With one exception*, my writing articles and blog entries assume some basic knowledge – if you are writing for business purposes, I assume you know the obvious rules of capital letters to start sentences, common spelling rules and the idea of paragraphs.<\/p>\n
So I have never written about there\/their\/they’re – until now!<\/p>\n
I have seen these words misused a number of times recently, and getting an email today from someone who calls herself a writer with the sentence “Their are some great news items ” was the last straw for me! (How can they own ‘are some great news’?)<\/p>\n
If this is obvious to you, I apologise! If it isn’t, I hope this helps and I apologise for not helping you sooner!<\/p>\n
There, they’re or their?<\/strong><\/p>\n All 3 words sound exactly the same, but have totally different meanings and uses. Using the wrong word can make a sentence very confusing or just make the writer look silly – neither is what you want in your business (or other!) writing.<\/p>\n They’re<\/span> is short for they are<\/span> – so it is used as “They’re running late today”<\/p>\n There<\/span> is not here<\/span> – so it is used as “We will go there tomorrow”<\/p>\n Their <\/span>shows they own something<\/span> – it is used as “John and Betty will bring their car, too”<\/p>\n Imagine the following sentence with the wrong there\/they’re\/their spellings…<\/p>\n “They’re bringing their own car so we will meet them there.”<\/p>\n Use your words wisely!<\/p>\n