That’s or Thats? Which Is Correct? Meaning, Difference & Usage

That’s or Thats can cause grammar mistakes because the apostrophe shows the correct form and separates it from the wrong form in standard English. That’s is the standard contraction of that is or that has, while thats is not the correct choice in normal usage. The grammatical difference may look small, but the tiny apostrophe can change whether a sentence follows proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. In emails, blog posts, captions, comments, and professional documents, using the right form helps your writing read clearly.

The problem often appears during fast typing on a phone or keyboard, when the apostrophe disappears and people make a careless error. This can happen in texts and social media, where thats may feel normal, but standard grammar still requires that’s. Cambridge Grammar explains contractions as shortened words with letters omitted, marked by apostrophes.

A useful guide is to check the meaning: when the word means that is or that has, choose that’s. This simple check can reduce confusion, support accurate proofreading, and help you select the right one in ordinary English. The distinction is not merely a typing preference; it matters whenever grammatical accuracy is important.

Table of Contents

Quick Answer: That’s or Thats?

That’s is the correct form in standard English when you mean “that is” or “that has.”

Thats without an apostrophe is generally incorrect when used as the contraction.

Form	Correct?	Meaning	Example
That’s	Yes	That is / That has	That’s a great idea.
Thats	No, as the contraction	Usually intended as “that’s”	Thats a great idea.
That is	Yes	Full form	That is a great idea.
That has	Yes	Full form	That has happened before.

The easiest rule is simple:

If you can replace “that’s” with “that is” or “that has,” use the apostrophe.

For example:

That’s my jacket. → That is my jacket.
That’s happened before. → That has happened before.

The meaning tells you which full form is hiding behind the contraction.

What Does “That’s” Mean?

That’s is a contraction. It combines that with either is or has.

The apostrophe shows that letters have been omitted. This follows the same basic pattern found in contractions such as I’m, you’re, it’s, we’re, and they’ve. Cambridge Grammar specifically notes that ’s can represent both is and has.

So:

that + is = that’s

and:

that + has = that’s

The spelling stays the same, but the meaning depends on the sentence.

“That’s” Means “That Is”

This is the most common use.

When that’s means that is, it can identify something, describe something, or introduce information.

Consider these examples:

That’s my car.
That’s the problem.
That’s a beautiful painting.
That’s exactly what I wanted.
That’s why we left early.
That’s not what I meant.

You can expand each sentence:

That’s my car. → That is my car.
That’s the problem. → That is the problem.
That’s a beautiful painting. → That is a beautiful painting.
That’s exactly what I wanted. → That is exactly what I wanted.

If the expanded version works naturally, you have a clear case of that’s = that is.

“That’s” Means “That Has”

The same contraction can also represent that has.

This usually appears when has acts as an auxiliary verb in a perfect-tense construction.

For example:

That’s happened before.
That’s been difficult.
That’s changed over time.
That’s caused several problems.
That’s never happened to me.

Expand them:

That’s happened before. → That has happened before.
That’s been difficult. → That has been difficult.
That’s changed over time. → That has changed over time.
That’s caused several problems. → That has caused several problems.

Here, that’s doesn’t mean that is. It means that has.

That distinction matters because the grammar after the contraction gives you a useful clue.

What Does “Thats” Mean?

In ordinary standard English, thats without an apostrophe isn’t the correct spelling when you intend the contraction that’s.

For example:

❌ Thats a good point.

✅ That’s a good point.

The problem isn’t the word that. The problem is the missing apostrophe in the contraction.

When that is becomes that’s, the apostrophe marks the omitted i:

that is → that’s

Without the apostrophe, thats doesn’t properly show the contraction.

This is why the difference between that’s and thats isn’t merely cosmetic. The punctuation tells the reader how the form was created.

Why Does “That’s” Need an Apostrophe?

An apostrophe often signals missing letters in a contraction.

Look at these familiar examples:

Full Form	Contraction
I am	I’m
You are	You’re
He is	He’s
She is	She’s
It is	It’s
We are	We’re
They are	They’re
That is	That’s
That has	That’s

The apostrophe acts like a small marker showing that something has been shortened.

For that’s, the most straightforward example is:

that is → that’s

The i disappears and the apostrophe takes its place.

English uses this pattern across many contractions. Cambridge’s grammar guidance explains that an apostrophe can show where one or more letters have been left out.

So the apostrophe isn’t decorative. It has a grammatical function.

That’s vs. Thats: The Key Difference

The central difference is the apostrophe.

That’s is a standard contraction.

Thats is normally just a missing-apostrophe error when the writer intends that’s.

