Your and you're sound the same, and one apostrophe separates them. Your, without an apostrophe, shows possession: your name, your house, your ideas. You're, with an apostrophe, is the short form of you are.
The test takes one second: read the sentence with you are in the space. "I like you are idea" fails, so your is right there. "You are welcome" works, so that sentence needs you're.
This page gives eight examples and 15 questions. Every answer applies the you are test, so the rule becomes automatic.
What each word means
your
your (possessive determiner): belonging to you. "Your coat is on the chair." No apostrophe.
you're
you're (contraction): the short form of you are. "You're early."
The rule
Your shows belonging
- Your stands before a noun: your book, your family, your turn, your opinion.
- It is a possessive determiner, like my, his, her, our and their (note that none of these takes an apostrophe).
- The related pronoun yours also has no apostrophe: "The choice is yours."
- Never write you're before a noun: "you're book" is always wrong.
You're is you are
- You're + adjective: "You're right."
- You're + -ing form: "You're making a mistake."
- You're + noun phrase: "You're the best cook here."
- The apostrophe replaces the letter a in are. The short form is common in speech and friendly writing.
The substitution test
- Read the sentence with you are in the space.
- If it sounds correct, write you're with the apostrophe.
- If it sounds wrong, write your without the apostrophe.
- Example: "Is this ___ bag?" "Is this you are bag?" fails, so the answer is your.
Fixed phrases to get right
- You're welcome is the reply to thank you. Your welcome means your welcome what? It makes no sense.
- You're on your own combines both words correctly.
- Your own and on your own take the possessive form.
- In very formal writing, write you are in full instead of you're.
How to remember
The trick: You're means you are. If you cannot say you are, write your. The apostrophe replaces the a.
Examples
- Is this your umbrella?Your shows that the umbrella belongs to you.
- You're early today.You're is the short form of you are.
- Your English is improving.Your comes before the noun English.
- You're welcome.The reply to thank you is you're welcome, short for you are welcome.
- Please send your application by Friday.Your application is the possessive phrase.
- You're the best cook in the family.You're stands for you are before a noun phrase.
- The choice is yours.Yours is the possessive pronoun, and it has no apostrophe.
- You're going to love this film.You're + going is the short form of you are going.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Your welcome. Right: You're welcome.
- The phrase means you are welcome, so the contraction with the apostrophe is needed.
- Wrong: I like you're idea. Right: I like your idea.
- The idea belongs to you, so the possessive your is correct.
- Wrong: You're book is on the table. Right: Your book is on the table.
- The book belongs to you, and you are book makes no sense.
- Wrong: Your the best player here. Right: You're the best player here.
- The sentence means you are the best, so the contraction is needed.
- Wrong: Is this you're coat? Right: Is this your coat?
- The coat belongs to you, so the possessive your is correct.
Practice drill
Answer all 15 questions. Each answer is marked at once, and the rule is explained under the question.
Is this ___ umbrella?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. your The umbrella belongs to you, so the possessive your is correct.
___ early today.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. You're The sentence means you are early, so the contraction you're is correct.
___ English is improving.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. Your English is a noun that belongs to you, so the possessive your is correct.
___ welcome.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. You're The phrase is short for you are welcome, so you're is correct.
Please send ___ application by Friday.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. your The application belongs to you, so the possessive your is correct.
___ the best cook in the family.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. You're The sentence means you are the best, so the contraction you're is needed.
The choice is ___.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. yours Yours is the possessive pronoun, and it never takes an apostrophe.
___ going to love this film.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. You're The sentence means you are going to love it, so you're is correct.
I like ___ idea.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. your The idea belongs to you, so the possessive your is correct.
___ book is on the table.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Your The book belongs to you, so the possessive your is needed.
I think ___ right about this.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. you're The sentence means you are right, so the contraction you're is correct.
Is this ___ coat?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. your The coat belongs to you, so the possessive your is correct.
___ always losing your keys.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. You're The sentence means you are always losing, so you're is correct.
Please bring ___ notes to class.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. your The notes belong to you, so the possessive your is correct.
___ going to do great.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. You're The sentence means you are going to do great, so you're is correct.
Questions learners ask
Why does your not take an apostrophe?
Your is a possessive determiner, like my, his and our. Possessive pronouns and determiners never take an apostrophe, because the apostrophe marks contractions and noun possessives, not pronouns.
Should I use your or yours?
Use your before a noun: "your bag". Use yours when the noun is already clear and you do not repeat it: "This bag is yours." Yours never takes an apostrophe.
Is you're acceptable in formal writing?
Contractions are more common in speech, emails and friendly writing. In a formal report or an exam essay, write you are in full. The meaning is identical, and the full form avoids the spelling trap.
More confusing words
To, too or two
To with one o points the way or introduces a verb. Too with two o's means also or more than enough. Two spells the number 2.
Its vs it's
Its means belonging to it, with no apostrophe. It's is the short form of it is or it has.
Fun vs funny
Fun is the enjoyment you feel. Funny is what makes you laugh. Funny also means strange.
Browse all the confusing word pairs or take the free A1 to C2 level test to find your starting point.