Their or Thier: Which Spelling Is Correct? Meaning, Rules, and Examples

Have you ever typed “thier” instead of “their” and wondered which spelling is correct? The correct spelling is their. It shows that something belongs to or is connected with someone. Thier is a common spelling mistake, not a standard spelling of the word.

Although both spellings contain the same letters, their order matters. Learning the difference between their, there, and they’re can help you avoid mistakes in text messages, emails, schoolwork, and professional writing.

Their or Thier: Which Is Correct?

Their is correct, while thier is incorrect when you want to show possession or association.

Here is a quick comparison:

Word	Correct usage	Example
Their	Shows possession or association	They brought their bags.
Thier	Common misspelling	They brought thier bags.

Remember that the letters E and I appear in the order E-I in their. Writing I-E creates the common spelling mistake thier.

What Does “Their” Mean?

Their is a possessive determiner. It shows that something belongs to or is associated with a person or group.

For example:

• The students finished their homework.
• The birds returned to their nest.
• The employees discussed their plans.
• The children put away their toys.

In each sentence, their connects people or animals with something related to them.

You can use their with plural nouns, as in this sentence:

“The players celebrated their victory.”

It can also refer to one person when their gender is unknown, irrelevant, or not specified.

For example:

“Someone left their umbrella by the door.”

Here, their refers to someone without specifying that person’s gender.

Is “Thier” a Real English Word?

In standard modern English, thier is not the accepted spelling of their. It is generally a typing or spelling mistake rather than a separate word with its own meaning.

For example:

Correct: The students brought their notebooks.

Incorrect: The students brought thier notebooks.

If you want to show that something belongs to someone, use their. There is no need to treat thier as a different word with a separate meaning.

Why Do People Write “Thier”?

The main reason is a simple letter-order mistake. Because their and thier contain the same five letters, it is easy to type them in the wrong order.

The correct spelling is:

T-H-E-I-R

The incorrect spelling is:

T-H-I-E-R

English spelling can also be confusing because there is no simple rule that works for every word containing ie or ei. People may remember how a word sounds but forget its exact spelling.

The easiest solution is to memorize their as a complete word and check the spelling when writing.

How to Spell Their Correctly

The correct spelling is T-H-E-I-R.

Use these simple tricks to remember it:

• Remember “the”: The word their begins with the same three letters as the.
• Connect it with “they”: Both they and their begin with T-H-E.
• Check the middle letters: The correct order is E-I, not I-E.

For example:

“They brought their bags.”

This sentence uses both they and their in a natural way, making it a helpful spelling reminder.

Their, There, and They’re

Their, there, and they’re sound alike in standard English, but they have different meanings. Choosing the right word depends on what you want to say.

Their

Their shows possession or association.

Examples:

• Their house is near the school.
• The players wore their uniforms.
• Everyone should bring their own lunch.

Ask yourself whether the word connects something to a person or group. If it does, their may be the correct choice.

There

There often refers to a place. It can also introduce a statement about the existence of something.

Examples:

• Put the bag over there.
• We went there yesterday.
• There are three books on the desk.

In these sentences, there does not show possession.

They’re

They’re is the contraction of they are.

Examples:

• They’re waiting outside.
• They’re happy with the results.
• They’re going to the park.

A useful test is to replace they’re with they are. If the sentence still makes sense, they’re is probably correct.

For example:

“They’re waiting outside” means “They are waiting outside.”

Quick Comparison

Word	Meaning	Example
Their	Possession or association	Their dog is friendly.
There	A place or existence	The dog is over there.
They’re	They are	They’re walking home.
Thier	Misspelling of their	Incorrect spelling

Correct Spelling of Their in Sentences

Reading examples in context makes it easier to understand how their works in everyday English.

Possession

Use their when something belongs to a person or group.

Example: The students opened their books.

The books belong to the students.

Association

Their can connect people or groups with something related to them, even when direct ownership is not involved.

