Their vs There vs They're
What's the difference?
These three sound exactly the same, so the ear is no help — you have to know what each one means. Luckily, each has a clear job.
Quick answer
Their = belonging to them. There = a place (or "there is"). They're = they are. If you can say "they are," use they're.
Compared side by side
(possessive) belonging to them.
- “They packed their bags.”
- “The students raised their hands.”
- “Their house is at the end of the street.”
(adverb / pronoun) in or at a place, or used to say something exists.
- “Put it over there.”
- “There is a problem with the plan.”
- “We're almost there.”
(contraction) short for "they are."
- “They're going to be late.”
- “I think they're happy with the result.”
- “They're the best team in the league.”
How to remember it
There has "here" hidden inside it — both are about places. They're = they + are, with the apostrophe standing in for the missing "a."
Frequently asked
How do I test which one to use?
Try replacing it with "they are." If the sentence still makes sense, use they're. If it's about a place, use there. If something belongs to them, use their.
Which one is most common?
"Their" and "there" are used most often; "they're" only when you mean "they are." When in doubt, expand the contraction and check.