"There", "Their" or "They're": What's the Difference?

Three words, same sound, different jobs: there (place), their (possession), they're (they are).

There: a place

There refers to a location or is used to introduce a sentence ("there is/are"): "Put the box over there." "There are three options."

Their: possession

Their shows that something belongs to a group of people: "They forgot their umbrellas." "It's their decision."

They're: contraction of "they are"

They're is short for "they are": "They're coming to dinner." "They're not ready yet."

The trick

Try replacing the word with "they are" — if it fits, use "they're." If the sentence is about ownership, use "their." Otherwise (location or "there is/are"), use "there."

Frequently asked questions

How do I remember there vs. their vs. they're?

Test with "they are": if it fits, use "they're." If it's about ownership, use "their." Otherwise, use "there" (place).

"Their house is over there" — is that correct?

Yes: "their" (possession, the house belongs to them) and "there" (location) are both used correctly.

Does "there" have another common use besides location?

Yes, to introduce a sentence: "There is a problem," "there are many reasons."

Why are these three words so often confused?

Because they are homophones — they sound exactly the same in spoken English, so the difference only shows up in writing.