Theirs vs Theres: Which Is Correct? (Complete Guide)

Have you ever confused theirs vs theres? These two forms look almost identical, but they have very different meanings. Theirs is a possessive pronoun that shows ownership, while theres is usually a misspelling of there’s, which is a contraction of there is or there has.

In this guide, you’ll learn the difference between theirs and theres, their meanings, examples, common mistakes, grammar rules, American and British English usage, FAQs, and an easy memory trick.

Quick Answer

• Theirs ✅ = belonging to them.
• There’s ✅ = short for there is or there has.
• Theres ❌ = usually incorrect when you mean there’s.

Examples:

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

The easiest rule is:

Theirs = belongs to them

There’s = there is / there has

What Does Theirs Mean?

Theirs is a possessive pronoun. It shows that something belongs to them.

It is the possessive form of they.

Examples:

• This car is theirs.
• The blue house is theirs.
• Those books are theirs.
• The decision was theirs.
• The responsibility is theirs.

You can usually replace theirs with a phrase such as belonging to them.

For example:

• This laptop is theirs.
• This laptop belongs to them.

What Does There’s Mean?

There’s is a contraction.

It can mean:

• There is
• There has

Most commonly, there’s means there is.

Examples:

• There’s a problem.
• There’s a book on the table.
• There’s someone at the door.
• There’s no reason to worry.

When it means there has, it usually appears before a past participle.

Examples:

• There’s been a misunderstanding.
• There’s been a change in the schedule.
• There’s never been a better time.

What Does Theres Mean?

Theres, without an apostrophe, is generally not the standard spelling when you mean there’s.

Incorrect:

• ❌ Theres a problem.

Correct:

• ✅ There’s a problem.

The apostrophe is important because it shows that letters have been omitted from there is or there has.

Remember

There is → There’s

There has → There’s

Without the apostrophe, theres is normally considered a spelling or punctuation error.

Theirs vs There’s Comparison Table

Word	Correct?	Meaning	Example
Theirs	✅ Yes	Belonging to them	That house is theirs.
There’s	✅ Yes	There is / there has	There’s a problem.
Theres	❌ Usually incorrect	Usually a missing apostrophe	❌ Theres a problem.

Why Are Theirs and Theres Confused?

The confusion comes from their similar appearance.

Compare:

• theirs
• there’s
• theres

They all contain similar letters, but the apostrophe and spelling create different meanings.

The most important distinction is:

Theirs relates to ownership.

There’s relates to existence or a situation.

For example:

• The house is theirs. → It belongs to them.
• There’s a house nearby. → There is a house nearby.

Theirs Shows Possession

Use theirs when something belongs to two or more people represented by they/them.

Examples:

• The choice is theirs.
• The tickets are theirs.
• Those seats are theirs.
• The responsibility is theirs.
• The victory was theirs.

Notice that theirs normally appears without a noun immediately after it.

Correct:

• That car is theirs.

Incorrect:

• ❌ That is theirs car.

Instead, use:

• ✅ That is their car.

Their vs Theirs

This is an important distinction.

Their

Their is a possessive determiner and comes before a noun.

Examples:

• Their car is new.
• Their house is large.
• Their children are outside.

Theirs

Theirs is a possessive pronoun and normally stands alone.

Examples:

• The car is theirs.
• The house is theirs.
• The children are theirs.

Compare:

• This is their car.
• This car is theirs.

Both sentences express ownership.

There’s Meaning There Is

The most common use of there’s is as a contraction of there is.

Examples:

• There’s a cat outside.
• There’s an interesting article online.
• There’s something wrong.
• There’s a new restaurant nearby.
• There’s enough time.

You can test the word by replacing there’s with there is.

If the sentence still makes sense, there’s is correct.

Example:

• There’s a problem.
• There is a problem. ✅

There’s Meaning There Has

There’s can also be a contraction of there has.

Examples:

• There’s been an accident.
• There’s been a mistake.
• There’s been a major improvement.
• There’s never been a situation like this before.

Here:

There’s = There has

For example:

• There’s been a mistake.
• There has been a mistake.

Both mean the same thing.

Common Mistakes People Make

Mistake 1: Writing Theres Instead of There’s

Incorrect:

• ❌ Theres a new update.

Correct:

• ✅ There’s a new update.

The apostrophe is required because there’s is a contraction.

Mistake 2: Using Theirs for There Is

Incorrect:

• ❌ Theirs a problem with the computer.

Correct:

• ✅ There’s a problem with the computer.

Here, you mean there is, not ownership.

Mistake 3: Using There’s for Ownership

Incorrect:

• ❌ That house is there’s.

Correct:

• ✅ That house is theirs.

The house belongs to them, so use theirs.

Mistake 4: Confusing Their, Theirs, and There’s

These three words have different functions:

• Their = belonging to them + noun
• Theirs = belonging to them, standing alone
• There’s = there is / there has

Examples:

• Their dog is friendly.
• The dog is theirs.
• There’s a dog outside.

