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Most people mean they're (they are) when they type "their going to." That missing apostrophe turns a contraction into a possessive and confuses readers. Below are clear rules, many wrong/right examples across work, school, and casual writing, quick rewrites to copy, and simple checks to stop the error.

Quick answer

"Their going to" is usually wrong. Use they're (they are) when you mean "they are." Use their only for possession, and there for place.

• their = possession: Their tickets are lost.
• they're = they are (contraction): They're going to arrive soon.
• there = place or dummy subject: Put it over there. There is a problem.

Core explanation: when to use their, they're, and there

Ask two quick questions before you write the word: does it mean "they are"? Does it answer "whose?" If it's "they are," write they're. If it answers "whose," write their. If it points to a place, write there.

• Replace test: insert "they are" where the word appears. If the sentence still makes sense, use they're.
• Possession test: if it answers "whose?", use their.
• Place test: if it points to location, use there.

• Wrong: Their going to the meeting at 3 PM.
• Right: They're going to the meeting at 3 PM.
• Wrong: Their laptop battery died, so they couldn't join.
• Right: Their laptop battery died, so they couldn't join.

Grammar details: apostrophes, contractions, and agreement

An apostrophe in a contraction replaces letters: they're = they + are. No apostrophe usually signals possession (their) or a place (there).

When you use they're, the verb stays plural: they're going, they're ready, they're responsible.

• They're = they are. Example: They're ready to start.
• Their = belongs to them. Example: Their schedule was updated.
• Agreement: don't pair they're with a singular verb (wrong: they're arrives).

• Wrong: Their is no easy fix for that issue.
• Right: There is no easy fix for that issue.
• Wrong: Their going to has caused confusion in the draft.
• Right: They're going to cause confusion in the draft.

Hyphenation and spacing: what to watch for

Contractions never use hyphens and must not have a space before the apostrophe. Wrong spacing (they 're) breaks the contraction and looks sloppy.

Phone autocorrect sometimes removes apostrophes or inserts spaces; tweak your keyboard settings or add common contractions to your dictionary.

• Wrong: they 're, they-re, theyre.
  Right: they're.
• Don't add spaces around apostrophes; keep letters and apostrophe together.
• Proofread short forms in texts and instant messages where autocorrect is active.

• Wrong: They 're meeting us at noon.
• Right: They're meeting us at noon.
• Wrong: Theyre going to send the link.
• Right: They're going to send the link.

Real usage and tone: when to use they're vs they are vs their

Choose tone first. In formal documents, prefer they are to avoid contractions. In emails, chat, or dialogue, they're is natural and friendly.

• Formal: They are responsible for the final approval.
• Informal: They're responsible for the final approval.
• Possessive: Their approval was delayed.

• Usage (formal): They are expected to submit the data by Friday.
• Usage (casual): They're expected to submit the data by Friday.
• Usage (possessive): Their submission was incomplete.

Examples: wrong/right pairs for work, school, and casual writing

Use the replace-with-"they are" or possession test to pick the right word. Below are common contexts and lots of pairs you can copy.

• Work - Wrong: Their going to call the client after lunch.
• Work - Right: They're going to call the client after lunch.
• Work - Wrong: Their going to submit the quarterly report by Monday.
• Work - Right: They're going to submit the quarterly report by Monday.
• Work - Wrong: Their going to be interviewed for the open role.
• Work - Right: They're going to be interviewed for the open role.
• School - Wrong: Their going to turn in the essay on Friday.
• School - Right: They're going to turn in the essay on Friday.
• School - Wrong: Their going to study for the chemistry test tonight.
• School - Right: They're going to study for the chemistry test tonight.
• School - Wrong: Their going to present their group project on Monday.
• School - Right: They're going to present their group project on Monday.
• Casual - Wrong: Their going to the concert later - want to come?
• Casual - Right: They're going to the concert later - want to come?
• Casual - Wrong: Their going to drop by your place this evening.
• Casual - Right: They're going to drop by your place this evening.
• Casual - Wrong: Their going to be late because of traffic.
• Casual - Right: They're going to be late because of traffic.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence, not just the phrase. Context usually makes the right answer obvious.

Rewrite help: simple fixes and stronger rewrites (copy-and-paste)

Sometimes correcting the apostrophe isn't enough-choose clearer subjects or active voice to tighten the sentence.

• Simple fix: replace their with they're or expand to they are.
• Stronger rewrite: name the subject or use active verbs for clarity.

• Rewrite:
  Original: Their going to review the draft tonight. Simple fix: They're going to review the draft tonight. Stronger
  rewrite: The review team will examine the draft tonight.
• Rewrite:
  Original: Their going to need extra time for the assignment. Simple fix: They're going to need extra time for the assignment. Stronger
  rewrite: They will likely need extra time to finish the assignment.
• Rewrite:
  Original: Their going to handle the onboarding process. Simple fix: They're going to handle the onboarding process. Stronger
  rewrite: HR will handle the onboarding process.

Fix your own sentence: a three-step mini-edit

Run these checks whenever you see their near a verb. Saying the sentence aloud helps.

• Expand: Replace the word with "they are." If it still works, use they're.
• Own: If the word answers "whose?", use their.
• Read: Say the sentence out loud-natural speech often reveals missing apostrophes.

• Wrong: Their going to finalize the budget tonight.
• Right: They're going to finalize the budget tonight.
• Wrong: I like their approach to the problem, it's creative.
• Right: I like their approach to the problem; it's creative.

Memory tricks and editing habits to stop repeating the error

Pick one or two habits and use them every time you edit.

• Mnemonic: "Their" and "owner" both have an r-if it's ownership, use their.
• Apostrophe test: can you say "they are"? If yes, add the apostrophe.
• Editor habit: quick-find "their going", "their gonna", or "their [verb]" and fix hits.
• Phone tip: turn off aggressive autocorrect or add they're to your personal dictionary.

• Usage hint: Think "their" = theirs (possession). If "theirs" fits, keep the r.

Similar mistakes to watch for

Once you notice one homophone error, others often appear. Use the same expand/possess/place tests.

• it's vs its: it's = it is / it has. its = possessive.
• your vs you're: your = possession. you're = you are.
• there vs their vs they're: place, possession, contraction.

• Wrong: Its important we decide now.
• Right: It's important we decide now.
• Wrong: Your going to want to see this.
• Right: You're going to want to see this.
• Wrong: There going to bring their equipment over.
• Right: They're going to bring their equipment over.

FAQ

Is "their going to" ever correct?

Not for the meaning "they are going to." "Their" is possessive and doesn't stand for "they are." The only safe cases are awkward or rare phrasings where "their" clearly shows possession (e.g., "Their going-to list is long"), but rewriting is better.

Should I use they're or they are in formal writing?

Use they are in formal writing to avoid contractions. Use they're in casual contexts, dialogue, or when you want a conversational tone.

How can I stop my phone from turning they're into their or removing the apostrophe?

Adjust keyboard/autocorrect settings, add they're to your personal dictionary, or slow down when typing contractions so the apostrophe isn't lost to autocorrect.

Will grammar checkers catch every their/they're error?

Many checkers catch obvious cases, but context-specific errors can slip through. The "replace with they are" test is fast and reliable for ambiguous cases.

Quick tip: what should I search for when proofreading?

Search for "their going", "their gonna", or "their [verb]" (like "their coming", "their arriving") and review each hit with the expand and possession tests.

Want a quick double-check?

Before you send anything, run the three-step mini-edit (Expand, Own, Read) on any their you spot. One added apostrophe or switching to they are clears up confusion and makes your writing read more professionally.