Writing · Free lesson
Your or you’re? Expand it before you send
A message says, “Your ready, and you’re report is attached.” Both words sound familiar, but their jobs have been swapped.
Professor Scott MendozaThe short answer
You’re means you are. Your introduces something connected with the person: your report, your new report. Expand you’re before deciding which spelling fits.
Check the meaning, not just the sound.
If you are fits, use you’re or the full form. If you mean a report connected with the reader, use your report. Your can come before an adjective as well as a noun: your detailed report. The next word alone is not the whole test.
Compare the examples
You’re ready.
Your report is attached.
Your detailed report is helpful.
Yours is different: “This report is yours.” Do not put it directly before report: not yours report.
Build the meaning step by step
Expand the contraction
You’re ready. → You are ready.
Check the noun phrase
Your report is ready.
Try it now
Proofread the meaning
Read all answers and explanations
Complete: ___ ready to send the message.
You’reYou are ready works, so you’re fits. There is no noun phrase for your here.
Complete: I read ___ detailed report.
yourYour introduces detailed report. You are detailed report does not fit this sentence.
Complete: Are these ___ notes?
yourUse your before notes even though notes is plural. Yours stands in place of a noun phrase.
Put it into practice
Repair both words
Keep the meaning: the reader is ready, and their report is attached.
Your ready, and you’re report is attached.
See a model answer
You’re ready, and your report is attached.
Two similar sounds can have different grammatical jobs in the same sentence.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Can your come before an adjective?
Yes, if the adjective belongs to a noun phrase: your new address. Read far enough to find the noun.
Please confirm your new address.
Can both forms appear in one sentence?
Yes. You’re means you are; your connects something with you. Check each occurrence separately instead of choosing one spelling for the whole sentence.
You’re ready, and your notes are on the desk.
Take it into your day
You’re = you are. Your introduces a noun phrase.
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