Possible agreement error 'there're' + singular noun

Quick take

Match the verb to the real subject that follows it. Use there's / there is for singular or uncountable nouns and there are for plural nouns. The spoken contraction there're exists but is rare and usually avoid it in writing.

Short rule

Use there is/there's for a singular or uncountable noun; use there are for plural nouns. In formal writing, prefer the full form (there is/there are).

Singular or uncountable: There's a problem. There's milk in the fridge.
Plural: There are three issues. There are cookies left.
Speech: Many speakers say "there's" before plurals; in writing, match the number or rewrite.

Is "there're" correct?

There're is a contraction of there are that appears in fast speech and some transcripts. It's uncommon in edited writing because it looks awkward and can confuse readers.

Write "there are" in formal or professional text.
Use "there're" only in direct, informal dialogue if you want to capture casual speech.

Example:

Wrong (formal): There're three options to consider.
Right (formal): There are three options to consider.
Acceptable in dialogue: "There're three options," she said, breathing fast.

Spacing, hyphenation, and the written form

Errors often come from how something sounds rather than how it's written. Focus on the standard written form; check whether words are written closed, hyphenated, or spaced.

Prefer the established form you find in edited writing.
When unsure, rewrite the sentence with the subject first: "Three options exist" or "Three options are available."

Why writers slip

Most mistakes happen when writers rely on sound and speed instead of structure.

Sound-based guesses (hearing "there's" more than seeing it)
Typing quickly without rereading
Overcorrection or trying to sound informal in writing

Real usage examples

Seeing correct and incorrect pairs makes the rule stick. Below are category examples you can copy and adapt.

General pairs

Wrong: There're a book on the table.
Right: There's a book on the table.
Wrong: There's books on the table.
Right: There are books on the table.
Wrong: There're a lot of traffic tonight.
Right: There's a lot of traffic tonight. (traffic is uncountable)

Work

Wrong: There're three bugs we must fix before release.
Right: There are three bugs we must fix before release.
Wrong: There's many dependencies missing from the build.
Right: There are many dependencies missing from the build.
Wrong: There's a performance regression in the latest patch.
Right: There is a performance regression in the latest patch.

School

Wrong: There's five chapters due next week.
Right: There are five chapters due next week.
Wrong: There're a lot of citations missing in the paper.
Right: There are a lot of citations missing in the paper.
Wrong: There's too much homework for one night.
Right: There's too much homework for one night. (homework is uncountable)

Casual

Wrong: There're loads of people at the concert.
Right: There are loads of people at the concert.
Wrong: There's so many reasons to go.
Right: There are so many reasons to go.
Wrong: There's beer in the fridge.
Right: There's beer in the fridge. (beer here treated as uncountable or general item)

Wrong vs right examples you can copy

Copy-paste these quick fixes into drafts to save time.

Wrong: There're a meeting at 3.
Right: There's a meeting at 3.
Wrong: There's four candidates for the role.
Right: There are four candidates for the role.
Wrong: There're no clear instructions in the brief.
Right: There are no clear instructions in the brief.
Wrong: There's five reasons to reconsider.
Right: There are five reasons to reconsider.
Wrong: There's plenty of time left.
Right: There's plenty of time left. (plenty = uncountable concept)
Wrong: There're several edits still needed.
Right: There are several edits still needed.

How to fix your sentence

Fixing "there" constructions often requires only three quick checks: identify the true subject, choose the correct form, then read for tone.

Step 1: Find the noun after the verb (the logical subject).
Step 2: If it's singular or uncountable use there is/there's; if plural use there are.
Step 3: Read the whole sentence; sometimes an active rewrite is cleaner.

Rewrites you can use right away:

Original: There're two options left.
Fixed: There are two options left. Alternate: Two options remain.
Original: There's five reasons we should wait.
Fixed: There are five reasons we should wait. Alternate: Five reasons suggest we should wait.
Original: There's a lot of data to process.
Fixed: There's a lot of data to process. Alternate: A large amount of data needs processing.

A memory trick

Think meaning first, form second. If you can replace the clause with a clear plural subject, use there are. If you can replace it with a single item or an uncountable noun, use there is.

Ask: "How many?" If the answer is more than one, use there are.
When unsure, rewrite the sentence to put the subject first: "Five reasons support..."

Similar mistakes to watch for

Once you confuse one spacing or contraction, related errors often follow. Scan nearby sentences for the same pattern.

Split words (e.g., write "alot" vs "a lot")
Hyphen confusion (e.g., "re-cover" vs "recover")
Verb-form mismatches in other constructions

FAQ

Is "there're" ever correct?

It is a real contraction of there are but rare in writing. Use it only in informal dialogue or transcripts; otherwise write there are.

Can I say "there's" with plural nouns in speech?

Yes. Many native speakers use "there's" before a plural noun in casual speech. For written clarity, match the verb to the plural subject and use there are.

What's a quick rewrite for "There's five reasons"?

Minimal fix: There are five reasons. Active alternative: Five reasons support this decision. Subject-first: Five reasons explain the choice.

Are contractions okay in business writing?

Contractions suit informal internal communication and conversational blog posts. Avoid them in formal proposals, academic writing, and client-facing documents; use the full form and correct agreement.

Fast check for agreement with "there"

Find the noun after the verb. If it's singular or uncountable use there is/there's; if it's plural use there are. If in doubt, rewrite to place the subject before the verb.

Need a quick sentence check?

Paste a sentence into a grammar checker to get an immediate correction and suggested rewrites. If you'd like, paste one sentence here and get a tight correction plus two rewrite options-formal and casual.