark contractions, not possession for pronouns like "their." There is no hyphenation or spacing issue: "they're" uses an apostrophe, "their" is a single word without punctuation.

Watch for "there" (place or filler), "their" (possessive), "they're" (they are).
Check "it's" (it is) versus "its" (possessive); same contraction vs possessive pattern applies.
Scan nearby sentences: repeated spoken-sound errors often repeat across a paragraph.

FAQ

How can I tell quickly which one to use?

Try substituting "they are." If the sentence still makes sense, use they're. If you're indicating ownership before a noun, use their.

Is "they're" correct before a noun?

No. "They're" stands for "they are" and cannot act as a possessive adjective before a noun.

Is "their" ever followed by a verb?

Rarely. "Their" typically appears before a noun; if you see it before a verb, it's likely an error and should be "they're."

Can spellcheck catch these errors?

Not reliably. Spellcheck flags misspellings, but it often misses wrong-word errors. Context matters, so read the full sentence.

Any final quick tip for editing?

Read sentences aloud and use the replacement test. Fix repeated mistakes in one pass by searching for the wrong pattern in your document.

Check the whole sentence before you send it

Small word errors become obvious in context. Read each sentence once after editing to confirm meaning and tone.

If you want a fast second look, paste the sentence into a checker or ask a colleague to read it aloud; either approach catches the errors that spellcheck misses.