How to use words: There, Their and They’re
Cruising around the Internets (that “series of tubes” the Alaskan ex-Senator mentioned), you see some pretty awful writing. People get confused by sound-alike words, as I’ve mentioned before — and probably will again. Like “there,” “their” and “they’re.” Thanks to Bill for the suggestion.
The mistake you often see is “there” where “their” should be. As in, “They picked up there socks and shoes.” There’s a sentence that stops you dead in your tracks. “Huh?” Maybe the writer meant “them-thar socks and shoes.” Maybe if the writer was Gabby Hayes. But no. The writer ought to say, “They went ‘there’ and picked up ‘their’ shoes.”
Roy, ya look real pretty. Too pretty.
Memory trick: “Where” and “there” are spelled alike. “Where are they? Over there.” Not “over their.”
“Their” is a possessive, meaning something belongs to “them.” “There” is a location, e.g., “over there.” (BTW, “e.g.” stands for the Latin “exempli gratia.” It means “for example.” Don’t confuse it with “i.e.,” which means, “in other words.”)
Each of those words is obviously a single word. But “they’re” is actually two words disguised as one. Yup. “They’re” is a contraction of “they” and “are,” with the “a” replaced by an apostrophe. Other contractions are “it’s,” “aren’t, and won’t.” And that last word is a perfect example of the contrariness of the English language. If it were a normal contraction, it would be “willn’t,” wouldn’t it? But nooooo… It has to be “abby normal,” as Igor would say.
OK, let’s use ‘em all together now: “They’re going over there to get their deathray guns!” So let’s get out of here!
