Quick Ans: Their is the correct spelling, while thier is a common spelling mistake. Their is a possessive determiner used to show that something belongs to or is associated with people or things. Remember the spelling with the simple rule: i before e in their. Never use thier in standard English writing.
Thier or their is a common spelling confusion in English. The two words look almost identical, but only one is correct. Their is a standard English word, while thier is simply a misspelling.
The confusion often happens because English has many words with unusual i and e combinations. When typing quickly, it’s easy to reverse the letters and write thier instead of their. Spell checkers may catch the error, but knowing the correct spelling helps you avoid it in the first place.
Their is especially important because it appears frequently in everyday, academic, professional, and online writing. It shows possession or association and can refer to more than one person or, in some contexts, a single person.
Once you understand how their works and learn a simple memory trick, this spelling becomes much easier to remember.
Quick Answer and Key Takeaway
| Word | Correct? | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Their | Yes | Shows possession or association |
| Thier | No | Common misspelling of their |
Key takeaway: Always write their, not thier, when you want to show possession or association.
Definition and Explanation
Their is a possessive determiner. It shows that something belongs to, relates to, or is associated with someone.
Examples:
- The students finished their homework.
- The company changed their policy.
- The children brought their toys.
The word thier has no standard meaning in modern English. It is a spelling error caused by reversing the i and e.
Compare:
Correct: They forgot their keys.
Incorrect: They forgot thier keys.
Is This a Grammar, Usage, or Vocabulary Issue?
This is primarily a spelling issue, although their itself has an important grammatical function.
Their is used before a noun:
- their house
- their car
- their ideas
- their teacher
It can also appear before a gerund:
- I appreciate their helping us.
Don’t confuse their with there or they’re.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Their | Possession or association | Their dog is friendly. |
| There | A place or existence | The book is over there. |
| They’re | They are | They’re ready. |
Real World Usage Examples
Workplace
Correct: Employees should submit their reports by Friday.
Incorrect: Employees should submit thier reports by Friday.
Recap: Use their when referring to something associated with employees.
Academic Writing
Correct: Students should check their sources carefully.
Incorrect: Students should check thier sources carefully.
Recap: Their is commonly used in essays, assignments, and academic instructions.
Everyday Writing
Correct: The neighbors parked their car outside.
Incorrect: The neighbors parked thier car outside.
Recap: Their is the correct spelling in everyday communication too.
Regional or Global Usage Differences
There is no major regional spelling difference between their and another standard form. Their is the accepted spelling across standard varieties of English.
The spelling thier is generally treated as an error rather than a regional alternative.
This makes the choice simple: use their in standard English writing.
When NOT to Use It
Don’t use their in these situations:
- Don’t write thier when you mean their.
- Don’t use their when you mean a location. Use there.
- Don’t use their when you mean they are. Use they’re.
- Don’t use their simply because a sentence contains the word they.
- Don’t confuse their with theirs, which can stand alone.
- Don’t replace their with there when showing possession.
- Don’t treat thier as an alternative spelling.
Common Mistakes and Corrections
| Correct Sentence | Incorrect Sentence | Why |
|---|---|---|
| They brought their books. | They brought thier books. | Thier is misspelled. |
| Their house is beautiful. | There house is beautiful. | There refers to place, not possession. |
| They’re going home. | Their going home. | They’re means they are. |
| The students completed their work. | The students completed there work. | Their shows possession. |
| The dog wagged their tail. | The dog wagged thier tail. | Their is the correct spelling. |
Simple Decision Rule
If you mean possession or association, use their. If you mean they are, use they’re. Never use thier in standard English.
Exercises With Answers
Choose the correct word.
- The children packed ___ bags.
- ___ going to the store.
- Put the chairs over ___.
- The players wore ___ uniforms.
- The students submitted ___ assignments.
Answers
- their
- they’re
- there
- their
- their
Related Concepts and Comparisons
The easiest way to remember their is to compare it with the other commonly confused forms.
| Word | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Their | Possession | Their house is large. |
| There | Place or existence | Your bag is there. |
| They’re | They are | They’re waiting outside. |
| Theirs | Possessive pronoun | The blue car is theirs. |
A useful memory trick is to remember that their contains heir, a person who receives something that belongs to someone else. This can help you remember the spelling: their, not thier.
FAQs
Is thier a correct word?
No. Thier is generally a misspelling of their and should not be used in standard English writing.
Is their or thier correct?
Their is correct. Thier is a spelling mistake.
How do you spell their correctly?
The correct spelling is t h e i r: their.
Why do people spell their as thier?
People often reverse the i and e when typing or writing quickly. The two spellings look very similar, which makes this a common spelling error.
What is the difference between their and there?
Their shows possession or association, while there usually refers to a place or indicates that something exists.
What is the difference between their and they’re?
Their shows possession. They’re is a contraction of they are.
Can their refer to one person?
Yes. Singular they can use their when referring to one person, especially when the person’s gender is unknown, irrelevant, or when they use they pronouns.
Is thier ever acceptable in formal writing?
No. In standard formal writing, use their. Thier should be corrected as a spelling error.
Conclusion
The answer to thier or their is simple: their is correct, and thier is a misspelling. Their is a possessive determiner that shows ownership, association, or connection. You can see it in sentences such as “They brought their books” and “The students finished their work.”
The easiest way to avoid confusion is to remember the correct letter order: t h e i r. Also keep their, there, and they’re separate. Their shows possession, there refers to a place or existence, and they’re means they are.
Because their is extremely common in English, learning this distinction is useful for emails, essays, social media posts, workplace communication, and everyday writing.
Practical tip: Whenever you type thier, stop and check the letters. If you mean possession, change it to their before submitting or publishing your writing.