Thats or That’s — Which Is Correct?

If you’ve ever paused mid-sentence wondering whether to type “that’s” or “thats,” you’re not alone. This is one of the most common punctuation mix-ups in English, and it happens to native speakers and learners alike. The good news? The answer is simple, and once you understand the one rule behind it, you’ll never second-guess yourself again.

In this guide, you’ll get a clear answer to “is it thats or that’s,” plus examples, tables, memory tricks, common mistakes, and a quick checklist you can bookmark for later.

What you need to know up front: That’s is the correct form in standard English

Let’s settle this right away: “that’s” is correct, and “thats” is not a real word.

“That’s” is a contraction — a shortened way of combining two words into one using an apostrophe. It stands for either:

• “that is” — That’s my favorite coffee shop.
• “that has” — That’s been sitting there for weeks.

The apostrophe isn’t decorative. It marks the spot where a letter has been removed. In “that is,” the letter “i” is dropped and replaced with an apostrophe to form “that’s.” Drop the apostrophe, and you’re left with “thats,” which has no meaning or grammatical function in English.

So if you’re wondering about the difference between thats and that’s, here’s the short version: one is a legitimate contraction used every day in speech and writing, and the other is simply a typo.

Examples that show the difference clearly

Seeing the contraction in context makes the rule stick faster than any explanation. Compare these pairs:

Notice that in every “correct” column, “that’s” can be expanded back into “that is” or “that has” and the sentence still makes complete sense. That’s the entire test in a nutshell.

Writing examples for emails, essays, and social media

The correct spelling of “that’s” matters just as much in casual writing as it does in formal writing, though the stakes look a little different depending on where you’re writing.

In emails:

• “That’s a fantastic point — let’s bring it up in the next meeting.”
• “That’s the file I was referring to earlier.”

In essays and academic writing:

• “That’s precisely the argument the author makes in chapter three.”
• “That’s a claim that requires further evidence.”

In social media captions and texts:

• “That’s the energy we need this week 🔥”
• “Omg that’s hilarious 😂”

Even in relaxed, informal spaces like texting or Instagram captions, “thats” without the apostrophe reads as a mistake rather than a stylistic choice. Autocorrect on most phones will actually fix “thats” to “that’s” automatically — which is a good hint about which one is grammatically accepted.

Tables of common contractions and what they omit

Understanding “that’s” gets easier when you see it alongside other everyday contractions. Each one follows the same basic rule: the apostrophe replaces missing letters.

A quick pattern to notice: contractions that end in “-‘s” almost always stand for “is” or “has,” never possession. This trips up a lot of writers, so it deserves its own explanation below.

Practical rules and memory tricks — fast and useful

If you only remember one thing from this article, make it this: always test the sentence by expanding the contraction.

Here are a few fast, reliable tricks:

1. The expansion test — Replace “that’s” with “that is” or “that has.” If the sentence still makes sense, the apostrophe belongs there.
   • That’s amazing → That is amazing ✅
   • Thats amazing → Thats amazing ❌ (not a real phrase)
2. The missing-letter rule — Picture the apostrophe as a placeholder for a missing letter. No apostrophe means no missing letter accounted for, which means the word is incomplete or wrong.
3. Say it out loud — If you naturally say “that is” or “that has” when speaking, the written version needs an apostrophe.
4. Remember: “that’s” is never possessive — Some writers assume the apostrophe shows ownership, the way it does in “the dog’s leash.” It doesn’t. “That’s” only means “that is” or “that has,” never “belonging to that.”
5. Spellcheck is your friend — Nearly every modern writing tool, from Google Docs to Grammarly to your phone’s keyboard, will flag “thats” as an error. If you see a red squiggly line, trust it.

Common errors and how to fix them (with quick edits)

Here are the mistakes people make most often, along with quick fixes:

• Mistake: “Thats so cool!” Fix: “That’s so cool!”
• Mistake: Using “that’s” when you mean simple possession — for example, writing “that’s dog” instead of “that dog.” Fix: Drop the apostrophe entirely and use “that” as a plain pointing word: “that dog,” “that book,” “that idea.”
• Mistake: Confusing “that’s” with “thats'” (adding an apostrophe after the s). Fix: There’s no such word as “thats'” — the apostrophe always goes before the “s” in this contraction, never after.
• Mistake: Writing “that’s” in place of “those” when referring to plural items — “that’s cars over there” instead of “those cars over there.” Fix: Use “those” for plural nouns; reserve “that’s” for the singular contraction of “that is/has.”
• Mistake: Typing too fast and skipping the apostrophe out of habit. Fix: Slow down during proofreading, or turn on autocorrect for contractions.