Feature	That’s	Thats
Apostrophe	Yes	No
Standard contraction	Yes	No
Can mean “that is”	Yes	No
Can mean “that has”	Yes	No
Appropriate in edited English	Yes	No
Common typing error	No	Yes

Consider this simple comparison:

❌ Thats the answer I needed.

✅ That’s the answer I needed.

The corrected sentence means:

That is the answer I needed.

Now look at another example:

❌ Thats been a difficult week.

✅ That’s been a difficult week.

Here, that’s means:

That has been a difficult week.

Once you understand these two meanings, the spelling becomes much easier to remember.

When Should You Use “That’s”?

Use that’s whenever you need the contraction of that is or that has.

Use “That’s” for “That Is”

You can use that’s to identify something:

That’s my brother.

You can use it to describe something:

That’s a beautiful view.

You can use it to explain something:

That’s the reason I called.

You can also use it to emphasize a point:

That’s exactly what I was thinking.

In everyday communication, these forms sound natural and fluent.

Use “That’s” for “That Has”

When that has introduces a perfect construction, that’s works naturally.

For example:

That’s changed since last year.

This means:

That has changed since last year.

Another example:

That’s been a major issue.

This means:

That has been a major issue.

A useful grammatical clue is the word following that’s. If a past participle follows it, that has may be the intended expansion.

For example:

That’s changed.
That’s happened.
That’s caused.
That’s been.
That’s improved.

The context still determines the exact meaning, but the structure provides a strong clue.

When Should You Avoid the Contraction?

Although that’s is grammatically correct, you don’t always have to use it.

Sometimes you may prefer that is or that has for emphasis or a more formal tone.

Compare:

That’s the main reason.

with:

That is the main reason.

The second version sounds more deliberate and formal.

Contractions commonly appear in everyday speech and informal writing. Some formal writing styles prefer full forms, although the exact rule depends on the publication, institution, or style guide. Cambridge Grammar notes that contractions are especially common in everyday speech and informal writing.

So the choice isn’t simply correct vs. incorrect.

Both that’s and that is can be grammatically correct. The difference is usually one of style, tone, and emphasis.

That’s in Formal and Informal Writing

You can find that’s in many forms of everyday writing.

Informal Examples

That’s awesome.
That’s what I thought.
That’s not fair.
That’s fine with me.

These sound natural in conversations, messages, and casual emails.

Professional Examples

Contractions can also appear in professional communication when the tone is conversational:

That’s the information we needed to complete the report.

However, if you’re writing a highly formal academic paper, legal document, or institutional statement, you may choose:

That is the information we needed to complete the report.

The important point is that that’s isn’t grammatically wrong simply because it is a contraction.

The audience and writing style determine whether the shorter form is preferable.

Common Mistakes With “That’s”

The apostrophe creates several opportunities for confusion.

Writing “Thats” Instead of “That’s”

This is the most common mistake.

Incorrect:

Thats exactly what happened.

Correct:

That’s exactly what happened.

The corrected form represents that is.

Confusing “That’s” With “That”

Sometimes writers use that’s where they actually need that.

Compare:

That book belongs to me.

Here, that describes which book you’re talking about.

Now compare:

That’s my book.

Here, that’s means that is.

The two forms have different grammatical jobs.

Confusing “That’s” With “Its**

This is another common apostrophe problem.

It’s means it is or it has.

Its normally shows possession.

For example:

It’s raining.

Here, it’s = it is.

But:

The dog wagged its tail.

Here, its shows possession.

The same basic principle applies to that’s. The apostrophe isn’t there because the word somehow “needs” one. It appears because the form is a contraction.

Confusing “That’s” With “There’s”

These contractions have different meanings.

That’s = that is / that has

There’s = there is / there has

Compare:

That’s the problem.

and:

There’s a problem.

The first points to or identifies the problem.

The second introduces the existence of a problem.

Understanding the full forms makes the distinction much clearer.

How to Tell Whether “That’s” Means “That Is” or “That Has”

You don’t need to memorize complicated grammar terminology.

Use the expansion test.

Step One: Replace “That’s” With “That Is”

Take:

That’s my favorite restaurant.

Expand it:

That is my favorite restaurant.

It works.

Therefore, that’s = that is.

Step Two: Try “That Has”

Now consider:

That’s happened before.

Try:

That has happened before.

That doesn’t work.

Try:

That has happened before.

Now the sentence works.

Therefore, that’s = that has.

This test is quick and reliable because it focuses on what the contraction actually represents.

That’s vs. Thats Examples

Seeing the difference in complete sentences makes the rule easier to apply.