Example: The employees shared their ideas during the meeting.

The ideas are associated with the employees.

Singular, Gender-Neutral Use

You can use their to refer to one person when their gender is unknown, irrelevant, or not specified.

Example: Every applicant should submit their form before Friday.

Here, their refers to each applicant without specifying gender.

Referring to a Group

When discussing a group of people, their connects the group with its belongings, decisions, or actions.

Example: The musicians packed their instruments after the concert.

The instruments belong to or are associated with the musicians.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Knowing the correct spelling is important, but you should also understand when to use their, there, and they’re.

1. Writing “Thier”

This is a simple spelling mistake.

Incorrect: The team announced thier decision.

Correct: The team announced their decision.

Always check the order of the middle letters.

2. Using “There” for Possession

There does not show that something belongs to someone.

Incorrect: The children forgot there coats.

Correct: The children forgot their coats.

Because the coats belong to the children, their is the correct word.

3. Using “They’re” for Possession

They’re means they are, so it cannot replace their when showing possession.

Incorrect: They left they’re bags at school.

Correct: They left their bags at school.

Try expanding they’re to they are. If the sentence no longer makes sense, you probably need a different word.

4. Assuming Similar Pronunciation Means Similar Spelling

Their, there, and they’re sound alike, but they do not mean the same thing.

For example:

• Their friends are here.
• Their friends are standing there.
• They’re meeting their friends.

Focus on the meaning and grammatical role of each word instead of relying only on its sound.

How Do You Know When to Use “Their”?

Ask yourself one simple question: Does the word show possession or a connection to someone?

If the answer is yes, their may be the right choice.

For example:

“The workers cleaned their desks.”

The desks are associated with the workers.

Now compare it with:

“The workers are standing over there.”

Here, there refers to a place.

Finally:

“They’re cleaning their desks.”

In this sentence, they’re means they are, while their connects the desks to the workers.

Understanding the meaning of each word is more reliable than choosing one based on pronunciation alone.

A Simple Way to Remember the Spelling

If you often type thier by mistake, use these quick reminders:

1. Remember the E-I order. In their, E comes before I.

2. Think of the word “the.” The first three letters of their spell the.

3. Read the sentence again. Check whether the word shows possession or association.

4. Use spell-check when needed. A spelling tool can catch many typing mistakes, although it may not identify every incorrect word in context.

For example:

“They brought their books to class.”

A quick spelling check can help you catch a mistake before submitting your writing.

Is “Their” Used in Formal Writing?

Yes. Their is correct in formal, academic, professional, and everyday English.

Examples include:

• Applicants should include their contact information.
• The researchers published their findings.
• Employees must complete their training.
• Each student should bring their assignment.

Singular they and related forms such as their are widely used when referring to one person whose gender is unknown or not specified.

There is no need to avoid their in formal writing. Just make sure the spelling and meaning fit the sentence.

Conclusion

When choosing between their and thier, the answer is simple: their is the correct spelling, and thier is a common mistake. Use their to show possession or association, and remember that E comes before I. Also, learn the difference between their, there, and they’re to avoid confusion in everyday writing. Whether you are sending a text, writing an email, or completing an assignment, checking these small details can make your English clearer and more accurate.

FAQ

Is it their or thier?

Their is correct. Thier is a misspelling. Use their when showing that something belongs to or is associated with a person or group.

How do you spell their correctly?

The correct spelling is T-H-E-I-R. Remember that E comes before I, and connect the word with they to make it easier to remember.

Is “thier” ever correct?

In standard modern English, thier is not the accepted spelling of the possessive word their. It is usually a typing or spelling mistake.

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. For example, “Their house is over there.”

What is the difference between their and they’re?

Their shows possession or association, while they’re means they are. For example, “Their friends are here” and “They’re waiting outside.”

Is their singular or plural?

Their can refer to a group or to one person. Singular their is commonly used when a person’s gender is unknown, irrelevant, or not specified.