In our English language, several words are very similar and are often confused.
One often-confused pair of words is they’re and their.
It helps to remember that they’re is a contraction. They’re is made up of two words: they and are.
When the two words are bumped together, the letter a is taken out, and an apostrophe (‘) replaces the letter a.
They are becomes they’re.
Use the word they’re when you could also use the two words they are.
Mom and Dad said they’re coming to visit next week.
Mom and Dad said they are coming to visit next week.
New neighbors just moved in, and they’re having a party.
New neighbors just moved in, and they are having a party.
The word their is a possessive pronoun. A pronoun takes the place of a noun in a sentence. A possessive pronoun shows ownership.
Bob and Mary have a dog. It is their dog.
Jan and Jim bought a new house. It is their house.
A contraction always has an apostrophe because a letter was bumped out when the two words were joined into one. Remember to use they’re when you really mean they are.
A pronoun does not have an apostrophe. Use their when someone owns something.