Incorrect	Correct	Full Meaning
Thats my seat.	That’s my seat.	That is my seat.
Thats a strange idea.	That’s a strange idea.	That is a strange idea.
Thats exactly right.	That’s exactly right.	That is exactly right.
Thats been happening lately.	That’s been happening lately.	That has been happening lately.
Thats changed everything.	That’s changed everything.	That has changed everything.
Thats never happened before.	That’s never happened before.	That has never happened before.

More Correct Examples With “That’s”

Identification

That’s the house we visited yesterday.

Description

That’s an unusual design.

Explanation

That’s why the meeting was canceled.

Agreement

That’s exactly what I mean.

Correction

That’s not what the instructions say.

Present perfect

That’s happened several times this year.

Ongoing result

That’s changed the way we approach the problem.

Each sentence uses the apostrophe correctly.

“That’s” or “Thats” in Texting and Social Media

You may see thats without an apostrophe in texts, comments, captions, or quick messages.

That doesn’t make it the standard spelling.

Digital communication often encourages speed. People skip punctuation, shorten sentences, and leave out apostrophes. A reader may still understand the intended meaning.

For example:

is usually understood as:

However, understanding an error doesn’t make the spelling standard.

This distinction matters when casual writing becomes published writing. A missing apostrophe that goes unnoticed in a quick text can look careless in an essay, article, application, or professional email.

A good rule is to develop the habit of writing that’s correctly everywhere. Then you don’t have to remember which situations allow you to drop the apostrophe.

A Simple Memory Trick for That’s vs. Thats

Think of the apostrophe as a shortcut sign.

Whenever two words have been shortened, the apostrophe tells you that something disappeared.

So:

that is → that’s

and:

that has → that’s

If you mean either of those full phrases, keep the apostrophe.

Another useful trick is the two-word test:

Can “that’s” become “that is” or “that has”?

If yes, write that’s.

If neither expansion works, stop and reconsider the sentence.

This method is far more useful than simply memorizing “apostrophe good, no apostrophe bad.”

Case Study: Fixing a Common Sentence

Imagine someone writes:

Thats the reason I changed my mind.

At first glance, the sentence looks understandable. But the missing apostrophe creates a standard spelling error.

Apply the expansion test:

Thats → That is

Now rewrite the sentence:

That’s the reason I changed my mind.

The sentence is now correct.

Try another:

Thats been my experience.

Expand it:

That has been my experience.

That works too.

So the corrected sentence becomes:

That’s been my experience.

The interesting part is that both sentences use that’s, but the contraction represents different words.

Why the Apostrophe Matters in “That’s”

Apostrophes can seem insignificant because they occupy very little space.

Yet they often carry important grammatical information.

Compare:

that’s = that is / that has
thats = nonstandard form when intended as the contraction

The difference is only one character. The grammatical distinction is much bigger.

This pattern appears throughout English:

who’s = who is / who has
whose = possessive form
you’re = you are
your = possessive determiner
they’re = they are
their = possessive determiner
it’s = it is / it has
its = possessive determiner

Learning how contractions work therefore helps with more than that’s vs. thats.

FAQs:

Is “thats” a correct word?

Thats isn’t the standard spelling when you mean that is or that has. In those cases, use that’s.

What does “that’s” mean?

That’s can mean that is or that has.

For example:

That’s my phone.
= That is my phone.

And:

That’s happened before.
= That has happened before.

Is “that’s” the same as “that is”?

Yes. That’s is the contracted form of that is.

For example:

That’s a good idea.

means:

That is a good idea.

Can “that’s” mean “that has”?

Yes. That’s can represent that has when has functions as an auxiliary verb.

For example:

That’s been difficult.

means:

That has been difficult.

Is “thats” acceptable in texting?

People may use thats as a casual typing error or by omitting punctuation. However, that’s remains the standard form when you mean that is or that has.

Should you use “that’s” in formal writing?

You can use that’s when the style permits contractions. However, highly formal writing may favor the full forms that is or that has.

Why does “that’s” have an apostrophe?

The apostrophe shows that letters have been omitted when the two words form a contraction. In that’s, it marks the shortening of that is or that has.

How can you quickly remember “that’s” vs. “thats”?

Use the expansion test. Replace that’s with that is or that has. If one of those versions makes sense, that’s is the correct form.

Conclusion:

That’s or Thats may look almost the same, but the apostrophe creates an important grammatical difference. That’s is the correct form when you mean that is or that has, while thats is generally a wrong form in standard English. Remembering this simple rule can help you avoid spelling, punctuation, and grammar mistakes in everyday writing, from texts and captions to emails and professional documents.