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"Their going to" is a common slip: the possessive pronoun their is used where the contraction they're (they are) or the full form they are is required.

Below are clear rules, quick tests, many copy-ready examples for work, school, and casual use, ready rewrites, and a short proofreading checklist you can use before you send a message.

Quick answer

"Their going to" is incorrect when you mean "they are going to." Use they're or they are. Use their only before a noun (their plan, their folder).

Substitute they are for the suspect word. If the sentence still makes sense, use they're or they are.
If the next word is a noun, keep their + noun.
Use they are in formal writing, they're in neutral or casual writing.

Core explanation: why "Their going to" is wrong

The words do different jobs: their is a possessive adjective and must modify a noun; they're is a contraction of they are and introduces an action or state.

When a verb (going, coming, presenting) follows, their is almost always wrong; replace it with they're or they are.

Wrong pattern: their + verb (no noun) → incorrect.
Correct: they're + verb (contraction) or they are + verb (full form).
If you mean possession, use their + noun: their schedule, their idea.

Wrong: Their going to the meeting.
Right: They're going to the meeting. (They are going to the meeting.)
Wrong: Their presenting at 3 p.m.
Right: They're presenting at 3 p.m. /
Formal: They are presenting at 3 p.m.

Real usage: when to use they're, they are, their, and there

Two quick checks: substitute they are; if it fits, use they're/they are. If the next word is a noun, use their + noun.

They're = they are (actions, states): they're leaving, they're happy.
They are = preferred in formal writing or when clarity matters.
Their = possession (their folder). There = place or existential there is.

They're: They're going to review the file tonight.
Their: Their review of the file is due tonight.
There: There are three copies in their inbox.

Examples you can copy: work, school, casual

Each wrong sentence below uses their where a contraction or a possessive alternative is needed. The right sentence gives a direct fix and, where helpful, a formal option.

Work_wrong_1: Wrong: Their going to send the updated deck by noon.
Work_right_1: Right: They're going to send the updated deck by noon. /
Formal: They are going to send the updated deck by noon.
Work_wrong_2: Wrong: Can you confirm if their attending the client call?
Work_right_2: Right: Can you confirm if they're attending the client call? /
Formal: Can you confirm whether they are attending the client call?
Work_wrong_3: Wrong: Their report was uploaded late.
Work_right_3: Right (possessive correct): Their report was uploaded late. (Here their modifies report.)
School_wrong_1: Wrong: Their submitting the group project tomorrow.
School_right_1: Right: They're submitting the group project tomorrow. /
Formal: They are submitting the group project tomorrow.
School_wrong_2: Wrong: Is their bringing the lab notebook?
School_right_2: Right: Are they bringing the lab notebook? (Alternatively: They're bringing the lab notebook.)
School_wrong_3: Wrong: Their paper got a low grade.
School_right_3: Right (possessive correct): Their paper got a low grade.
Casual_wrong_1: Wrong: Their gonna love this surprise.
Casual_right_1: Right: They're gonna love this surprise. / Better: They're going to love this surprise.
Casual_wrong_2: Wrong: I think their coming over later.
Casual_right_2: Right: I think they're coming over later.
Casual_wrong_3: Wrong: Their at the cafe now.
Casual_right_3: Right: They're at the cafe now.

Rewrite help: quick edits and ready-made rewrites

Run the short checklist, then pick the rewrite that matches your tone. Here are compact rewrites for common sentences.

Checklist: 1) Substitute they are. 2) If it fits, use they're/they are. 3) If the next word is a noun, use their + noun.
Tone guide: they are = formal, they're = neutral/casual, convert structure if you need a possessive.