Simple Memory Trick

💡 Memory Trick

Spelling Box

🏠 THEIRS = BELONGS TO THEM

Think: theirs = theirs to own

📍 THERE’S = THERE IS / THERE HAS

Think: there’s = there is

Remember:

Theirs = ownership

There’s = existence

Theres = missing apostrophe

Theirs in Sentences

Here are more examples of theirs:

• The blue car is theirs.
• That decision was theirs.
• The seats near the window are theirs.
• The responsibility is theirs.
• The house at the corner is theirs.
• Those bags are theirs.
• The final choice is theirs.
• The victory was theirs.

In every example, theirs indicates possession.

There’s in Sentences

Here are more examples of there’s:

• There’s a message for you.
• There’s something I need to explain.
• There’s a mistake in this document.
• There’s no need to worry.
• There’s a beautiful park nearby.
• There’s been a change in plans.
• There’s plenty of time.
• There’s an important point to consider.

In these examples, there’s means there is or there has.

Theirs vs Their

A simple test can help you distinguish their and theirs.

If a noun comes immediately after the possessive word, use their.

Examples:

• Their house
• Their car
• Their idea
• Their children

If the possessive word stands alone, use theirs.

Examples:

• The house is theirs.
• The car is theirs.
• The idea was theirs.
• The children are theirs.

There’s vs Their

These are completely different.

Compare:

• Their house is beautiful. → The house belongs to them.
• There’s a beautiful house nearby. → There is a house nearby.

The first expresses possession.

The second expresses existence or location.

There’s vs Theirs in Sentences

Compare these sentences:

• There’s a new car outside.
• The new car is theirs.

The first means:

There is a new car outside.

The second means:

The new car belongs to them.

This is one of the easiest ways to understand the difference.

Apostrophe Rule

An apostrophe often shows that letters have been removed from a contraction.

For example:

there is → there’s

The apostrophe replaces the missing i in is.

Similarly:

there has → there’s

Therefore, there’s requires an apostrophe when it is used as a contraction.

However, theirs does not have an apostrophe.

Correct:

• theirs
• there’s

Incorrect:

• ❌ their’s
• ❌ theres when meaning there’s

American vs British English

There is no significant difference between American and British English in the spelling of these words.

Both varieties use:

• theirs = belonging to them
• there’s = there is / there has
• theres = generally incorrect without an apostrophe

The same basic grammar and punctuation rules apply.

When Should You Use Theirs?

Use theirs when you mean:

• Belonging to them
• Owned by them
• Associated with them

Examples:

• The house is theirs.
• The decision is theirs.
• The books are theirs.

Ask yourself:

“Does this mean it belongs to them?”

If yes, use theirs.

When Should You Use There’s?

Use there’s when you can replace it with:

• There is
• There has

Examples:

• There’s a problem. → There is a problem.
• There’s been a mistake. → There has been a mistake.

Ask yourself:

“Can I expand this to there is or there has?”

If yes, use there’s.

When Should You Use Theres?

In standard English writing, avoid theres when you mean there’s.

Write:

• ✅ There’s a problem.
• ❌ Theres a problem.

The apostrophe matters.

Related Words and LSI Keywords

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Tips for Remembering the Difference

• Theirs = belonging to them.
• There’s = there is.
• There’s can also mean there has.
• Theres usually needs an apostrophe.
• Their comes before a noun.
• Theirs usually stands alone.
• Test there’s by expanding it to there is or there has.
• Think theirs = ownership.
• Think there’s = existence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between theirs and there’s?

Theirs is a possessive pronoun meaning belonging to them. There’s is a contraction of there is or there has.

Is theres a word?

Theres, without an apostrophe, is generally not the standard form when you mean there’s. In standard writing, use there’s.

Is theirs correct?

Yes. Theirs is a standard English possessive pronoun.

Example:

• That house is theirs.

Is there’s correct?

Yes. There’s is a standard contraction of there is or there has.

Is “theres a problem” correct?

No, not in standard writing. Write:

• ✅ There’s a problem.

Is “theirs a problem” correct?

No. If you mean there is a problem, write:

• ✅ There’s a problem.

Is “the house is there’s” correct?

No. The correct sentence is:

• ✅ The house is theirs.

What’s the difference between their and theirs?

Their comes before a noun:

• Their car is new.

Theirs normally stands alone:

• The car is theirs.

Can there’s mean there has?

Yes.

Example:

• There’s been a misunderstanding.

Here, there’s means there has.

Does theirs have an apostrophe?

No. The correct spelling is theirs, not their’s.

Does there’s need an apostrophe?

Yes, when it means there is or there has.

How do you remember theirs vs there’s?

Remember THEIRS = BELONGS TO THEM and THERE’S = THERE IS / THERE HAS. If you’re talking about ownership, use theirs. If you can expand the word to there is or there has, use there’s.

Summary

The difference between theirs vs theres becomes easy once you understand that theirs and there’s have completely different jobs. Theirs is a possessive pronoun that means belonging to them, while there’s is a contraction meaning there is or there has. Meanwhile, theres without an apostrophe is generally incorrect when you mean there’s.

Remember the simple rule: theirs = ownership, while there’s = there is or there has. For example, write “The car is theirs” when the car belongs to them, but write “There’s a car outside” when you mean there is a car outside.