If you are confused about whether to write their or thier , you are not alone. In the English language, many words are tricky to spell, including this one. By the way, which spelling are you supposed to use?
Their or Thier Spelling – Which is Correct?
According to English grammar and spelling, the correct spelling is “their,” with the E before the I. “Their” is incorrect, and it is not a word in English.
When people write “thier,” probably the intention is referred to the third person pronoun of “they.” However, it should be properly spelled for the whole idea to be transmitted, and the receiver will understand well what is said. Also, the word “their” can be utilized for singular cases, even though mainly in informal settings, as a method to avoid specifying gender.
“Their” Definition and Meaning
The word “their” is a possessive pronoun which indicates that something belongs to a group of people (they). It is a plural equivalent to her, his, and its, which are singular possessive pronouns.
When you are talking about something which belongs to a single person, you have to use a singular possessive pronoun:
- She loves her new bag.
When you are talking about something which belongs to two or more people, you have to use the plural possessive pronoun:
- They love their new bags.
How Do You Spell “Their”?
“Their” does not mean anything. And, it is not a real English word. The correct spelling is “their” with an E before an I, not with an I before an E. If you are not sure that you are spelling “their” properly, then you are able to use a tool to help you fix incorrect spellings. For your information, ProWritingAid provides a tool that you can download for free to help you fix incorrect spellings with a single click.
Tips for Spelling Their, Not Thier
In your school, you might have been taught the rhyme “I before E.” The issue with this rhyme is that there are many exceptions to this rule, so relying on this rhyme will lead you astray. It is better to learn the correct spelling of each word individually to ensure you do not mix them up. One useful tip for remembering how to spell “their” is to start with the word they, and then you are able to remove the Y and replace it with an IR. That way, you are going to know the E goes first, since it has already part of the word they.
Is The Word “Their” Capitalized?
Below are the occasions when the word “their” must be capitalized:
- At the beginning of a sentence.
This occasion responds to the grammar rule which states one should always capitalize the first word which introduces a complete thought in a written sentence.
For example:
- Their issue is not knowing how to put their feelings into the words.
- Their level of French proficiency has surpassed the average student.
- Their trip to the market ended up being a 3-hour excursion rather than just twenty minutes.
In the three sentences above, the word “their” indicates ownership; of an issue, of a French proficiency level, of a trip. In all cases, the term “their” introduces the reader to a complete thought. For this reason, the word “their” must be in capital letters.
- If it is part of a proper noun.
This case applies whenever you write about a literary work or an art piece.
For example:
- My favorite movie is “Their Last Dance.”
- Isaiah Ottenwalder was the author of “Their kid, Not Mine.”
- Bella, though afraid, read the poem “Walking Down Their Hood” to the whole class.
- Joe has looped the song “Drawing On Their Thoughts” for the last four days.
- Wendy Pennington became famous for her essay titled “Theirs the Damage; Ours the Problem.”
The five sentences above used the term “their” within a title of a movie, a specific work of art, a poem, a song, and a literary piece. For these cases, the word “their” claims ownership by the third parties.
Term “Their” In Sentences
- They are able to perceive their body language and posture when looking at the mirror.
- Bella and Rose received their golden package at their new home.
- Mr. Joe and Mrs. Christine try to mow their lawn every Monday.
- They do not know if someone can master their emotions until something random happens.
- Albert, Georgina, and Mae decided to take their problem upstairs.
- The lightning in that room makes it easier to watch their art exposition.
- They said that their plane would land four hours later than planned.
- Canadians claim that their maple syrup is the best one.
- If you want to talk to them about your concerns, you are able to ask when their closest free time is available.
- The players of Karate know their time for practice is a crucial part of becoming a professional.
- Aestheticians have already learned to understand their clients’ faces.
- Amber, Dante, and Eloise said that they would be enrolling in their favorite teacher’s archery class.
- If you discover someone who can print the sign in bold letters, ask for their design prices.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the correct term to use when referring to the third person plural possessive is the word “their.” It is because the word “thier” does not exist in the English vocabulary, and is instead a misspelling of the word “their.” Occasionally, the term is used when the writer does not want to specify the gender of the subject doing an action.
There are occasions where someone should capitalize the word “their.” Those cases are when it is the first word in a sentence, introducing a complete idea; when it is part of a proper title, an art piece, be it a literary work, or another official heading.
Eventually, several titles include the word “their,” however one should not capitalize articles, prepositions, or coordinating conjunctions within the title, because it is not proper. It is best to consider the rules and the examples when experiencing doubts concerning a word’s spelling.