Rewrite_1: Wrong: Their going to handle the report. Neutral: They're going to handle the report.
Formal: They are going to handle the report.
Rewrite_2: Wrong: Their going to submit the form. Possessive restructure: Their submission is due tomorrow. Direct: They're going to submit the form.
Rewrite_3: Wrong: Their going to join the meeting - double-check. Neutral: They're going to join the meeting - double-check.
Formal: They are going to join the meeting; please confirm.
Rewrite_4: Wrong: Can you see if their coming? Short: Can you see if they're coming?
Formal: Can you check whether they are coming?
Rewrite_5: Wrong: Their handing in their homework late. Clear: They're handing in their homework late. (First = they are; second = possessive.)
Rewrite_6: Wrong: Their's a chance they won't make it.
Correct: There's a chance they won't make it. (there's = there is)

Memory trick and quick tests

Two fast tests cut errors: substitution and the noun check. A short rhyme helps remember the difference.

Substitution test: replace with they are - if it fits, use they're/they are.
Noun test: if the next word is a noun, use their + noun.
Rhyme: "They're = they are (action); Their = belongs to them (possession); There = place."

Test_example: Check: "Their going to speak." → substitute: "They are going to speak." It fits → use they're.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence, not just the phrase. Context usually makes the correct choice clear.

Similar mistakes to watch

Fixing their/they're/there often reduces other pronoun errors like your/you're, its/it's, and who's/whose.

your vs you're: your = possession; you're = you are.
its vs it's: its = possession; it's = it is / it has.
who's vs whose: who's = who is; whose = possessive.

Your_wrong: Wrong: Your going to love this.
Right: You're going to love this.
Its_wrong: Wrong: The cat licked it's paw.
Right: The cat licked its paw.
Whose_wrong: Wrong: Who's coat is that?
Right: Whose coat is that?

Grammar: apostrophes, hyphens and contractions

An apostrophe marks a contraction by showing omitted letters (they're = they are). Pronoun possession does not use an apostrophe (their, its, your).

Don't write their's - the correct possessive pronoun is their.
They're needs an apostrophe because it's a contraction; prefer they are in formal writing.
Hyphens don't change contractions - keep contractions as single words with an apostrophe (they're).

Apostrophe_wrong: Wrong: Their's a problem with the schedule.
Right: There's a problem with the schedule. (there's = there is)
Possessive: Wrong: Its' color faded.
Right: Its color faded. (no apostrophe for pronoun possession)

Spacing and typing errors

Fast-typing mistakes include theyre (no apostrophe), using their when they're is intended, or adding a space inside a contraction.

If unsure, type the full form they are - it's always correct and removes ambiguity.

Avoid: theyre (typo) -
correct: they're or they are.
Avoid: their going (missing apostrophe and wrong word) - substitute they are to check.
Flag instances of their + verb for correction.

Typing_wrong: Wrong: theyre going to call.
Right: they're going to call. /
Alternative: they are going to call.

Final proofreading checklist

Run these four quick checks every time you proofread a sentence with their/they're/there or similar short words.

1) Substitute they are for their - if it fits, use they're/they are.
2) If the next word is a noun, keep or fix to their + noun.
3) Decide tone: they are for formal, they're for informal.
4) Check apostrophe and spacing (they're vs theyre).

Final_check: Example: "Their going to file the claim." → Substitute: "They are going to file the claim." → Final: "They're going to file the claim." (or "They are going to file the claim." for a formal email)

FAQ

Is 'their going to' ever correct?

No - not when you mean they are going to. Their only works before a noun (their plan). If going follows, use they're or they are.

Should I write they're or they are in an academic paper?

Prefer the full form they are in formal or academic writing. Avoid contractions like they're in essays and reports.

What quick test can I use when proofreading?

Replace the suspect word with they are. If the sentence still makes sense, change it to they're or they are. If not, check whether their should be followed by a noun.

Is 'theyre' acceptable in text messages?

No - theyre without an apostrophe is a typo. Use they're or they are; some casual texts drop punctuation, but it's still incorrect.

Any tips for fixing multiple errors at once?

Scan for short common words (their/they're/there, your/you're, its/it's). Run the substitution test, fix apostrophes and tone, and read sentences aloud to catch issues quickly.

Want a fast check?

Paste a sentence into a grammar tool or run the substitution and noun tests above. These quick habits take seconds and prevent recurring errors.