That’s is the correct standard form when you mean “that is” or “that has,” while thats is generally incorrect in standard English when used as a contraction. The apostrophe is important because it shows that letters have been removed from the original words.
This small punctuation difference causes confusion because thats and that’s look almost identical. However, they do not have the same standard use.
In everyday messages, social media, emails, and informal writing, people may leave out apostrophes, but standard English still uses the apostrophe in the contraction.
Understanding this difference can help you write clearer English. It is especially useful when writing school assignments, professional emails, articles, or other formal content.
In this guide, we will explain the meaning, grammar, origin, common mistakes, pronunciation, everyday examples, and British and American English usage. We will also look at the difference between that’s, that is, that has, and thats.
Thats or That’s : Quick Answer
That’s is the correct standard form when it means:
- That is
- That has
Examples:
That’s a beautiful house.
Here, that’s = that is.
That’s been a difficult day.
Here, that’s = that has.
The form thats without an apostrophe is generally not correct when you are trying to write the contraction.
So remember:
That’s = that is / that has
Thats = generally incorrect
Definition and Meaning
What Does That’s Mean?
That’s is a contraction. A contraction combines two words and uses an apostrophe to show that some letters have been omitted.
It can mean:
That is
That’s my phone.
= That is my phone.
It can also mean:
That has
That’s happened before.
= That has happened before.
The meaning depends on the sentence.
What Does Thats Mean?
Thats without an apostrophe is generally considered incorrect when it is intended as the contraction of that is or that has.
The apostrophe is needed because it marks the missing letters.
For example:
Incorrect:
Thats a good idea.
Correct:
That’s a good idea.
Why Is the Apostrophe Important?
The apostrophe is not just decoration.
In contractions, it shows that letters have been removed.
For example:
that is → that’s
The apostrophe represents the missing part of is.
Similarly:
that has → that’s
This is why writing thats changes the standard form of the word.
A similar pattern appears in:
- It’s = it is / it has
- He’s = he is / he has
- She’s = she is / she has
- What’s = what is / what has
- Who’s = who is / who has
The Origin of That’s
The word that is very old and has roots in early forms of English and other Germanic languages.
The contraction that’s developed as spoken and written English became more comfortable with combining common words.
Contractions are now a normal part of English. They are especially common in conversation and informal writing.
The apostrophe became an important way to show that letters had been left out.
That’s = That Is
One of the most common uses is:
That’s = that is
Examples:
That’s my brother.
That’s a great idea.
That’s the problem.
That’s very interesting.
You can test the sentence by replacing that’s with that is.
For example:
That’s a good answer.
becomes:
That is a good answer.
The sentence still makes sense, so that’s is correct.
That’s = That Has
The same contraction can also mean:
That’s = that has
For example:
That’s been a difficult journey.
This means:
That has been a difficult journey.
Another example:
That’s changed a lot.
This means:
That has changed a lot.
The grammar of the sentence usually makes the intended meaning clear.
How to Know Which Meaning It Has
Look at the word that follows the contraction.
If it is followed by a noun or adjective, that’s often means that is.
That’s interesting.
= That is interesting.
If it is followed by a past participle, it may mean that has.
That’s changed.
= That has changed.
This simple check can help you understand the sentence.
Common Mistakes With That’s
Mistake 1: Leaving Out the Apostrophe
Incorrect:
Thats my car.
Correct:
That’s my car.
Mistake 2: Using Thats in Formal Writing
Text messages sometimes omit apostrophes, but standard writing should use the correct punctuation.
Mistake 3: Confusing That’s With Its
These words are different.
That’s means that is or that has.
Its usually shows possession.
For example:
That’s a dog.
The dog wagged its tail.
Mistake 4: Confusing That’s With Thats
The apostrophe is the key difference.
That’s = standard contraction
Thats = generally incorrect as a contraction
That vs That’s Is
Both forms can be correct.
That is is the full form.
That’s is the contraction.
Compare:
That is my book.
That’s my book.
Both sentences have the same basic meaning.
The choice often depends on tone and context.
That’s in Formal Writing
Contractions are not grammatically wrong, but some formal styles prefer full forms.
For example:
Less conversational:
That is an important point.
More conversational:
That’s an important point.
In academic or very formal writing, using that is may sometimes sound more formal.
In everyday writing, that’s is completely normal.
That’s in Everyday Examples
Example 1
That’s my favorite song.
= That is my favorite song.
Example 2
That’s a difficult question.
= That is a difficult question.
Example 3
That’s been a great experience.
= That has been a great experience.
