Many people get confused about that’s vs thats because the two words look almost the same.
The only difference is one small punctuation mark called an apostrophe. Even though the difference looks tiny, it changes whether the word is correct or not.
If you are writing an email, a school assignment, a social media post, or a text message, knowing the correct form helps your writing look clear and natural. The good news is that this rule is very easy to learn. Once you understand it, you will probably never mix them up again.
In this guide, you will learn what that’s means, why thats is usually incorrect, and how to use the right form in everyday English.
Quick Answer
- That’s is the correct form in standard English.
- That’s is a contraction of that is or that has.
- Thats without an apostrophe is considered incorrect in normal English writing.
- Use that’s in conversations, emails, schoolwork, and most everyday writing.
- If you mean that is or that has, always choose that’s.
Where Does “That’s” Come From?
English often joins two words together to make speaking and writing smoother. This shorter form is called a contraction.
The word that’s combines:
- that + is = that’s
- that + has = that’s
For example:
- That’s my backpack. (That is my backpack.)
- That’s been a wonderful day. (That has been a wonderful day.)
The apostrophe shows that one or more letters have been removed.
The form thats does not follow this rule because it leaves out the apostrophe that marks the missing letters.
What Is the Difference Between That’s and Thats?
The difference is very simple.
That’s is a correct English contraction. It replaces that is or that has and is accepted in both speaking and writing.
Thats without an apostrophe is not considered correct in standard English. It is usually a typing mistake or an accidental omission of the apostrophe.
You can test yourself with a simple trick. Replace that’s with that is. If the sentence still makes sense, then that’s is the correct choice.
For example:
- That’s a beautiful house.
- That is a beautiful house.
The meaning stays the same, so that’s is correct.
That’s vs Thats Comparison Table
| Feature | That’s | Thats |
|---|---|---|
| Correct spelling | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Uses an apostrophe | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Means “that is” | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Means “that has” | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Used in standard English | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Accepted in school writing | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Accepted in professional writing | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Which One Should You Use?
The answer is easy.
Choose that’s whenever you mean:
- That is
- That has
Examples:
- That’s the answer I wanted.
- That’s been a busy week.
- That’s exactly what I needed.
- That’s our classroom.
- That’s all for today.
Do not write:
- ❌ Thats the answer.
- ❌ Thats my phone.
- ❌ Thats been a great trip.
Instead write:
- ✅ That’s the answer.
- ✅ That’s my phone.
- ✅ That’s been a great trip.
Common Mistakes People Make
Many learners make the same mistakes when writing that’s.
1. Forgetting the apostrophe
Incorrect:
- ❌ Thats a great idea.
Correct:
- ✅ That’s a great idea.
2. Thinking the apostrophe is optional
Some people believe punctuation does not matter. In English, the apostrophe changes the correctness of the word.
Correct:
- ✅ That’s my favorite movie.
Incorrect:
- ❌ Thats my favorite movie.
3. Typing too quickly
Many phones and keyboards allow people to skip punctuation while typing quickly.
Instead of writing:
- ❌ Thats fine.
Take one extra second and write:
- ✅ That’s fine.
4. Mixing formal and informal habits
Some people leave out apostrophes in casual messages and later use the same habit in school or work writing.
It is better to build the habit of writing that’s correctly every time.
Everyday Examples
Here are some examples from daily life.
In Emails
- That’s a good time for our meeting.
- That’s the file you requested.
- That’s all I wanted to share today.
In School
- That’s the correct answer.
- That’s my homework.
- That’s how the experiment works.
In News
- That’s the latest report.
- That’s the reason for the change.
- That’s the official statement.
On Social Media
- That’s amazing!
- That’s so funny.
- That’s exactly what I was thinking.
- That’s beautiful.
- That’s a great photo.
In Daily Conversations
- That’s my brother.
- That’s our bus.
- That’s enough for today.
- That’s your seat.
- That’s not what I meant.
Simple Memory Trick
Remember this easy rule:
If you can replace the word with that is or that has, write that’s.
Examples:
- That’s cold.
- That is cold.
These mean the same thing.
Another example:
- That’s been exciting.
- That has been exciting.
Again, both sentences have the same meaning.
If the longer version works, that’s is the correct spelling.
Learning Section for Students and Beginners
When learning English, contractions may seem confusing at first. However, they become easy with practice.
Here are some tips:
- Learn that that’s always includes an apostrophe.
- Read books and articles to notice how native writers use contractions.
- Practice changing that is into that’s.
- Check your writing before sending emails or assignments.
- Let your spell checker help you notice missing apostrophes.
The more you practice, the more natural the correct form will become.
FAQs:
1. Is “thats” ever correct?
No. In standard English, thats without an apostrophe is considered incorrect.
2. What does “that’s” mean?
It means that is or that has, depending on the sentence.
3. Why does “that’s” need an apostrophe?
The apostrophe shows that letters have been removed to create a contraction.
4. Can I use “that’s” in formal writing?
Yes. That’s is accepted in most forms of writing. In very formal documents, some writers may choose to write that is instead, but that’s is still grammatically correct.
5. How can I remember the correct spelling?
Replace it with that is. If the sentence still makes sense, use that’s.
6. Is “that’s” used in everyday English?
Yes. It is one of the most common contractions in spoken and written English.
7. Do native English speakers use “that’s”?
Yes. Native speakers use that’s every day in conversations, messages, emails, and many types of writing.
8. Can missing the apostrophe change my writing?
Yes. Leaving out the apostrophe makes the word incorrect in standard English and may make your writing look less polished.
Conclusion
Understanding that’s vs thats is much easier than it first appears. The correct form is that’s, which is a contraction of that is or that has.
The apostrophe is important because it shows that letters have been left out.
The form thats without an apostrophe is considered incorrect in standard English and should be avoided in schoolwork, emails, professional writing, and everyday communication.
If you are unsure, use the simple test: replace that’s with that is or that has. If the sentence still sounds right, you have chosen the correct form. With a little practice, using that’s correctly will become a natural part of your writing.
