That’s or Thats looks similar, but the apostrophe changes the meaning and grammar of the word. In English, that’s is a contraction of “that is” or “that has.” The apostrophe can disappear during quick typing on phone keyboards, but the correct form remains that’s in standard writing.
The main difference is simple: standard English requires the apostrophe when you mean that is” or “that has.” Thats is generally incorrect in normal sentences, although it may appear in a company name, username, title, brand, or chosen name. This common mistake often appears in texts, social media, emails, blog posts, captions, and comments.
When thats looks normal, proofreading can help you catch the error. Check the sentence and expand that’s to that is or that has. This simple grammar rule helps you choose the correct form and avoid a spelling error, punctuation error, or grammatical confusion in everyday and professional writing.
That’s or Thats: Which One Is Correct?
The standard form is that’s with an apostrophe.
The apostrophe shows that that’s a contraction. A contraction combines words by leaving out some letters.
That’s can mean:
- That is
- That has
For example:
- That’s my car. = That is my car.
- That’s a great idea. = That is a great idea.
- That’s changed recently. = That has changed recently.
- That’s been difficult. = That has been difficult.
By contrast:
- ❌ Thats my car.
- ✅ That’s my car.
The missing apostrophe makes thats incorrect as the ordinary contraction.
| Form | Meaning | Example |
| that’s | that is | That’s my phone. |
| that’s | that has | That’s changed a lot. |
| thats | Intended contraction | Generally incorrect |
| Thats | Proper name | Possible if officially spelled that way |
What Does “That’s” Mean?
The word that’s has two main meanings. Understanding them makes the “That’s or Thats question much easier.
That’s means “that is.”
In many sentences, that’s is simply a shorter form of “that is.”
Examples include:
- That’s my brother.
- That’s the problem.
- That’s very interesting.
- That’s a beautiful house.
- That’s exactly what I wanted.
Try expanding the contraction:
That’s the answer.
becomes:
That is the answer.
The expanded sentence works perfectly. Therefore, that’s is correct.
This form appears constantly in everyday English because contractions make speech and writing sound more natural.
That’s means “that has.”
That’s can also represent that has, especially when it appears before a past participle.
Consider these examples:
- That’s happened before. = That has happened before.
- That’s changed everything. = That has changed everything.
- That’s been a problem. = That has been a problem.
- That’s already started. = That has already started.
Here’s a useful clue: words such as “been,” “happened,” “changed,” “started,” “finished,” and “improved” can follow that’s when it means that has.
For example:
That’s been my biggest concern.
The full version is
That has been my biggest concern.
The meaning is clear once you expand the contraction.
That’s or Thats: Use the Replacement Test
When you’re unsure about That’s or Thats, use a quick replacement test.
Replace that’s with that is.
If the sentence still makes sense, you’re using the correct contraction.
Example:
That’s my favorite restaurant.
Replace it:
That is my favorite restaurant.
It works.
Now try:
That’s been my favorite restaurant for years.
Replacing it with that is produces:
That is been my favorite restaurant for years.
That doesn’t work.
Instead, use that has:
That has been my favorite restaurant for years.
Now the sentence is correct.
Quick examples
| Sentence | Expanded form | Meaning |
| That’s my book. | That is my book. | That is |
| That’s surprising. | That is surprising. | That is |
| That’s the reason. | That is the reason. | That is |
| That’s happened before. | That has happened before. | That has |
| That’s been helpful. | That has been helpful. | That has |
| That’s changed recently. | That has changed recently. | That has |
This test takes only a few seconds and works in most everyday situations.
Why Is “Thats” Usually Wrong?
The form thats leaves out the apostrophe is required for the contraction.
Compare:
❌ Thats a good question.
✅ That’s a good question.
The meaning is still easy to understand. However, standard written English requires the apostrophe in the contraction.
Apostrophes aren’t merely decorative punctuation. They can show that letters have been omitted.
For example:
- can’t = cannot
- don’t = do not
- isn’t = is not
- you’re = you are
- it’s = it is / it has
- that’s = that is / that has
The same principle applies to that’s.
Why Do People Write “Thats”?
The spelling thats often appears because people type quickly. Social media, text messages, comments, and informal chats also encourage abbreviated writing.
You might see sentences such as
Thats really funny.
Thats what I thought.
I knew thats what happened.
These sentences are understandable. Still, standard spelling requires:
That’s really funny.
That’s what I thought.
I knew that’s what happened.
