I have given up expecting anyone under the age of 60, or anyone raised in New Zealand, to use correct English grammar. 10 year-old Hong Kong schoolchildren learning English as a second language speak it better than native speakers here. It is a tragedy, but that is just the way it is.

However, I draw the line at the constant misuse and/or misspelling of the word “there/their/they’re”. It is not rocket science, people, but if you learn to get these right everyone will think your IQ has gone up 20 points.

Just take 2 minutes to learn the difference. Please. It is easy. 

They’re: This is the easy one. It just means “they are”. If you change “they’re” in your sentence to “they are”, and it doesn’t make any sense, you are using the wrong “they’re”.

Their: This is the second-easiest. It just means property. Their dog, their problem, their way of doing things. If you cannot attach something that belongs to someone to your use of the word, you are probably using the wrong word.

There: This is used the most. There you are, there is a car, there are no pubs here, there but for fortune, she is there, thereafter, etc. If the first two don’t fit, this one is probably right.

Please, just take the trouble.