The role of style guides: when to use or avoid that’s

Most major style guides — including AP Style, Chicago Manual of Style, and MLA — accept “that’s” as standard, correct English in everyday and conversational writing. However, there are situations where writers are advised to spell things out:

• Formal academic papers: Some professors and journals prefer “that is” written in full rather than contracted, especially in very formal or technical writing.
• Legal and business documents: Contracts and official documents often avoid contractions altogether for precision and clarity.
• Conversational content, blogs, and marketing copy: Contractions like “that’s” are not just acceptable — they’re encouraged, because they make writing sound natural and easy to read.

As a general rule: if you’re writing something meant to sound like a real person talking (an email, a blog post, a social caption), “that’s” is exactly right. If you’re writing something highly formal, check your specific style guide, since some ask for the expanded form.

Frequently asked questions about that’s and thats

Is it thats or that’s?

“That’s” is correct. “Thats” is not a recognized English word and is considered a spelling mistake.

How do you spell that’s?

It’s spelled t-h-a-t-‘-s, with the apostrophe placed between the “t” and the “s.”

What is the difference between thats and that’s?

“That’s” is a proper contraction meaning “that is” or “that has.” “Thats” has no meaning and is simply a typo — there is no difference in usage because “thats” isn’t valid to begin with.

Can thats ever be correct?

Only as part of a proper noun or brand name that intentionally drops standard grammar rules for stylistic reasons. In regular sentences, it’s always incorrect.

Does that’s ever show possession?

No. “That’s” only stands for “that is” or “that has.” Simple possession uses “that” without an apostrophe, as in “that car’s engine.”

Why do people confuse thats and that’s?

It usually comes down to fast typing, texting habits, or simply forgetting that contractions require an apostrophe to mark the missing letters.

A short checklist editors and writers should use

Before hitting publish or send, run through this quick list:

• Does “that’s” expand naturally into “that is” or “that has”?
• Is the apostrophe placed correctly, between the “t” and the “s”?
• Have you avoided using “that’s” to show possession?
• Did you check for plural cases where “those” is the better word?
• Has your spellchecker flagged any instance of “thats”?
• If writing formally, did you confirm whether your style guide allows contractions?

If you can check every box, your writing is grammatically solid.

Closing: small punctuation, big difference

One tiny apostrophe. That’s really all that separates confident, professional writing from a mistake that makes readers pause. It doesn’t look like much on the page, but it changes everything about how your sentence is read, understood, and judged — whether it’s a two-line text to a friend, a client email, or a blog post you’re hoping will rank on page one of Google.

Here’s the good news: you don’t need to memorize a long list of grammar rules to get this right. You just need one habit — the expansion test. Every single time you type “that’s,” ask yourself if it still makes sense as “that is” or “that has.” If it does, keep the apostrophe. If it doesn’t, you probably need a different word entirely, like “that” or “those.”

So, the next time your fingers hesitate over the keyboard, wondering “is it thats or that’s,” you already know the answer: it’s always that’s. “Thats” isn’t a shortcut, a style choice, or an accepted variation — it’s simply incorrect. Make the apostrophe a habit, and this is one grammar rule you’ll never have to look up again.

References and further reading

• Merriam-Webster — guidance on contractions and apostrophe usage
• Cambridge Dictionary — rules on apostrophes in English grammar
• The Chicago Manual of Style — style conventions for contractions in formal writing
• AP Stylebook — guidelines on contraction use in journalistic writing

Shoaib Ahmad

Shoaib Ahmad is a language-focused content writer and researcher at magazinesolo.com, where he explains the meaning of words, phrases, and text in a clear and reader-friendly way. His work focuses on simplifying language, uncovering context, and helping readers understand text with confidence and clarity.