That’s or Thats? The Correct Spelling Explained Fast

If you have ever paused while typing and wondered whether to write “that’s” or “thats,” you are not alone. This is one of the most common small mistakes in English writing. The good news is that the answer is simple once you understand the rule behind it.

The correct word is always “that’s” with an apostrophe. The word “thats” without an apostrophe is not a real word in standard English. It is a common typo, not an accepted spelling. In this guide, we will break down why this happens, how to use “that’s” correctly, and how you can avoid this mistake for good.

What Does the Apostrophe Do?

An apostrophe is a small mark, but it carries a big job in English grammar. It usually does one of two things: it shows that letters are missing (a contraction), or it shows ownership (possession).

In the case of “that’s,” the apostrophe is doing the first job. It is standing in for missing letters. “That’s” is a short way of writing “that is” or “that has.” The apostrophe replaces the letter that got dropped when the two words were joined together.

Here is a simple breakdown:

Full Form	Contraction	What the Apostrophe Replaces
that is	that’s	the letter “i”
that has	that’s	the letters “ha”

Without the apostrophe, “thats” looks like it might be a possessive word, similar to “cats” or “hats” with an added “s.” But that is not how English works here. “That” does not need an “s” added to show possession, and it is not a plural noun. So “thats” simply has no grammatical job to do. It is just a spelling mistake.

That’s in Correct Usage

“That’s” is used constantly in everyday English, both in speech and in writing. It shows up in casual conversation, in emails, in social media posts, and even in formal writing when a contraction fits the tone.

You will mainly use “that’s” in two situations:

• When you mean “that is”: “That’s a great idea.”
• When you mean “that has”: “That’s been a long day.”

Both uses are grammatically correct and widely accepted in modern English. The key is to remember that “that’s” always needs the apostrophe to show it is a shortened form of two words. Leaving it out changes the word from a real contraction into a spelling error.

Native speakers use “that’s” so often that it barely gets noticed in casual speech. But in writing, especially in professional or academic settings, spelling it correctly matters. A missing apostrophe can make your writing look careless, even if the rest of your grammar is strong.

That’s or thats grammar

From a grammar standpoint, there is no debate here. “Thats” is not a recognized word in any major English dictionary. It does not appear in Merriam-Webster, Oxford, or Cambridge dictionaries as a standalone entry. “That’s,” on the other hand, is a standard contraction with a clear and accepted grammatical role.

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The confusion often comes from how English handles apostrophes for both contractions and possession. People sometimes mix up rules meant for possessive nouns (like “dog’s bone”) with rules for contractions (like “that’s fine”). But “that” is a pronoun, not a noun that needs an apostrophe to show possession in this context.

Here is a quick grammar comparison:

Word	Grammar Role	Correct?
that’s	Contraction of “that is” or “that has”	Yes
thats	No grammatical function	No
that	Pronoun or determiner	Yes, on its own

So whenever you are deciding between these two, remember this rule: if you can replace the word with “that is” or “that has” and the sentence still makes sense, you need the apostrophe.

Correct Usage Examples

Seeing real examples can make the rule easier to remember. Below are some everyday sentences using “that’s” the right way.

• That’s exactly what I was thinking.
• I heard that’s the best restaurant in town.
• That’s not fair to the rest of the team.
• She said that’s how the machine works.
• That’s a beautiful painting.

In each of these examples, you can swap “that’s” with “that is” and the sentence still sounds natural. This quick test is one of the easiest ways to check your own writing before you hit publish or send.

That’s or thats examples

Let’s look at a side-by-side comparison so the difference is crystal clear. This table shows the same sentence written both correctly and incorrectly.

Correct (that’s)	Incorrect (thats)
That’s a good point.	Thats a good point.
I think that’s true.	I think thats true.
That’s why I called you.	Thats why I called you.
That’s the one I want.	Thats the one I want.
He said that’s fine.	He said thats fine.

Notice how the incorrect version reads a little “off” once you know what to look for. Even though “thats” is a common typo, especially on mobile keyboards, it is never grammatically acceptable in formal or professional writing.

Incorrect Usage Examples

It helps to also see how “thats” gets misused in real writing, so you can catch it in your own work. Below are examples of the mistake in action, along with the correction.

• Wrong: Thats not what I meant. Right: That’s not what I meant.
• Wrong: I dont think thats correct. Right: I don’t think that’s correct.
• Wrong: Thats amazing news! Right: That’s amazing news!
• Wrong: She told me thats her favorite book. Right: She told me that’s her favorite book.

You will notice this mistake most often in fast typing, texting, or when someone is writing quickly without checking their work. It is an easy fix once you build the habit of double-checking contractions.

Context Variations

“That’s” can appear in many different types of sentences and tones. Understanding these variations helps you use it naturally in any writing style.

In casual conversation: “That’s so cool, I didn’t know that!”

In formal writing: “That’s an important consideration for the committee to review.”

In questions: “Is that’s the correct answer?” is actually incorrect. In questions, you would usually say “Is that the correct answer?” without the apostrophe form, because “that’s” does not fit naturally before a question structure like this.

In statements about possession or completion: “That’s finished” (meaning “that has finished” or “that is finished”).

Here is a table showing how “that’s” shifts meaning depending on context:

Sentence	Meaning
That’s a nice car.	That is a nice car.
That’s happened before.	That has happened before.
That’s been fixed already.	That has been fixed already.
That’s the plan for today.	That is the plan for today.

Understanding these small shifts in meaning helps you use “that’s” with confidence in any type of writing, from texting a friend to writing a business report.

Common That’s Spelling Errors

Beyond simply dropping the apostrophe, there are a few other spelling mistakes people make around this word. Knowing them can help you avoid all of them at once.

• Thats – missing the apostrophe entirely
• Tha’s – apostrophe placed in the wrong spot
• That’ s – an accidental space before the apostrophe
• Thatis – incorrectly joining “that” and “is” without the apostrophe or space
• That’s’ – adding an extra, unnecessary apostrophe

Most of these errors happen because of autocorrect issues, fast typing, or simply not knowing the rule. Mobile keyboards are especially prone to dropping apostrophes automatically unless autocorrect is set up properly.

How to Remember the Apostrophe in That’s

If you struggle to remember this rule, a few simple tricks can help it stick for good.

1. Say it out loud. If you can naturally expand the word to “that is” or “that has” and the sentence still works, you need the apostrophe.
2. Think of the apostrophe as a placeholder. It marks the spot where a letter used to be. No missing letter means no apostrophe needed.
3. Compare it to other contractions. Just like “it’s” stands for “it is,” and “he’s” stands for “he is,” “that’s” follows the same pattern.
4. Proofread contractions specifically. When editing your writing, do a quick search for every “that” in your document and check if it should carry an apostrophe.
5. Turn off risky autocorrect settings. Some keyboards strip apostrophes automatically. Check your settings if you notice this happening often.

With a little practice, spotting the difference becomes automatic. Most people who make this mistake are simply typing fast, not misunderstanding the actual rule.

Final Thoughts

Getting “that’s” right is a small detail, but small details add up in writing. Whether you are sending a quick text or writing a professional email, using the correct spelling shows attention and care. The rule itself is not complicated: “that’s” is always short for “that is” or “that has,” and it always needs an apostrophe to show that.

“Thats” without the apostrophe is never correct in standard English. Once you train yourself to spot the missing apostrophe, this mistake becomes easy to avoid. A quick mental test, simply expanding the word into its full form, is often all you need to check your writing before you hit send or publish.