Example 4
That’s changed since last year.
= That has changed since last year.
These examples show why the apostrophe matters.
That’s or Its?
This is another common source of confusion.
That’s is a contraction.
Its is a possessive word.
Compare:
That’s my phone.
Here, that’s = that is.
The phone lost its battery charge.
Here, its shows possession.
The apostrophe does not belong in its when it is being used as a possessive determiner.
That’s or Thats in Text Messages?
In informal texting, people sometimes leave out apostrophes because they want to type quickly.
You may see:
thats cool
instead of:
that’s cool
However, if you are learning or writing standard English, that’s is the correct form.
For professional emails, schoolwork, websites, and formal communication, using the apostrophe is the safer choice.
British English vs American English
That’s is standard in both British and American English.
There is no British spelling that’s and American spelling thats difference.
Both varieties use:
That’s
The difference is mainly between standard punctuation and informal omission of the apostrophe.
| Variety | Standard Form |
| British English | That’s |
| American English | That’s |
| Australian English | That’s |
| Canadian English | That’s |
Which Form Should You Use?
Use that’s when you mean that is or that has.
Use the full form that is or that has when you want a more formal or emphatic style.
Avoid thats in standard English writing.
For example:
That’s a good point.
is correct.
Thats a good point.
should be corrected to include the apostrophe.
Is Thats Ever Correct?
For normal modern English, thats without an apostrophe is not the standard contraction of that is or that has.
It may appear in informal online writing, usernames, stylized text, or as a typing error, but that does not make it the standard grammatical form.
When writing standard English, use:
That’s
Google Trends & Usage Data
People often search this spelling question because apostrophes are easy to miss when typing.
Common searches include:
- Thats or that’s
- Is thats correct?
- Is that’s a word?
- Thats meaning
- That’s meaning
- That’s vs that is
- How do you use that’s?
Search interest can vary by country and over time. Questions about contractions are especially common among English learners and people checking grammar before writing.
People Also Ask About That’s
Is thats or that’s correct?
That’s is the standard form when meaning that is or that has.
What does that’s mean?
It can mean that is or that has, depending on the sentence.
Is thats a word?
It is not the standard spelling of the contraction that’s. The apostrophe is normally required.
Can that’s mean that has?
Yes. For example, “That’s changed” can mean “That has changed.”
Can that’s mean that is?
Yes. This is one of its most common uses.
Why does that’s have an apostrophe?
The apostrophe shows that letters have been omitted from that is or that has.
Is that’s formal English?
It is standard English, but some formal writing styles may prefer the full form that is or that has.
Is thats acceptable in texting?
People sometimes omit apostrophes in informal messages, but that’s is the standard form.
What is the difference between thats and that’s?
The apostrophe is the key difference. That’s is the standard contraction; thats is generally a spelling or punctuation error.
Is that’s the same as its?
No. That’s means that is or that has, while its usually shows possession.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct spelling: thats or that’s?
The correct standard form is that’s when you mean that is or that has.
Can I use that’s in an essay?
Yes, grammatically you can, although some academic or formal styles may prefer the full forms.
How do I remember the apostrophe?
Remember that that’s is a contraction. The apostrophe shows that part of is or has has been removed.
What is the full form of that’s?
It can be that is or that has.
Is “that’s” always a contraction?
In standard modern English, yes, that’s functions as a contraction of that is or that has.
Can “that’s” start a sentence?
Yes.
That’s exactly what I wanted.
Is “thats” ever used online?
Yes, people sometimes omit apostrophes in informal online writing, but that’s remains the standard form.
Final Comparison
| Point | That’s | Thats |
| Standard English | Yes | No |
| Apostrophe | Yes | No |
| Can mean “that is” | Yes | No |
| Can mean “that has” | Yes | No |
| Formal writing | Acceptable | Incorrect |
| Texting | Common | Sometimes seen informally |
| Correct contraction | Yes | No |
Conclusion
That’s is the correct standard form when you mean that is or that has. The apostrophe is important because it shows that letters have been removed from the original words.
The form thats is commonly seen when people type quickly or leave out punctuation in informal messages, but it is not the standard way to write the contraction.
A simple test is to replace that’s with that is or that has. If one of those full forms fits the sentence, the contraction is usually correct.
Remember the key rule:
That’s = that is / that has
Thats = generally incorrect
Using this simple rule will help you avoid the mistake in schoolwork, emails, articles, and everyday English writing.
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Ethan Parker is an English-language writer known for his interest in words, language, and clear communication. His work focuses on making everyday English easier to understand through simple explanations and practical examples.
