Choosing between there and their can be confusing because they sound the same but have different meanings.
There refers to a place or is used to introduce something, while their shows possession or belonging.
Because they are homophones, they are often mixed up in writing. Using the wrong one can change the meaning of a sentence.
In this guide, you will learn the difference between there and their, how to use each correctly, common mistakes, clear examples and simple tips to remember them easily.
Quick Response:
Use there when you mean a place, position, or the existence of something: “The keys are over there.”
Use their to show possession or connection with “they”: “They forgot their keys.”
A simple test is to ask whether the sentence means location or belonging to them.
There vs. Their: Quick Comparison
| Feature | There | Their |
| Meaning | A place, position, or existence | Belonging to or associated with them |
| Part of speech | Commonly an adverb; can also function as a pronoun and in other grammatical roles | Possessive determiner |
| Main use | Refers to location or introduces an existential construction | Shows possession or association |
| Grammar rule | Use it for “in/at that place” or in structures such as “there is” and “there are” | Use it before a noun to show that something belongs to or relates to “them” |
| Pronunciation | Usually pronounced like “their” in standard American English | Usually pronounced like “there” |
| Correct example | “Your shoes are over there.” | “Your friends brought their shoes.” |
| Common mistake | “Put it their.” | “They left there bags.” |
| Memory tip | There contains here → think of a place | Their contains heir → think of ownership |
| Quick question | “Where?” | “Whose?” |
Important: There is also a third word, they’re, which means they are. Although your main question is “there or their,” learning all three together prevents another common spelling mistake.
What Does “There” Mean?
There is most commonly used to refer to a place, location, or position. It can also introduce a sentence that says something exists.
1. There means “in or at that place”
Use there when you are talking about a location.
- The restaurant is over there.
- Please put the box there.
- I left my phone there yesterday.
A useful clue is the word here inside there. Both words can refer to locations.
2. There can introduce existence
There commonly appears before forms of be, such as is, are, was, and were.
- There is a problem with the report.
- There are two books on the desk.
- There was a long line outside.
- There were several reasons for the decision.
In these sentences, there does not mean a specific physical location. Instead, it helps introduce the fact that something exists or occurs. Cambridge Dictionary identifies this as another important use of there.
3. There can refer to an abstract point or situation
There does not always refer to a physical place.
- We disagree there.
- I understand your point there.
- She was always there for her friends.
So, the best rule is broader than simply saying “there means a place.” It can refer to a location, point, situation, or existence.
What Does “Their” Mean?
Their is a possessive determiner. It shows that something belongs to, relates to, or is associated with them. It normally comes before a noun.
Examples of “Their”
- The students opened their books.
- The company announced their new policy.
- The children cleaned their room.
- The neighbors parked their cars outside.
In each sentence, their connects the noun with a person or group represented by they.
For example:
The students brought their laptops.
Here, their tell us that the laptops belong to or are associated with the students.
Their can also refer to one person
Modern standard English commonly uses their with singular indefinite pronouns such as everyone, someone, anyone, and each person, especially when the person’s gender is unknown or irrelevant.
- Everyone should bring their ID.
- Someone left their umbrella here.
- If anyone calls, tell them I will return their message later.
Merriam-Webster and the MLA Style Center recognize this singular use of their.
What Is the Difference Between There and Their?
The easiest way to separate them is to focus on meaning, not pronunciation.
- There = location, position, or existence
- “The children are playing there.”
- Their = possession or association
- “The children are playing with their toys.”
A simple decision guide
Ask yourself:
1. Am I talking about a place or position?
→ Use there.
2. Am I showing that something belongs to or relates to them?
→ Use their.
Compare:
- The employees are waiting there. → location
- The employees are waiting with their manager. → association
This distinction works in most everyday situations.
Grammar Rules for There and Their
Rule 1: Use “there” for location
Use there when the word points to a place or position.
Correct:
The keys are over there.
Incorrect:
The keys are over their.
Rule 2: Use “there” in “there is” and “there are” constructions
Use there to introduce something that exists.
- There is a meeting tomorrow.
- There are five students in the room.
Do not replace there with their.
Rule 3: Use “their” before a noun when showing possession
- They sold their house.
- We reviewed their proposal.
- The players wore their uniforms.
Rule 4: Test “their” with “our”
If you can replace the word with our and the sentence still makes sense, their is probably correct.
- Their office is downtown.
- Our office is downtown.
That works because both words express possession or association.
Rule 5: Test “they are” for “they’re”
This rule is not directly about there vs. their, but it prevents a very common third mistake.
- They’re ready. → They are ready.
- Their ready. → Incorrect.
If they are fits, use they’re, not their or there.
When Should You Use There or Their?
Academic Writing
Use there for locations and existential statements:
There are several factors that affect student performance.
Use their for possession or association:
Students should review their notes before the exam.
