Their or Thier: Which Spelling Is Correct? Simple Rules & Examples

Their or Thier is one of the most common spelling puzzles in English. You type fast, your fingers swap two letters, and a typo lands on the page. Sound familiar? Even strong writers make this slip. The fix is simple, though, and you can learn it in minutes.

In this guide, you’ll see which spelling is right and why. You’ll learn what the word means and how to use it. You’ll also learn how to tell it apart from “there” and “they’re.” Plus, you’ll get memory tricks, real examples, and a short worksheet. Their or Thier will never slow you down again.

Table of Contents

Their or Thier: Which Is Correct?

“Their” is the correct spelling. “Thier” is always a misspelling.

Look at the letter order. In “their,” the E comes before the I. Every major dictionary lists “their.” None of them list “thier.” This holds true in American, British, Canadian, and Australian English.

Here’s a quick side-by-side look.

Spelling	Correct?	Example
their	Yes	The kids love their new school.
thier	No	The kids love thier new school.

So when you feel unsure, pick “their.” You’ll be right every single time.

What Does “Their” Mean?

“Their” means belonging to or connected with a group of people, animals, or things.

Grammar experts call it a possessive determiner. Some older books call it a possessive adjective. Either way, it sits before a noun and shows ownership. In “their garden,” the word tells you who owns the garden.

Think of “their” as a small name tag. It sticks a label on something and says, “This belongs to them.” It’s part of a family of words: they, them, their, theirs, and themselves.

Is “Thier” a Real English Word?

No, “thier” is not a real English word. It’s a typo.

You won’t find it in the Oxford, Cambridge, or Merriam-Webster dictionaries. Spell checkers flag it with a red line right away. Search engines may still show results for it, since people type it so often. However, popular mistakes don’t become real words.

Teachers, editors, and employers all treat “thier” as an error. Using it can make your writing look rushed. That’s a shame, because your ideas may be great.

How do You Use Their?

Use “their” before a noun to show that something belongs to more than one person or thing.

Follow these three steps:

Find the owners (they, the kids, the team).
Find the thing they own.
Place “their” right before that thing.

Here are a few examples:

The kids packed their bags.
The team won their first game.
Birds build their nests in spring.

Notice the pattern. “Their” always comes before a noun. Sometimes an adjective sneaks in between, as in “their old car.” The rule still holds.

Why Do People Write “Thier”?

People write “thier” because of sound, speed, and a famous spelling rule.

Let’s break that down.

Sound: The word sounds like “thair.” Nothing in that sound shows the E-I order.
Speed: When you type fast, your fingers can swap neighboring letters.
The classic rule: Many of us learned “I before E, except after C.” That rhyme can nudge you toward “thier.”
Look-alike words: “There” and “they’re” sound the same, so the brain gets muddled.

English is full of spelling traps like this. Plenty of readers look up Boujee or Bougie and Nosy or Nosey for the same reason. The sound gives no clue about the spelling. You simply have to learn the right form.

How to Spell Their Correctly

Spell it T-H-E-I-R.

Say the letters out loud. Then write the word three times. It helps to split it into two chunks: “the” plus “ir.” The first three letters spell a word you already know. Add “ir” and you’re done.

Here are a few more tips:

Slow down when you type short, common words.
Read your work once from the end to the start.
Turn on your spell checker, but don’t trust it blindly.
Keep a sticky note with “their” near your desk.

Small habits beat big efforts. Practice builds muscle memory fast.

Their, There, and They’re

These three words sound identical. Linguists call such words homophones. However, each one has its own job. Mix them up and your sentence may stop making sense.

Their

“Their” shows possession. It tells you something belongs to them.

Their house sits on the corner.
The students finished their homework.

There

“There” points to a place. It also starts sentences about something that exists.

Put the box over there.
There are three apples on the table.

They’re

“They’re” is short for “they are.” The apostrophe stands in for the missing letter.

They’re late for the bus.
I think they’re ready now.

Here’s how the three compare.

Word	Job	Example	Quick test
their	Shows ownership	Their dog is cute.	Ask “whose?”
there	Shows place	The dog is over there.	Swap in “here”
they’re	Means “they are”	They’re walking the dog.	Swap in “they are”

Their or Thier Meaning

“Their” means belonging to them. “Thier” means nothing at all.

Their or Thier isn’t a debate about meaning, since only one of them carries any. Dictionaries give “their” these uses:

Belonging to or made by a group (“their ideas”).
Referring to one person whose gender is unknown (“someone lost their keys”).
Referring to one person who uses “they” as a pronoun.

“Thier” has no entry, no definition, and no place in a sentence. If a reader sees it, they’ll assume you meant “their.” They may also judge the slip.

Correct Spelling of Their in Sentences

Seeing the right spelling in action makes it stick. Their or Thier errors fade fast when you study clear examples. Here are four common uses.

Possession

This is the most common use. It shows who owns something.

The neighbors painted their fence.
Dolphins protect their young.
The band sold their old van.

Association

“Their” also shows a link, not just ownership.

Their school is near the park.
We admired their courage.
Their friendship lasted for decades.

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Singular, gender-neutral use

People have used “their” for one person for centuries. It’s handy when you don’t know someone’s gender.

