There, Their and They're: What Is the Difference?
There refers to a place or introduces something (there is). Their shows possession (their essays). They're is short for they are. They're leaving their books over there.
Updated 21 October 2026 · EssayWriting.com editorial team
- There is a place or introduces existence.
- Their shows possession; they're means they are.
- Singular their is correct in APA 7 and most modern guides.
There vs their vs they're: the difference at a glance
| Word | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| there | place; there is/are | Put it there. There are three reasons. |
| their | belonging to them | The authors defend their method. |
| they're | they are | They're revising tonight. |
How to use there
Use there for location or to say something exists.
- The archive is over there.
- There is little evidence for this claim.
- There are two main interpretations.
How to use their
Use their before a noun owned by more than one person, or by one person referred to with singular they.
- Participants gave their consent.
- Each student should check their references.
How to use they're
Use they're only if they are fits.
- They're likely to disagree.
- I think they're right.
How to remember the difference
There contains here (a place). Their contains heir (someone who owns). They're: the apostrophe replaces the a in they are.
Tricky cases and exceptions
Singular they. APA 7 and other major guides endorse singular they, so "each participant gave their consent" is correct. There's vs theirs: there's means there is; theirs means belonging to them, with no apostrophe.
There vs their vs they're in academic writing
Avoid contractions such as they're in formal essays. Starting many sentences with "There is/There are" makes prose wordy: "There are many studies that show…" is stronger as "Many studies show…". This is one of the easiest edits in our proofreading checklist.
Practice quiz
Choose the correct option, then open each answer to check your reasoning.
1. The researchers published ___ results. (there / their / they're)
their: possession.
2. ___ is a gap in the literature. (There / Their / They're)
There: existence.
3. ___ planning a follow-up study. (There / Their / They're)
They're: they are.
4. The book is ___ but the notes are ours. (theirs / there's)
theirs.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Is it there or their for possession?
Their.
Can I use their for one person?
Yes. Singular they is endorsed by APA 7 and major dictionaries.
Is theirs ever written their's?
No. Theirs never takes an apostrophe.
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