There vs. their is one of the most common linguistic bar fights in the English language. The two words are pronounced exactly the same way and are nearly doppelgängers in the looks department. Yet despite the many similarities, their and there could not be more different. To break up the tussle, it’s important to understand what these semantic sluggers mean and when it is appropriate to use them. Let’s get ready to rumble.
When trying to decide between there vs. their, the first thing to remember is that the word there refers to a location and can be used is several different ways. There can be used as an adverb to mean the opposite of “here.” For example:
There can be used as a noun meaning “that place.” For example:
There can be used as an adjective to stress which subject or object is being referred to. For example:
There can also be used as a pronoun to introduce a noun or phrase. For example:
While there refers to a location and has many uses, their is just a third person plural possessive adjective meant to establish belonging or ownership, and it’s typically followed by a noun. Here are some examples:
Despite the identical pronunciations and similar aesthetic, their vs. there is an easy puzzle to solve once you understand what each word means. While there is used to denote location, their is used to define belonging and ownership. And although the two words are often found duking it out, they can coexist peacefully if used correctly. To prove it, here are some examples of them getting along in the wild.
There! Now you know the difference between there and their. And don’t forget to check out some of Elite Editing’s other blogs on distinguishing between similar words, such as biennial vs. biannual, affect vs. effect, and caramel vs. Carmel.
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