Someone left their umbrella here.
Each student must bring their own pen.
Alex said their flight was late.

Many modern style guides, including those from AP and APA, accept this singular use. Merriam-Webster also named “they” its word of the year for 2019.

Referring to a group

This is the classic use. It points to teams, families, crowds, and more.

The committee shared their views.
Families enjoy their weekends at the lake.
Voters made their choice clear.

Their or Thier Grammar

Grammatically, “their” is a third-person plural possessive determiner.

Their or Thier grammar questions have one clean answer. Only “their” fits a sentence. Keep these rules in mind:

It always comes before a noun.
It never takes an apostrophe.
It never takes an “s” when it sits before a noun.
It works for one person or many, depending on the context.

Don’t confuse it with “theirs.” That word stands alone and replaces the noun. For example, say “That car is theirs.” Never write “their’s,” because that form is always wrong.

Form	Job	Example
their	Goes before a noun	Their car is red.
theirs	Stands alone	The red car is theirs.
their’s	Not a word	Avoid it.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Four slips cause most of the trouble. Their or Thier errors top the list, yet the others cause just as much confusion. Learn all four and you’ll write with more confidence.

Writing “thier”

This is the big one. The letters flip, and the word becomes invalid.

Wrong: They lost thier way.
Right: They lost their way.

Fix: Remember that E comes before I in this word.

Using “there” for possession

Writers often pick “there” because it looks familiar.

Wrong: There car broke down.
Right: Their car broke down.

Fix: Ask “whose car?” If the answer is “theirs,” use “their.”

Using “they’re” for possession

An apostrophe makes some writers think “they’re” shows ownership. It doesn’t. It only means “they are.”

Wrong: They’re dog barked all night.
Right: Their dog barked all night.

Fix: Say “they are dog.” If it sounds silly, you need “their.”

Assuming similar pronunciation means similar spelling

English isn’t a phonetic language. Words that sound alike often look different. Think of “bear” and “bare,” or “know” and “no.” Cutesy or Cutsie shows the same trap. The ear can mislead you, so trust the dictionary instead.

Their or Thier Worksheet

Ready to practice? This short worksheet checks your skills. Their or Thier? Choose with care.

Part A: Pick the correct spelling.

The kids forgot (their / thier) lunch boxes.
We visited (their / thier) new house.
The players waved to (their / thier) fans.

Part B: Pick their, there, or they’re.

(Their / There / They’re) going to the zoo.
Is the cat over (their / there / they’re)?
The students raised (their / there / they’re) hands.
(Their / There / They’re) are seven days in a week.
I love (their / there / they’re) new song.

Answer key:

their
their
their
They’re
there
their
There
their

Score 7 or more and you’re in great shape. If you missed a few, reread the section on “their, there, and they’re.”

How Do You Know When to Use “Their”?

Use “their” when something belongs to a group of people, animals, or things.

Try these quick checks:

Ask “whose?” If the answer shows ownership, write “their.”
Swap the word. Try “my,” “our,” or “his.” If the sentence still works, “their” fits.
Test “they are.” If that swap works, use “they’re.”
Test “here.” If that swap works, use “there.”

Let’s try it. Take this sentence: “(Their/There) bus is late.” Swap in “our.” You get “Our bus is late.” That works, so “their” wins.

A Simple Way to Remember the Spelling

Look for the word “heir” hiding inside “their.”

An heir inherits things. “Their” also shows that something belongs to someone. The link makes the spelling easy to recall. Their or Thier is settled with one small trick.

Here are a few other memory aids:

Their has “heir,” so it shows ownership.
There has “here,” so it points to a place.
They’re has an apostrophe, so a letter is missing.

Pick the trick that clicks for you. Then repeat it a few times. Soon you won’t need it at all.

Is “Their” Used in Formal Writing?

Yes, “their” is fully correct in formal writing.

You’ll find it in essays, news stories, business reports, and legal papers. It’s one of the most common words in English. Writers rely on it daily.

The singular “their” has also become widely accepted in formal settings. Many style guides, such as APA, allow it. Some older guides prefer “his or her” in certain cases. When in doubt, check the guide your school or workplace follows.

One rule never changes, though. Spell it “their,” never “thier.” Formal writing leaves no room for that typo.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it “their” or “thier”?

“Their” is correct, and “thier” is always a misspelling.

What does “their” mean?

It means belonging to or connected with a group of people or things.

Is “thier” a real English word?

No, it’s a common typo and isn’t in any major dictionary.

How do you spell “their” correctly?

Spell it T-H-E-I-R, with the E coming before the I.

What’s the difference between “their,” “there,” and “they’re”?

“Their” shows ownership, “there” shows place, and “they’re” means “they are.”

Can you use “their” for one person?

Yes, “their” works for one person when the gender is unknown or the person uses “they.”

What’s an easy trick to remember the spelling?

Look for the word “heir” inside “their,” since both show ownership.

Conclusion

“Their” is the only correct spelling. “Thier” is a typo and has no meaning. Remember that “their” shows ownership, and keep the E before the I.

Their or Thier no longer has to cause stress. Use the “heir” trick, run the “whose?” test, and practice with the worksheet. Keep “there” for places and “they’re” for “they are.” With a little repetition, the right spelling will come naturally.