You're or Your?
You’re is the contraction of “you are,” while your is the possessive form of “you.” Don’t use your to mean “you are.”
- Contraction: You’re/
youra good friend. (you are) - Possessive:
You’re/Your friends are here.
![Graphic titled "Your or You're?" The left panel has an illustration of four cats peeking out at you and the words, "I like your face. You're perfect." The right panel has the following text. "You're" = contracted "you are" (Example: You're right.) "Your" = possessive of "you" (Example: Your friend is right.) Tip: If you can use "you are," "you're" is correct, not "your." (Example: I hope you're happy [not your, since it is "you are happy].)](https://editorsmanual.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/youre-and-your-media-1024x576.webp)
Because you’re and your sound similar when pronounced, they are easily confused. But as you can see, you’re contracts the words “you are” in a sentence, while your indicates a possessive relationship.
- Correct: You’re your own worst enemy.
contraction = you’re; possessive = your
If you can replace the word with “you are” and still have the sentence make sense, what you should be using is you’re, not your.
- You’re/
Yourwelcome.Using “you are” instead makes sense: You are welcome. You’re/Your house is on fire.Using “you are” instead does not make sense.
Apostrophe in contraction vs. possessive
In a contraction like you’re, two words combine to form a single word in which one or more letters are omitted. An apostrophe marks the omission. For example, you + are forms you’re, in which the apostrophe indicates the omitted letter a.
- Contraction: You’re here now. (you are)
- Contraction: It’s 6 a.m. (it is)
- Contraction: Who’s calling at this hour? (who is)
- Contraction: That’s not my phone. (that is)
In contrast, possessive determiners and pronouns (such as your, yours, hers) never contain an apostrophe.
- Possessive: Your cab is here.
- Possessive: Is this yours?
- Possessive: Yours faithfully,
- Possessive: This shoe is hers.
- Possessive: Whose shoe is this?
- Possessive: This shoe has lost its buckle.
Confusion is natural: an apostrophe does indicate possession but only with nouns (the cat’s tail, the employees’ badges). Just remember that possessive pronouns (like your and yours) never need an apostrophe.