If you’ve ever paused while writing to wonder whether “that’s” or “thats” is correct, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common punctuation and spelling questions in English.
Because apostrophes are easy to overlook when typing quickly, many people accidentally write “thats” instead of “that’s.”
The good news is that the rule is simple once you understand it. In standard English, that’s is the correct contraction of that is or that has, while thats without an apostrophe is almost always a spelling mistake.
Knowing when and why to use the apostrophe will help you write more clearly in emails, essays, business documents, social media posts, and everyday conversations.
This guide explains the difference, shows plenty of examples, highlights common mistakes, and gives you an easy way to remember the correct form.
Quick Answer: That’s or. Thats
That’s is the correct form in standard English. It is a contraction of that is or that has. Thats without an apostrophe is generally considered incorrect because it omits the apostrophe needed to show that letters have been left out.
Correct: that’s
Incorrect (standard English): thats
- Use that’s when it means that is or that has.
- Do not use thats in normal writing unless it is part of a proper noun, username, or another special case.
What Does “That’s” Mean?
“That’s” Is a Contraction
The word that’s combines two words into one:
- that is
- that has
The apostrophe replaces the missing letter i in is or the missing letters in has.
Examples Meaning “That Is”
- “That’s my favorite restaurant.”
- “That’s exactly what I wanted.”
- “That’s a beautiful painting.”
- “That’s the reason I called.”
- “That’s not what I expected.”
- “That’s an interesting question.”
- “That’s where we met.”
If you replace that’s with that is, the sentence still makes perfect sense.
For example:
- “That’s my laptop.”
- “That is my laptop.”
Both sentences have the same meaning.
Examples Meaning “That Has”
Sometimes that’s stands for that has.
Examples:
- “That’s been happening for weeks.”
- “That’s become much easier.”
- “That’s already finished.”
- “That’s never happened before.”
- “That’s gone missing.”
Again, you can expand the contraction.
- “That’s been a busy day.”
- “That has been a busy day.”
Whenever the expanded form sounds natural, that’s is correct.
What Is “Thats”?
In ordinary English writing, thats without an apostrophe is not a correct spelling.
Many people accidentally type it because:
- they are typing quickly
- they forget the apostrophe
- autocorrect fails to catch the mistake
- they are unsure when contractions require punctuation
Unlike some spelling variations that differ by region, thats is not an accepted American, British, Canadian, or Australian spelling.
Examples of Incorrect Usage
Incorrect:
- “Thats my phone.”
- “Thats a great idea.”
- “I think thats correct.”
- “Thats what she said.”
- “Thats been happening all week.”
Correct:
- “That’s my phone.”
- “That’s a great idea.”
- “I think that’s correct.”
- “That’s what she said.”
- “That’s been happening all week.”
In every example above, the apostrophe is necessary because the word is a contraction.
The Main Difference Between “That’s” and “Thats”
The difference comes down to one small punctuation mark that carries an important grammatical function.
| Form | Status | Meaning | When to Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| That’s | Correct | Contraction of that is or that has | Standard English writing | “That’s exactly right.” |
| Thats | Incorrect in standard English | None in ordinary grammar | Avoid in normal writing | “Thats exactly right.” ✗ |
The apostrophe tells readers that letters have been omitted.
Without the apostrophe, the word no longer follows standard English spelling rules.
Although the difference appears small, it affects the grammatical correctness of your writing.
Why Does “That’s” Need an Apostrophe?
An apostrophe has several uses in English, but one of its most common jobs is to show a contraction.
A contraction combines two words by removing one or more letters.
Here are some familiar examples:
| Full Form | Contraction |
|---|---|
| it is | it’s |
| he is | he’s |
| she is | she’s |
| we are | we’re |
| they are | they’re |
| that is | that’s |
Notice the pattern.
The apostrophe always marks the place where letters have been removed.
Without it, the contraction is no longer correctly written.
Think of the apostrophe as a signal telling readers that two words have been shortened into one.
When Should You Use “That’s”?
Use that’s whenever you could replace it with that is or that has without changing the meaning.
This applies in everyday conversation, professional writing, emails, academic assignments, and online communication.
In Everyday Conversation
Native English speakers use that’s constantly because contractions make speech sound natural.
Examples:
- “That’s a fantastic movie.”
- “That’s your seat.”
- “That’s all I wanted to say.”
- “That’s exactly what happened.”
- “That’s enough for today.”
- “That’s why everyone was laughing.”
- “That’s the answer.”
These sentences sound natural because contractions are common in spoken English.
In Emails
Contractions are also common in friendly and professional emails.
Examples:
- “That’s a great suggestion.”
- “That’s attached for your review.”
- “That’s exactly what we discussed.”
- “That’s all the information I have.”
- “That’s much appreciated.”
Unless your workplace prefers a very formal style, that’s is perfectly acceptable.
In Academic Writing
Academic writing often uses fewer contractions than casual writing, but that’s is still grammatically correct.
For example:
Informal:
- “That’s an important finding.”
