Some writers are confused by you're and your.
A mistake involving these constitutes a grammatical howler.
You're
You're is a
contraction of you are. It has no
other uses. This is a 100% rule. If you cannot expand it to you
are in your sentence, then it is wrong.
Examples:
 I know
you're leaving at 7 o'clock, but would you like another sherry? 
(Expands to you are - correct)
Please ask
Joan to post the parcel when you're in London.
(Expands to you are - correct)
You said
that you couldn't believe you're ears. 
(Does not expand to you are - should be your)
Your
The word your
sits before another word (usually a noun or a
pronoun) to show that it belongs to you
(e.g., your car, your arm), is of you (e.g., your picture, your photograph) or is related to you
(e.g., your uncle). Your is a possessive
adjective. (Other possessive adjectives are: my, your, his, her, its,
our and their.)
Examples:
Our expert
will answer your questions about pensions and savings.
(questions belonging to you)
Sarah
doesn't look like your sister.
(related to you)
Select the correct version:
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NOT IN FORMAL WRITING
Do not use contractions (e.g., you're, isn't, can't, don't, it's) in formal
writing. Always expand them. One benefit of doing this is that you
will never make a mistake with you're or it's (two notorious grammar villains).
YOURS NOT YOUR'S
The word yours is known as an absolute
possessive (others are ours, his and hers). There are
no apostrophes in any absolute possessives. This is another 100% rule.
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Easily Confused Words
