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To begin your search, go to the alphabetical index below and click on the first letter of the word you are searching for.

there, their, they’re

(A similar topic is discussed in French in the article LEUR/LEURS.)

Homonyms are words that sound alike but have different meanings. The words there, their, and they’re are homonyms.

Use there

  • as an introductory subject
    • There is no easy solution.
  • as an interjection
    • There, now I’m done.
  • as an adverb meaning "in that location"
    • We’ll be there tomorrow.
  • as a noun meaning "that place"
    • From there, we flew to Paris.

Tip: To choose the right spelling for a location, remember that the word here is contained in the word there.

Use their

  • as a possessive meaning "belonging to them"
    • Their furniture is built to last.
  • Tip: If you can substitute our, the word their is correct:
    • Their (Our) demands are clear.

Use they’re

  • as a contraction of they are
    • They’re having a winning streak.
  • Tip: If you can substitute they are, use they’re:
    • The pundits think they’re (or they are) right, but we know they’re wrong.