Correct word choice matters in essays, research papers, assignments, and formal reports because these homophones can make otherwise strong writing look careless.
Professional and Business Writing
Use there when referring to a place, situation, or existence:
The documents are available there.
Use their when referring to employees, customers, teams, or organizations:
Employees should submit their reports by Friday.
Emails
- Please leave the signed forms there.
- The clients have sent their approval.
- There are two items that need attention.
Daily Conversation
Both words appear constantly in ordinary speech:
- “Your bag is over there.”
- “They forgot their tickets.”
- “There are plenty of seats.”
Because there and their usually sound alike, speakers may not notice the difference. The distinction becomes especially important in writing.
Common Mistakes With There and Their
Mistake 1: Using “their” for a place
❌ Put the books over their.
✅ Put the books over there.
Why? The sentence identifies a location.
Mistake 2: Using “there” for possession
❌ They forgot there homework.
✅ They forgot their homework.
Why? The homework belongs to or is associated with them.
Mistake 3: Confusing “there” with “they’re”
❌ There going to arrive soon.
✅ They’re going to arrive soon.
Why? They’re means they are.
Mistake 4: Choosing by sound
This is one of the biggest reasons people make the error. There, their, and they’re are homophones: they have the same or very similar pronunciation but different meanings and spellings.
The solution is simple: check the meaning before choosing the spelling.
10 Original Examples in Real-World Contexts
- School: The students placed their textbooks on the table before class began.
- Workplace: The managers asked employees to submit their reports by noon.
- Business: There are several opportunities for the company to expand.
- Conversation: “Your jacket is right over there.”
- Books: The characters returned to their hometown at the end of the novel.
- News: There was a large crowd outside the building this morning.
- Social media: Many users shared their opinions about the new update.
- Everyday English: We can meet there after lunch.
- Academic writing: There are several reasons why the results differ.
- Travel: The tourists left their luggage at the hotel before exploring the city.
There, Their, or They’re? A Fast Memory Trick
Use these three clues:
There = Here
The word there contains here.
here → there
Both can point to a place.
Their = Heir
An heir is connected with receiving or owning something.
their → belonging to them
They’re = They Are
The apostrophe tells you that letters have been removed.
they’re → they are
The 3-second test
Before choosing the word, ask:
For example:
The students left their bags there because they’re going to lunch.
All three can appear in one sentence because each performs a different job.
Mini Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
1. The children left ___ backpacks in the classroom.
A. there
B. their
C. they’re
Answer: B. their
2. Please put the package over ___.
A. there
B. their
C. they’re
Answer: A. there
3. ___ going to arrive after lunch.
A. There
B. Their
C. They’re
Answer: C. They’re
4. ___ are several mistakes in this paragraph.
A. Their
B. There
C. They’re
Answer: B. There
5. The players wore ___ new uniforms.
A. there
B. their
C. they’re
Answer: B. their
FAQs
What is the difference between there and their?
There usually refers to a place, position, or existence, while their shows possession or association with “they.”
For example, “The car is over there” refers to a location, while “They washed their car” shows that the car belongs to or is associated with them.
Is “their” used for possession?
Yes. Their is used to show that something belongs to, relates to, or is associated with them.
For example, “The students finished their homework” means the homework belongs to or is associated with the students.
Their can also be used with singular indefinite words such as “everyone” and “someone.”
How can I remember whether to use there or their?
Use there when you mean a place or location. A helpful memory trick is that there contains here.
Use their when you mean possession or association. You can often test it by replacing their with our. If the sentence still works, their is likely correct.
Are there and their pronounced the same?
In standard American English, there and their are generally pronounced the same, making them homophones.
Their different meanings and grammatical functions, not their sounds tell you which spelling to use. The same problem occurs with they’re, which is the contraction of they are.
Can “their” refer to one person?
Yes. Singular their is widely used with indefinite singular words such as everyone, someone, anyone, and each person, especially when the person’s gender is unknown or not important.
For example: “Everyone should bring their own laptop.” This usage is recognized in modern standard English.
Key Takeaways
- There usually refers to a place, position, or point.
- There can also introduce statements about existence: there is, there are, there was, and there were.
- Their shows possession, connection, or association with “they.”
- Their normally appears before a noun: their car, their ideas, their office.
- They’re means they are.
- There, their, and they are sound alike or very similar, so meaning not pronunciation determines the correct spelling.
- Remember: there = where, their = belonging to them, they’re = they are.
Conclusion
The difference between there or their becomes easy once you focus on meaning.
Choose there for a location, position, or existence; choose their to show possession or association with “they.”
If you also remember that they’re means they are, you can avoid all three common homophone mistakes and write with much greater accuracy.
Bryan Garner an experienced English language writer specializing in grammar, usage, word choice, and clear American English. He focuses on making complex language rules simple, accurate, and practical.
Mignon Fogarty
William Strunk