More formal:
- “That is an important finding.”
Both are correct. The choice depends on the level of formality.
Many universities recommend writing out the full form in highly formal papers.
In Business Communication
Business writing varies by company culture.
These are all acceptable:
- “That’s an excellent proposal.”
- “That’s been approved.”
- “That’s exactly what we needed.”
In highly formal reports or legal documents, writers may prefer:
- “That is an excellent proposal.”
This is a style preference rather than a grammar rule.
On Social Media
Social media naturally favors contractions.
Examples:
- “That’s amazing!”
- “That’s hilarious.”
- “That’s my favorite place.”
- “That’s exactly how I feel.”
- “That’s so true.”
Using the contraction makes posts sound conversational and natural.
Can “That’s” Always Be Expanded?
A useful way to check your writing is to expand the contraction.
Ask yourself:
Does “that is” or “that has” fit naturally here?
If the answer is yes, that’s is correct.
Examples:
- “That’s my notebook.”
- “That is my notebook.”
✔ Works perfectly.
Another example:
- “That’s been difficult.”
- “That has been difficult.”
✔ Also correct.
Now consider a sentence where expansion would not work.
Suppose someone writes:
- “That’s running quickly.”
Expanding it gives:
- “That has running quickly.”
This doesn’t make sense.
Instead:
- “That is running quickly.”
The contraction stands for that is here.
The substitution test is one of the easiest ways to check whether you’ve used that’s correctly.
Common Situations Where People Accidentally Write “Thats”
Even experienced writers sometimes omit apostrophes by mistake.
Here are some of the most common reasons.
Fast Typing
People often skip punctuation when typing quickly.
Example:
- “Thats fine.”
Correct version:
- “That’s fine.”
Text Messages
Informal texting sometimes encourages shortcuts.
Even so, the correct spelling remains:
- “That’s awesome.”
rather than
- “Thats awesome.”
Autocorrect Isn’t Perfect
Modern spell checkers catch many mistakes, but not all of them.
Some browsers or apps may fail to flag thats, especially in usernames, code, or informal text.
It is still worth proofreading before sending important messages.
Confusing Apostrophes with Plurals
Some learners mistakenly believe apostrophes are optional or only indicate possession.
In fact, contractions require them.
Compare:
- That’s = that is
- Dogs = plural noun (no apostrophe)
- Dog’s = possession
Understanding this distinction helps avoid many punctuation errors.
Forgetting the Rule During Editing
Many people know the correct spelling but accidentally delete the apostrophe while revising a sentence.
A final proofreading pass often catches these small but noticeable mistakes.
Correct and Incorrect Examples
Seeing the two forms side by side makes the difference much easier to understand.
| Incorrect or Less Suitable | Correct | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| “Thats my backpack.” | “That’s my backpack.” | That’s means that is. |
| “I think thats correct.” | “I think that’s correct.” | The contraction needs an apostrophe. |
| “Thats been a busy week.” | “That’s been a busy week.” | That’s means that has here. |
| “Thats exactly what I meant.” | “That’s exactly what I meant.” | Missing apostrophe. |
| “Thats why I left early.” | “That’s why I left early.” | Standard English requires that’s. |
| “Thats all for today.” | “That’s all for today.” | The apostrophe shows omitted letters. |
| “Thats the best solution.” | “That’s the best solution.” | Contractions always include the apostrophe. |
Notice that every corrected sentence simply restores the missing apostrophe. The meaning does not change—only the spelling becomes grammatically correct.
Does the Meaning Change by Context?
The meaning of that’s stays the same across different kinds of writing. What changes is whether writers choose the contraction or the full form (that is or that has).
Everyday Conversation
In speech, contractions are the norm.
Examples:
- “That’s really funny.”
- “That’s your coffee.”
- “That’s what I was thinking.”
Using the full form every time would sound unusually formal.
Compare:
- “That’s a nice idea.”
- “That is a nice idea.”
Both are correct, but the first sounds more natural in conversation.
Workplace Communication
In most modern workplaces, contractions are acceptable.
Examples:
- “That’s a helpful suggestion.”
- “That’s already been approved.”
- “That’s the latest version.”
However, if you’re writing a formal report, proposal, or legal document, you may prefer the expanded form.
Example:
- “That is the final recommendation.”
Academic Writing
Many academic style guides encourage fewer contractions because they create a more formal tone.
Instead of writing:
- “That’s the main conclusion.”
You might write:
- “That is the main conclusion.”
Remember, this is a style choice rather than a grammar rule.
Emails
Both forms are common depending on the audience.
Friendly email:
“That’s great news! Thanks for letting me know.”
Formal email:
“That is excellent news. Thank you for your update.”
Social Media
Social media almost always favors contractions because they sound natural and conversational.
Examples:
- “That’s incredible!”
- “That’s exactly how I feel.”
- “That’s my favorite recipe.”
Writing the full form is still correct but usually sounds more formal than necessary.
Is There Any Regional Difference?
Unlike words such as color/colour or traveling/travelling, there is no meaningful regional difference between that’s and thats.
