Theirs vs Theres: Meaning, Differences, Examples, and How to Use Them Correctly

Many English learners confuse theirs and theres because they look similar at first glance.

However, there’s an important difference: theirs is a real English word, while theres is not considered a correct spelling in standard English.

Most of the time, people who type theres actually mean there’s, which is a contraction of there is or there has.

If you’ve ever wondered about theirs vs theres, this guide will clear up the confusion. You’ll learn the meaning of each term, see practical examples, discover common mistakes, and understand how to use theirs and there’s correctly in everyday writing.

Quick Answer

• Theirs is a possessive pronoun that shows ownership.
• Theres is not a correct English word. In most cases, it should be written as there’s, which means there is or there has.

Examples:

• ✅ That blue car is theirs.
• ✅ There’s a problem with the computer.
• ❌ Theres a problem with the computer.

The easiest way to remember this is:

• Theirs = Belongs to them
• There’s = There is / There has
• Theres = Incorrect spelling

What Does “Theirs” Mean?

Theirs is a possessive pronoun that replaces a noun to show that something belongs to a group of people.

Instead of repeating the owner’s name, you can simply use theirs.

Examples of “Theirs”

• That house is theirs.
• The decision was theirs to make.
• The backpacks are theirs.
• This victory is theirs.
• The responsibility is entirely theirs.

In each sentence, theirs shows ownership.

Common Uses of “Theirs”

You’ll often see theirs in sentences involving possession.

Examples:

• The choice is theirs.
• Those books are theirs.
• The credit belongs to them, so it’s theirs.
• The final decision is theirs alone.

What Does “Theres” Mean?

Theres has no meaning in standard English because it is a spelling mistake.

People usually type theres when they forget the apostrophe in there’s.

There’s is a contraction of:

• There is
• There has

Examples of “There’s”

• There’s a new restaurant nearby.
• There’s no reason to worry.
• There’s been a mistake.
• There’s plenty of time.
• There’s someone waiting outside.

Always include the apostrophe when writing there’s.

Theirs vs Theres Comparison Table

Feature	Theirs	Theres
Is it a real word?	Yes	No
Part of speech	Possessive pronoun	Incorrect spelling
Meaning	Belonging to them	Usually intended to mean “there’s”
Correct usage	The house is theirs.	❌ Theres a problem.
Correct form	Theirs	There’s

Key Differences Between Theirs and Theres

Although the words look alike, only one is grammatically correct.

Theirs

• Shows ownership
• Is a possessive pronoun
• Never needs an apostrophe

Example:

• The seats are theirs.

Theres

• Is not a proper English word
• Is simply a missing-apostrophe error
• Should almost always be written as there’s

Example:

• ❌ Theres a cat outside.
• ✅ There’s a cat outside.

Examples of Theirs vs Theres

Theirs	There’s (Not “Theres”)
The laptop is theirs.	There’s a laptop on the desk.
The success is theirs.	There’s good news today.
The tickets are theirs.	There’s plenty of food.
That idea was theirs.	There’s nothing to fear.
The garden is theirs.	There’s been a delay.

Common Mistakes

Many writers accidentally leave out the apostrophe or confuse ownership with existence.

Mistake 1

❌ Theres a problem.

✅ There’s a problem.

Mistake 2

❌ The book is there’s.

✅ The book is theirs.

Mistake 3

❌ Theirs going to arrive soon.

✅ There’s going to be an announcement soon.

Mistake 4

❌ Theres no mistakes in their work.

✅ There’s no mistake in their work.

Easy Memory Trick

Here’s a simple way to remember:

Theirs contains their, which refers to them and indicates ownership.

There’s always includes an apostrophe because it combines two words:

• There + is
• There + has

If you can expand the word into there is, then there’s is correct.

If you’re talking about something belonging to people, use theirs.

Synonyms and Related Words

Words Related to “Theirs”

• Belonging to them
• Their own
• Owned by them
• Possession
• Ownership

Words Related to “There’s”

Instead of there’s, you can sometimes write:

• There is
• There has
• A certain…
• An available…
• Exists

Examples:

• There is a solution.
• There’s a solution.

Both are correct.

American vs British English

There is no difference between American English and British English when using theirs or there’s.

Both varieties follow the same spelling and grammar rules.

Examples accepted in both:

• The decision is theirs.
• There’s plenty of room.
• There’s been a misunderstanding.
• Those bags are theirs.

The incorrect spelling theres is considered a mistake in both American and British English.

Tips to Avoid Confusing Theirs and Theres

Keep these simple tips in mind:

• Use theirs when showing ownership.
• Never add an apostrophe to theirs.
• Never write theres in formal writing.
• Use there’s when you mean there is or there has.
• Expand there’s into there is to check if it fits the sentence.
• Proofread your writing for missing apostrophes.

Practice Sentences

Choose the correct answer.

1. The bicycles belong to them.
   • ✅ The bicycles are theirs.
2. _____ a meeting at noon.
   • ✅ There’s
3. The final decision is _____.
   • ✅ theirs
4. _____ been a change in the schedule.
   • ✅ There’s
5. _____ a beautiful sunset tonight.
   • ✅ There’s

FAQs

Is “theres” a real English word?

No. Theres is not a correct spelling. The proper form is there’s.

What does “theirs” mean?

Theirs is a possessive pronoun that means something belongs to them.

Why doesn’t “theirs” have an apostrophe?

Possessive pronouns such as his, hers, ours, yours, and theirs never use apostrophes.

Is “there’s” always short for “there is”?

Not always. It can also mean there has, depending on the sentence.

Can I use “theres” in informal writing?

No. Even in casual writing, the correct spelling is there’s.

What is the easiest way to remember the difference?

If the sentence shows ownership, use theirs. If it can be expanded to there is or there has, use there’s.

Is “there’s” acceptable in formal writing?

Yes. However, in very formal documents, many writers prefer using the full form there is or there has.

Are “theirs” and “there’s” pronounced the same?

They sound similar in everyday speech, but they have different meanings and grammatical functions.

Summary

Understanding theirs vs theres is straightforward once you know that theres is not a correct English word. Theirs is a possessive pronoun used to show ownership, while there’s is the correct contraction for there is or there has. Although people often omit the apostrophe when typing quickly, standard English always requires it.

Whenever you write, ask yourself whether you’re talking about ownership or existence. If something belongs to someone, choose theirs. If you mean there is or there has, write there’s with an apostrophe. This simple habit will help you avoid one of the most common English writing mistakes.

Actionable Takeaway: Before using theirs or there’s, check whether your sentence expresses ownership or there is/there has. Also, remember that theres is always a spelling error and should be corrected.