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One tiny apostrophe can change a sentence. The error "Their going to" happens because their and they're sound the same but serve different roles. Below are quick checks, clear rules, and plenty of usable rewrites for work, school, and casual messages.

Quick check: is 'Their going to' correct?

'Their going to' is usually incorrect. If you mean "they are going to," use they're or spell out they are. Use their only for possession (their car, their idea).

Expand the contraction: replace they're with "they are." If the sentence still makes sense, use they're or they are.
If the word shows ownership (their plan), keep their.
When in doubt, write "they are" - it's unambiguous.

Core explanation: their vs they're vs they are

'Their' = possessive pronoun (their folder). 'They're' = contraction of 'they are.' 'They are' = full form. "Their going to" mixes a possessive with a verb phrase and nearly always breaks grammar.

Possessive: their + noun (their decision)
Contraction: they're = they are + verb (they're leaving)
Full form: they are + verb (they are leaving)

Wrong: Their going to the office today.
Right: They're going to the office today.

Real usage and tone: work, school, and casual examples

Contractions are fine in speech and most casual writing. In formal reports or academic papers, prefer "they are." Below are ready-to-use sentences for each context.

Work: They're reviewing the Q2 report this afternoon.
Work: They're expected to present the findings at the board meeting.
Work: If they're available, schedule a 30-minute call.
School: They're handing back the graded essays tomorrow.
School: Tell them they're allowed to use calculators for this section.
School: If they're missing the homework, assign the makeup activity.
Casual: They're gonna love this playlist.
Casual: Wow, they're so into that band.
Casual: I heard they're moving to Spain next month.

Examples: common wrong/right pairs (6 essential pairs)

Read the wrong sentence, then the correct version. These reflect the most frequent slips when typing fast or relying on sound.

Wrong: Their going to be late.
Right: They're going to be late.
Wrong: Their not interested in joining.
Right: They're not interested in joining.
Wrong: I think their coming with us.
Right: I think they're coming with us.
Wrong: Their planning to start next week.
Right: They're planning to start next week.
Wrong: Their always on time.
Right: They're always on time.
Wrong: Their under the impression that the meeting was canceled.
Right: They're under the impression that the meeting was canceled.

Fix your own sentence: step-by-step checks and rewrites

Three quick checks: 1) Expand to "they are" - does it make sense? 2) Is a noun following "their"? If yes, it's possessive. 3) If uncertain, rewrite.

Step 1: Replace they're with "they are" and read it aloud.
Step 2: If "their" is followed by a noun (their idea), keep their and rework the clause.
Step 3: If still unsure, use "they are" to remove ambiguity.

Rewrite (formal): Original: Their going to handle the client update next week. → They will handle the client update next week.
Rewrite (concise): Original: Their going to submit their project late. → They'll submit their project late.
Rewrite (casual): Original: Their going to meet us at the cafe. → They're gonna meet us at the cafe.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence, not just the phrase. Context usually makes the correct form obvious.

Spacing, apostrophes, and hyphenation - small marks, big difference

Apostrophes matter: they're needs an apostrophe with no spaces. Hyphens don't form contractions but connect compound modifiers (a 30-minute call).

Autocorrect or hurried typing can insert spaces or swap words. Check characters immediately before and after the apostrophe, and use hyphens for compound adjectives.

Correct contraction: they're (no spaces)
Possessive stays without apostrophe: their car, their plan
Hyphen example: a 30-minute review

Usage: Correct: They're attending the 30-minute review session.
Wrong: Their going to attend the 30 minute review session.
Right: They're going to attend the 30-minute review session.

Memory tricks and quick tests

Two fast tests: expand they're to they are; or try inserting a noun after their. If "they are" fits, use they're. If "their" must own something, use their.

Quick rhyme: "Their owns, they're are" - if it owns something, it's their; if it's a verb phrase, it's they're (they are).

Expand the contraction: they're → they are
Swap in a noun after their - if it fits, it's possessive
When in doubt in formal writing, spell out "they are"

Similar mistakes to watch for

The same diagnostic approach works for your/you're, its/it's, and there/their/they're. Expand contractions and check whether a word expresses possession or a verb phrase.

your vs you're: you're = you are; your = possession
its vs it's: it's = it is/it has; its = possession
there vs their vs they're: location, possession, or contraction

Wrong: Your going to love this movie.
Right: You're going to love this movie.
Wrong: Its a great idea to finish early.
Right: It's a great idea to finish early.
Wrong: There going to bring their books to the presentation.
Right: They're going to bring their books to the presentation.

Grammar deep dive: why the error happens and how to avoid it

Contractions replace auxiliary verbs: they're = they + are. A possessive pronoun like their can't be followed directly by a verb phrase (going, arriving) without changing meaning. Fast typists often choose their by sound, not by grammar.

Slow down at two trigger points: when a pronoun appears before a verb (-ing) and when you see their followed by a verb. Rewrite to they're or adjust the noun phrase if necessary.

Auxiliary + -ing: they are + verb(-ing) → they're + verb(-ing)
Possessive + noun: their + noun
If you see their + verb(-ing), change to they're or rephrase

Wrong: Their organizing the event next month (incorrect).
Right: They're organizing the event next month (correct).
Usage: Formal: They are organizing the event next month.

FAQ

Is 'Their going to' ever correct?

Almost never. 'Their' is possessive and should be followed by a noun. If you mean 'they are going to,' use they're or they are. Phrases like "their going to the party" are awkward; prefer "their attendance" or "the fact that they went."

How do I decide between 'they're' and 'they are'?

Use they're for conversational tone. Use they are for emphasis or formal writing. When clarity matters, spell it out as they are.

Can I use 'they're' in a formal report or academic paper?

Many style guides advise avoiding contractions. Check your organization's guidelines; otherwise, use they are.

My autocorrect keeps changing 'they're' to 'their' - how can I stop that?

Add common phrases to your keyboard dictionary, disable aggressive replacements, or write the full form "they are" in drafts to avoid autocorrect during final edits.

What's the fastest way to fix 'Their going to' in my sentence?

Replace 'Their' with 'They're' (they are) and read the sentence. If the sentence needs to show possession instead, rewrite so 'their' is followed by a noun (their plan, their schedule).

Want a quick safety net for sentences like these?

If you spot 'their' before a verb and aren't sure, test the sentence by expanding contractions or paste it into a grammar checker to see suggested rewrites and explanations.