Words
November 21, 2011 11:18 AM   Subscribe

What’s a sure-fire way of knowing the difference between “their” and there; I always end up getting confused between the two.

I could probably go look this up on google, and I have—and I do, all the time… but I guess what I’m looking for is a way to help me remember what I should keep in mind if I want to know—yes, this is where “their” is supposed to go, because of sososososo reason, and this where [there] will go, because of so-and-so reason.

Thanks for your help!
posted by hadjiboy to Writing & Language (18 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Those are good mnemonics. Another one: "their" has "heir" in it. Heirs are people.
posted by John Cohen at 11:23 AM on November 21, 2011


If you are talking about the position of something or someone, use "there". If you are talking about something that belongs or relates to a group of people (including an opinion or a characteristic), use "their". You don't ask, but if you could substitute "they are" in the sentence, that's when to use "they're".
posted by yogalemon at 11:23 AM on November 21, 2011


"Their" is most often followed by a noun.
"There" is most often followed by a verb or preposition.
"They're" is most often followed by an adjective or participle (which is kinda an adjective).

I'm not sure it's sure–fire though.
posted by Jehan at 11:27 AM on November 21, 2011


I don't think the op was just looking for defenitions, yogalemon.

I leanred the mnemonic device that the young rope-rider described.
posted by Think_Long at 11:28 AM on November 21, 2011


Actually, "They're" is regularly followed by nouns too, but you weren't worried about that.
posted by Jehan at 11:30 AM on November 21, 2011


The "e" and "i" are buddies (or siblings) because they're both vowels, so "their" refers to people.
posted by carmicha at 11:37 AM on November 21, 2011


Their contains heir.
Heirs inherit possessions.
Their is possessive.
posted by emelenjr at 11:41 AM on November 21, 2011 [1 favorite]


The spelling similarity between "here" and "there" is definitely the easiest mnemonic, I think.

However, I think internalizing the correct usage (rather than resorting to a mnemonic every time) is probably the best way to go about it.

Just type up an entire single spaced page of nothing but "The ball went over there. Their dog is adorable. They're playing over there by the pool with their friends..." Then do it again tomorrow. Then one more time next week and you'll be set for life.
posted by losvedir at 11:42 AM on November 21, 2011


If you replace their/there with "my" or "your", does the sentence still make sense? Then use "their". Does it become gibberish? Then use "there"

"There is" is a common phrase, and for that you can remember that There doesn't need an I because IS already has one.
posted by soelo at 11:48 AM on November 21, 2011


Yes, thinking HERE and tHERE probably ought to do the trick.
posted by Decani at 11:49 AM on November 21, 2011


The Oatmeal has an approach you might find useful.
posted by batmonkey at 12:08 PM on November 21, 2011 [2 favorites]


Using their cash, my friends got me beer
So I went over there and now beer's here
Yay beer!
posted by fearnothing at 12:09 PM on November 21, 2011


Just learn what one of them are. That way when you run into an instance where you need to use them.. you can ask yourself:

"There means talking about a place. Am I talking about a place? No.. then it must be Their."
posted by royalsong at 12:58 PM on November 21, 2011


Their is a person, There is a place.
posted by Yellow at 12:58 PM on November 21, 2011


I try putting the word "own" after the their/there. If it still makes sense, then it's their.

The mefites finished there/their comments and went to bed.

The mefites finished their (own) comments and went to bed.
posted by kjs4 at 2:12 PM on November 21, 2011


(Possessive) Their implies ownership.

His cat.
Her cat.
Until the lawsuit, Sam was their cat.

There implies place.

Where wolf?
There wolf! Run!
posted by DisreputableDog at 2:32 PM on November 21, 2011


I think if you remember that "here" and "t-here" and "w-here" are places, you are good. If you aren't talking about a place, then it is the other one (their).

What I do to remember the difference is that I "pronounce" them slightly differently in my internal monologue. Which helps to solidify them as completely separate words, rather than accidentally remember them as the same word, just spelled differently in different circumstances. Same thing worked for then and than- emphasizing the different pronunciation emplasized the different words. "When? Then!" and "Than and"

(And for they're, just remember to ALWAYS fully spell out contractions as a test. I still have to do this with "it is".)
posted by gjc at 7:08 PM on November 21, 2011


There is usually referring to a place, but not always:
"There is no way I will eat spinach."
"Was there anything you liked about that book?"

When you are pairing it with "is", "was" or "will be", you always use t-h-e-r-e as well.
posted by soelo at 10:26 AM on November 22, 2011


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