Informal writing habits don’t automatically become standard grammar rules.
Does autocorrect always fix “thats”?
No. Spell-check and autocorrect systems don’t catch every grammatical problem.
Some software may recognize thats as a possible error. Other systems may leave it unchanged because automated tools don’t always understand the intended meaning or context.
That’s why a quick human proofreading check still helps.
Is “Thats” Ever Correct?
There is one important situation where Thats can appear legitimately.
A company, product, website, username, title, or organization can deliberately choose Thats as its official name.
For example, if a brand officially calls itself “Thats, changing the spelling to “That’s” would alter its name.
This is different from ordinary grammar.
Compare:
That’s my laptop.
Here, that’s is a contraction.
Thats is the official name of the product.
Here, Thats functions as a proper name.
The second example doesn’t establish thats as a standard English contraction.
Common That’s or Thats Mistakes
Mistake: Leaving out the apostrophe
❌ Thats a good idea.
✅ That’s a good idea.
The correction is simple. Add the apostrophe.
Mistake: Thinking apostrophes are optional
Texting often contains missing punctuation. That doesn’t mean standard writing follows the same rules.
If you’re writing a school assignment, business email, article, report, or application, use the standard form that’s.
Mistake: Confusing contraction with possession
The apostrophe in “that’s” does not show possession.
This is worth comparing with its and it’s:
- It’s raining. = It is raining.
- The dog wagged its tail. = The tail belongs to the dog.
- That’s my bag. = That is my bag.
The grammar behind each form differs.
That’s or Thats in everyday writing
Text messages
Contractions are perfectly natural in casual messages.
That’s what I meant.
That’s hilarious!
There’s no problem with using that’s in informal writing.
Emails
Professional emails can also use contractions.
That’s the information we discussed yesterday.
For a more formal tone, you could write:
That is the information we discussed yesterday.
Both are grammatically acceptable. The difference mainly concerns tone and emphasis.
Academic writing
Academic writing depends on the style requirements of your school, instructor, publisher, or discipline.
Some academic styles allow contractions. Others prefer full forms in formal prose.
However, regardless of style preference, thats should not replace that. That’s when you mean that is or that has.
Common Expressions With “That’s”
You’ll find that’s in many everyday English expressions.
That’s why
That’s why I called you.
Here, that’s means that is.
That’s what
That’s what I wanted to explain.
Again, that’s means that is.
That’s how
That’s how the system works.
This is another common thing that is construction.
That’s been
That’s been a difficult experience.
Here, that’s means that has.
Recognizing these patterns can make the correct spelling much easier to remember.
That’s or Thats: Quick Reference
| Question | Correct answer |
| Is that’s correct? | Yes. |
| Is thats the standard contraction? | No |
| Can that’s mean “that is”? | Yes. |
| Can that’s mean “that has”? | Yes. |
| Can Thats appear in a brand name? | Yes, if officially spelled that way |
| What should you use in normal writing? | That’s |
| How can you check the meaning? | Replace it with “that is” or “that has.” |
How to Remember That’s or Thats
You don’t need a complicated grammar rule.
Just remember:
That’s = that is or that has.
Whenever you type thats, stop and ask whether you mean that is or that has.
If you do, add the apostrophe.
Quick checklist
Before you finish your sentence, ask:
- Does that is fit?
- Does that has fit?
- Am I using a contraction?
- Did I include the apostrophe?
- Is Thats actually part of an official name?
If you’re using the ordinary contraction, that’s is the correct spelling.
FAQs
Q1. Is “that’s” or “thats” correct?
That’s is correct in standard English when it means that is or that has. Thats is generally incorrect in normal sentences.
Q2. What does “that’s” mean?
That’s is a contraction of that is or that has, depending on the sentence.
Q3. Is “thats” ever acceptable?
Thats can be acceptable as part of a company name, username, title, brand, or chosen name. In standard sentences, use that’s.
Q4. Why do people write “thats” without an apostrophe?
People often omit the apostrophe because they type quickly, especially in texts, social media, and online communication.
Q5. How can I remember the difference between “that’s” and “thats”?
Try expanding that’s to that is or that has. If the expanded version makes sense, that’s is the correct form.
Conclusion
That’s is the correct standard form when you mean that is or that has. Thats is generally incorrect in normal English sentences because it is missing the apostrophe. When proofreading, check the meaning and expand the word to that is” or “that has.” This simple grammar rule can help you avoid a common punctuation mistake.
