Buzz
English has several words that sound similar but have different meanings, like there (that place), their (belonging to them), and they're (they are). Native English speakers often pronounce these words the same way, which can make it challenging to know which word fits the context. This confusion is sometimes referred to as 'spelling nemesis.' Each form has a distinct meaning, and clarity in writing is important, especially in business or academic texts.
Steps to Follow
Choose the Correct Word
Reread what you have written, paying attention to the word choice and spelling issues you’re concerned about. (Naturally, following the chosen word, there should be additional information, the subject's name, or relevant content.) The selected word must match the subject or topic you're addressing.
Use "there" when referring to a place or location; compare "there" with "here" and "where". It can indicate a specific place ("over here or there by the building") or an abstract concept ("it must be difficult to be there in your mind").
Compare "there are" with "here are" and "where are". The word 'there' combined with a form of the verb 'to be,' like 'are,' indicates the existence of something being referred to.
- "There are antiques here." (There are some antiques here.) "Where?" (Where are they?) "Look there." (Look over there.) "Oh, and, see here, we've found them!" (Oh, look, we’ve found them here!)
- "Are there many documents stored here?" (Are there many documents stored here?) "Yes, see them here, where they are safe. Do you see where they are? Right over there!" (Yes, see them here, where they are safe. Do you see where they are? Right over there!)
- "There will be a picnic here, and there is a huge campground across the river. One of the places they are staying tonight is over there." (There will be a picnic here, and there is a large campground across the river. One of the places they are staying tonight is over there.)
Use "their" and "theirs" to show possession. Compare with "heir" – someone who inherits, as in the phrase "an heir of their uncle who had no children" (an heir to their uncle's property who had no children). 'Their' is a possessive adjective, indicating ownership of a noun.
- "Sam and Jan are heirs of their parents' land and property as their legal heirs." (Sam and Jan are heirs to their parents' land and property as their legal heirs.)
- "Their things were broken." (Their things were broken.) Compare with "Our things were broken." (Our things were broken.) Yes, this is a possessive adjective.
- "I see their flowers blooming in their garden." (I see their flowers blooming in their garden.) "Yes, from the seeds their grandmother gave them last fall." (Yes, from the seeds their grandmother gave them last fall.)
Remember that "they're" is a contraction of "they are". It is not a noun, but rather a pronoun (for people or things) combined with the contraction "'re" of the verb "are" (indicating a state).
- "They're my friends." (They are my friends.) Try checking if "They are my friends" still makes sense. Yes, it still works!
- "I would go with you, but they're going to take me." (I would go with you, but they’re going to take me.) You can check by saying "They are going to take me" and the sentence still works.
Ask yourself some testing questions. These may not apply in all cases, but can be helpful.
- For "there," if you replace "there" with "here" or "where," does the sentence still make sense? If so, you’ve likely used the correct word.
- For "their," if you replace "their" with "our" (to see if it’s a possessive sentence), does it still make sense? Of course, the checking question should match the correct owner. "Ours is ours, but theirs is theirs." However, if "our" fits the context, then you’ve used the correct possessive form.
- For "they're," if you replace "they're" with "they are," does the sentence still make sense? If so, it's the correct word; if not, "they're" is the wrong choice.
Recognize mistakes and learn from them. By carefully observing how others use words, especially when helping someone proofread their writing, you will become more skilled at identifying proper word usage and will improve your own practice.
- Incorrect: Their is no one here. (There is no one here.)
- Incorrect: Shelley wants to know if there busy. (Shelley wants to know if they are busy.)
- Incorrect: The dogs are happily chewing on they're bones. (The dogs are happily chewing on their bones.)
- Correct: I can't believe they're leaving their children there, alone! (I can't believe they're leaving their children alone there!)
Practice, practice, and practice! Ask your English teacher or friends to read aloud sample sentences using any of these three words, and then write the word used in the sentence. Additionally, try taking online grammar quizzes. If you’re still struggling with these words, consider hiring an English tutor for extra help.
Tips
- If you think "they're" or "their" doesn’t fit, then "there" is the word you need to use!
- Correct spelling can help you achieve better academic results, find a good job, and even contribute articles to Mytour.
- Turn off the automatic spell checker in your text editor. Many people become complacent and forget the special rules when the computer automatically corrects these mistakes.
- If you’re unsure whether you’re using the word "their" correctly, try replacing it with "my" (mine) in the sentence—it should still make sense. For example, "Their house is purple" becomes "My house is purple." This will confirm that "their" is the right word to use.
- For "there is" or "there are," the correct word is always "there"—you would never say "they're is," "they're are," "their is," or "their are."
- Another trick: in the word “there” (that place), there’s “here” (this place), so it's used for locations. Meanwhile, in "their" (belonging to them), there’s "heir" (someone who inherits), so it's for possession.
- Imagine this scenario: you see your neighbors standing outside their house, cleaning up the trash they accidentally spilled on the road. You point to them and say to a friend, "Look over there [location], they're [they are] picking up their [possession] rubbish."
- Remember the distinctions between there, their, and they're based on these principles:
- there: the word “here” (here) is in “there” (over there), so it's a location word.
- their: the word “he” (he) is in “their” (belonging to them), indicating possession.
- they're: the apostrophe (' ) in “they're” helps you remember it means “they are.”
- Spell out contractions. Replace "can't" with "cannot," "you're" with "you are," and "they're" with "they are." This will help you catch mistakes when writing.
- "The students misplaced they're books" becomes "The students misplaced they are books" (The students misplaced they are books). The second sentence doesn’t make sense; therefore, the correct form should be "their."