Across:
- American English
- British English
- Canadian English
- Australian English
the standard spelling is:
That’s
Every major variety of English uses the apostrophe in this contraction.
Therefore:
- 🇺🇸 American English: that’s
- 🇬🇧 British English: that’s
- 🇨🇦 Canadian English: that’s
- 🇦🇺 Australian English: that’s
The spelling thats is not considered a regional alternative.
Can “Thats” Ever Be Correct?
For ordinary grammar, the answer is no.
However, there are a few unusual situations where you might see Thats without an apostrophe.
1. Proper Names
Some people or businesses may use Thats as part of a name.
For example:
- a company name
- a username
- a product title
These are exceptions because proper names can ignore standard spelling rules.
2. Computer Code or File Names
Programming languages, URLs, and filenames often avoid apostrophes.
Examples:
- thats_function
- thats-guide.pdf
These are technical naming conventions, not examples of standard English spelling.
3. Search Queries
Many people search for:
- thats or that’s
- whats or what’s
- its or it’s
Search engines understand missing punctuation, but the correct written form remains that’s.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Mistake 1: Forgetting the Apostrophe
❌ “Thats the answer.”
✔ “That’s the answer.”
Tip: If you mean that is, add the apostrophe.
Mistake 2: Typing Too Quickly
Fast typing often produces:
❌ “Thats fine.”
Slow down during proofreading and check contractions before sending your writing.
Mistake 3: Assuming Apostrophes Are Optional
Some writers believe punctuation can be skipped in informal writing.
While friends may still understand your message, standard English still requires:
✔ “That’s“
not
❌ “Thats”
Mistake 4: Confusing Contractions and Possession
People sometimes know apostrophes indicate possession but forget they also mark contractions.
Compare:
- that’s = that is / that has
- teacher’s = belonging to the teacher
- teachers = more than one teacher
Learning these two different uses makes apostrophes much easier to understand.
Mistake 5: Relying Only on Spell Check
Spell check is helpful but not perfect.
Develop the habit of reading your work one final time before submitting it.
A quick review catches many missing apostrophes.
Related Words That Cause Similar Confusion
If you’ve searched for thats or that’s, you may also wonder about other contractions.
| Correct Contraction | Incorrect Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| it’s | its (when you mean “it is”) | it is / it has |
| what’s | whats | what is / what has |
| who’s | whos | who is / who has |
| there’s | theres | there is / there has |
| here’s | heres | here is / here has |
Be careful with its, because unlike thats, its is actually a correct word—it is the possessive form of it.
Example:
- “The dog wagged its tail.”
But:
- “It’s raining.”
This is one of the most common punctuation mistakes in English.
Memory Trick: How to Remember “That’s”
Here’s a simple way to remember the correct spelling.
The Expansion Test
Whenever you’re unsure, replace that’s with that is.
If the sentence still makes sense, you need the apostrophe.
Example:
“That’s my umbrella.”
becomes
“That is my umbrella.”
Perfect!
Another example:
“That’s been exciting.”
becomes
“That has been exciting.”
Also correct.
If you can expand the word, the apostrophe belongs there.
A Simple Mnemonic
Think of this sentence:
The apostrophe stands in for missing letters.
Whenever letters disappear, the apostrophe appears.
So:
- that is → that’s
- that has → that’s
Never remove the apostrophe in normal English writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “thats” ever correct?
Not in standard English. Thats is almost always a misspelling of that’s. The only exceptions are unusual situations such as business names, usernames, programming code, or other proper nouns that intentionally omit punctuation.
Is “that’s” short for “that is” or “that has”?
Both. That’s can mean that is or that has, depending on the sentence. Expanding the contraction usually makes it easy to identify which meaning is intended.
Should I use “that’s” in formal writing?
Yes, it’s grammatically correct. However, some formal writing styles prefer the expanded forms that is or that has because they create a slightly more formal tone.
Why do people write “thats” without an apostrophe?
Most often, it’s simply a typing mistake. Writers may be typing quickly, forget the apostrophe, or assume punctuation is optional in informal writing.
Is there a British spelling without the apostrophe?
No. British English, American English, Canadian English, and Australian English all use that’s. The spelling thats is not an accepted regional variation.
How can I remember the correct spelling?
Use the expansion test. If you can replace the word with that is or that has, write that’s with an apostrophe. This simple check works in nearly every situation.
That’s vs. Thats: The Final Verdict
If you’re deciding between that’s and thats, the answer is straightforward.
That’s is the correct standard English form because it is a contraction of that is or that has. The apostrophe is essential—it shows that letters have been omitted. In everyday conversation, emails, business writing, and most other situations, that’s is the form you should use.
Thats without an apostrophe is generally a spelling mistake unless it appears as part of a proper name or a technical identifier. When in doubt, expand the contraction. If that is or that has fits the sentence, that’s is the correct choice.
Thomas Richardson is an English language writer dedicated to making grammar, vocabulary, and word comparisons simple, accurate, and easy for every learner.