Is It Their or There? Difference, Examples, and Easy Rule

Their means belonging to them. There means in or at that place, or used to introduce a sentence. The safest way to choose the correct word is to check the meaning of the sentence before you check the spelling.

Their car is parked outside.
There is a note on the desk.

These words are easy to confuse because they sound alike or look similar in fast writing. They are not interchangeable, though. Use their when you mean belonging to them. Use there when you mean in or at that place, or used to introduce a sentence.

Their vs. There at a glance

Word	Part of speech	Meaning	Example
their	possessive determiner	belonging to them	Their car is parked outside.
there	adverb/pronoun	in or at that place, or used to introduce a sentence	There is a note on the desk.

Quick rule:

Their = belonging to them.
There = in or at that place, or used to introduce a sentence.
If the definition does not fit naturally, choose the other word.

When to use their

Use their when your sentence is about belonging to them. This word is correct when that idea is the main point.

Examples:

Their car is parked outside.
The sentence uses their because it means belonging to them.
A reader would expect their in this context.
If this meaning does not fit, check whether there is better.

A helpful editing test is to replace the word with its definition. If the sentence still says what you want, the word is probably right. If the sentence becomes strange, you likely need the other word.

When to use there

Use there when your sentence is about in or at that place, or used to introduce a sentence. Even if it sounds like their, it gives the reader a different meaning.

Examples:

There is a note on the desk.
The sentence uses there because it means in or at that place, or used to introduce a sentence.
Replacing it with their would make the sentence inaccurate.
In careful writing, choose by meaning rather than sound.

This distinction matters in school writing, business emails, job applications, and public content. One wrong word can distract readers and make a clear sentence look careless.

The easiest memory trick

Their shows ownership. There points to a place or introduces an idea.

You can also ask:

> Is the sentence about belonging to them, or is it about in or at that place, or used to introduce a sentence?

If the first meaning fits, choose their. If the second meaning fits, choose there.

Common phrases with their

their house
their idea
their team
their decision

Examples:

The phrase their house uses their because it connects to belonging to them.
The phrase their idea follows the same meaning pattern.
Memorizing common phrases helps you write faster and more accurately.

Common phrases with there

over there
there is
there are
go there

Examples:

The phrase over there uses there because it connects to in or at that place, or used to introduce a sentence.
The phrase there is is another common use.
If the phrase looks wrong, check the meaning before changing the spelling.

Common mistakes and corrections

Incorrect	Correct	Why
There car is parked outside.	Their car is parked outside.	The sentence needs their because it means belonging to them.
Their is a note on the desk.	There is a note on the desk.	The sentence needs there because it means in or at that place, or used to introduce a sentence.

More corrections:

Incorrect: I chose the word because it sounded familiar.
Correct: I chose the word because its meaning matched the sentence.
Incorrect: I treated both words as interchangeable.
Correct: I kept their and there separate.

The same context-first habit also helps with Their vs. There vs. They’re and Were vs. Where. For a wider set of examples in this topic, use the Commonly Confused Words archive as the category grows.

More example sentences

Examples with their:

Their car is parked outside.
The editor chose their because it matched the intended meaning.
In this sentence, their is clear and natural.
The sentence would change meaning with there.

Examples with there:

There is a note on the desk.
The teacher accepted the sentence because there was accurate.
In this context, there cannot be replaced by their.
The word choice tells the reader exactly what you mean.

Why this difference matters

Small word-choice errors can make otherwise good writing look careless. In a casual message, readers may still understand you. In formal writing, a confusing word can reduce trust and make the reader pause.

The best fix is a simple habit: slow down, define the word in plain English, and choose the spelling that matches the meaning. That habit works for their and there, and it works for many other confusing English words.

Extra editing check

Before you publish or submit important writing, test the word in a full sentence. If the definition does not fit naturally, switch to the other word. This extra check helps you avoid repeating the same mistake in emails, essays, forms, and professional documents.

Quick quiz

Choose the correct word.

Their car is parked outside.
There is a note on the desk.
Which word means belonging to them: their or there?
Which word means in or at that place, or used to introduce a sentence: their or there?

Answers:

their
there
their
there

FAQ

Is their the same as there?

No. their means belonging to them, while there means in or at that place, or used to introduce a sentence. They should not be used as substitutes.

How do I remember their vs. there?

Use the meaning test. Ask what the sentence is actually saying, then choose the word that matches that meaning.

Which word is more common?

It depends on the topic. Frequency is less important than accuracy. Choose the word that makes the sentence clear and true.

Can these words appear in formal writing?

Yes. Both words can appear in formal writing when used correctly. The important part is choosing the one that fits the sentence.

Final tip

Do not choose between their and there by sound alone. If the sentence means belonging to them, use their. If it means in or at that place, or used to introduce a sentence, use there.