Word Choice – Their Versus There
| Fans of the TV show Sex in the City may remember the episode when Carrie compares herself to her ex-boyfriend’s fiancé. The new woman is younger, prettier, richer, and better educated. Carrie is devastated until – she receives a thank-you note. The “better” woman does not know the difference between their and there. Obviously, Carrie is not a loser after all.Remember, it’s the little things that can spoil your professional image. You may have crafted a clear, concise message, but if it contains obvious grammar errors, you can be guaranteed that’s what your reader will remember.
The their and there problem is easy. Their is a personal pronoun. A noun will follow: their offices, their skills, their clients Correct Their offices are on the 2nd floor. There, when it is used to indicate a fact or existence of something, is usually followed by a verb, such as is or are. Correct There are too many editors and not enough writers. There is no reason for people to make this mistake in their documents. |