“Your Welcome” or “You’re Welcome”? (Grammatically Correct Answer)

Have you ever typed “your welcome” in a text or email, only to wonder later if it was correct? You’re not alone! Many English learners—and even native speakers—confuse “your” and “you’re.” In this article, we’ll break down the difference between the two and help you confidently say the right thing next time someone says, “Thank you!”

What’s the Difference Between “Your” and “You’re”?

Let’s start with the basics:

• Your is a possessive pronoun. It shows that something belongs to you.
  Example: Your phone is ringing.
• You’re is a contraction of “you are.”
  Example: You’re going to love this show.

Why Do People Say “Your Welcome”?

This mix-up happens for a few reasons:

• It sounds the same as “you’re welcome” in speech.
• People forget contractions when typing quickly.
• Some think “your welcome” looks right because “your” is used so often.

But grammatically, “your welcome” is incorrect.

The Correct Phrase: “You’re Welcome”

The proper response to “thank you” is “you’re welcome”—short for “you are welcome.”

Example:
A: Thanks for helping me move.
B: You’re welcome!

Here, “you are welcome” means “I’m happy to help.” That’s why “you’re” (you are) is the correct word.

Why “Your Welcome” Is Wrong

Let’s break down what “your welcome” would mean:

• “Your” indicates something belongs to you.
• “Welcome” is a noun or adjective.

So, “your welcome” would imply a welcome that belongs to you, which doesn’t make sense in this context.

Incorrect: Your welcome was warm. (awkward)
Correct: Your speech was warm. (makes sense)

How to Remember the Difference

Here’s a quick test you can do in your head:

• Can you replace the word with “you are”?
  • If yes, use “you’re.”
  • If no, use “your.”

Try it:

• You’re welcome → You are welcome (correct)
• Your welcome → You are welcome (incorrect, doesn’t fit possession)

Correct Examples vs. Incorrect Examples

Other Common Mistakes Like This

This isn’t the only confusing pair. Here are a few more:

• Its vs. It’s
  • “Its” = belonging to it
  • “It’s” = it is
• Their vs. They’re vs. There
  • “Their” = belonging to them
  • “They’re” = they are
  • “There” = location

Quick Tips to Avoid the “Your vs. You’re” Mistake

• Read your sentences aloud. If “you are” fits, use “you’re.”
• Use a grammar checker like Grammarly, ProWritingAid, or tools in Word or Google Docs.
• Practice with short writing exercises to build confidence.

Conclusion

The next time someone says “thank you,” remember: the correct reply is “you’re welcome”—short for “you are welcome.” Using “your welcome” is a common mistake, but now you know how to avoid it!