That’s or Thats — Which One Is Correct? 

That’s or Thats — Which One Is Correct? A Clear Grammar Guide for Everyday Writing helps you avoid confusion, improve clarity, and ensure correctness in all everyday writing. From my experience as a writer and editor, many learners, students, and professionals struggle with That’s, a contraction for that is or that has, versus Thats, which without an apostrophe is often incorrect. Even small mistakes can affect precision, sentence structure, and how your readers or audience perceive your writing. Paying attention to these details ensures effective communication in emails, social posts, or academic papers.

When I review text, I notice frequent errors caused by autocorrect, fast typing, or lack of familiarity with punctuation rules. Understanding when to use That’s instead of Thats improves literacy, language accuracy, and writing confidence. For example, That’s my toy is correct, whereas Thats my toy is wrong. Correct usage strengthens clarity, expression, and contextual meaning, helping writers communicate their intention without misunderstanding.

Practically speaking, I advise anyone working with English grammar to focus on small but crucial elements like apostrophes, punctuation, and sentence correctness. Breaking down rules, providing examples, and highlighting common mistakes makes it easier to master usage, avoid confusion, and maintain precision in text, context, and expression. With consistent practice, writing skills improve, and tiny issues like That’s vs Thats no longer create hesitation or errors in communication.

Quick Answer — Only “That’s” Is Correct

The correct form is:

That’s
Because that’s is a contraction of either:

• that is
• that has

The incorrect form is:

Thats
Because English never forms possession with the word that. Without an apostrophe, the word has no meaning or grammatical purpose. It is simply a typo.

Here’s a quick comparison:

Word	Correct?	Meaning	When to Use
That’s	Yes	Contraction of that is or that has	Any time you mean that is or that has
Thats	No	Has no meaning in standard English	Never

Example:
Correct: That’s the best idea I’ve heard today.
Incorrect: Thats the best idea I’ve heard today.

The moment you try replacing the word with that is and the sentence makes sense, that’s is the word you need.

Why “That’s” Is the Right Choice

The apostrophe indicates missing letters.

• That’s = That is (missing i)
• That’s = That has (missing ha)

English allows contractions to make language smoother, more conversational, and faster to say. Removing the apostrophe removes clarity.

Think of the apostrophe as acting like a tiny ladder—bridging the gap between two words so that the sentence flows without interruption.

What Does “That’s” Mean? (With Deep Explanation)

Since that’s is a contraction, it takes two separate words and condenses them into one.

That’s = That is

This is the most common usage of that’s.

Use it when:

• Identifying or pointing to something
• Giving opinions
• Expressing emotion or reaction
• Explaining a situation

Examples:

• That’s unbelievable.
• That’s exactly what I needed.
• That’s why we left early.

All three mean that is, and if you replace that’s with that is, the sentence still works.

That’s = That has

Many people don’t realize that that’s can also mean that has. Here, it’s used before past participles such as:

• been
• seen
• done
• taken
• gone

Examples:

• That’s been on my list for weeks.
• That’s taken longer than expected.
• That’s changed everything.

Try replacing that’s with that has — the sentence still works.

Why “Thats” Is Always Incorrect (The Grammar Logic)

There is no situation in standard English where thats is correct.

Here’s why:

• English does not use that to form possession.
• Possessive determiners in English include: my, your, his, her, its, our, their.
• The word that is not and will never be one of them.

So writing thats the way you would write Johns or Sarahs is grammatically wrong because that does not function as a noun. It is a demonstrative pronoun.

Think of it this way:

• That book
• That idea
• That place

You are pointing to something—not owning it.

You cannot write:
Thats cover is red.
The correct sentence would be:
The cover of that book is red.

How “Thats” Sneaks In (Common Mistakes)

People type thats for one of three reasons:

• Fast typing on mobile devices
  Autocorrect often ignores small grammar errors when you type quickly.
• Confusion around possession
  Because many words form possession with an apostrophe + s, people assume that follows the same rule.
• No apostrophe awareness
  People simply forget to use the punctuation.

Here are real-life examples of incorrect use:

• Thats not true.
• Thats amazing.
• Thats what I was thinking.

All three should be that’s.

Correct Usage of “That’s” in Everyday Writing

Below are real-world examples across different writing scenarios.

In Casual Conversation

• That’s so funny!
• That’s what I’m talking about.
• That’s awesome.

In Email Writing

• That’s attached for your review.
• That’s exactly the issue we need to resolve.

In Business and Professional Communication

• That’s outside the project scope.
• That’s a strong improvement compared to last quarter.

In Social Media Posts

• That’s the setup I’ve been working on!
• That’s progress!

In Creative Writing

• That’s when everything changed.
• That’s how the legend began.

Notice how each sentence becomes smoother, shorter, and clearer.

Memory Tricks to Always Remember “That’s”

1. Apostrophe = Missing Letters

If you can expand the word into that is or that has, the apostrophe belongs there.

• That’s = That is
• That’s = That has

2. Say the Sentence Out Loud

Replace the word in your head:

• If “that is” fits → that’s
• If it sounds wrong → rewrite the sentence

3. The Verb Test

If the word is followed by a verb, it must be that’s.

• That’s amazing.
  (Amazing is a describing word)
• That’s happened before.
  (Happened is a verb)

4. The Post-it Trick

Write this and stick it near your workspace:

If you mean “that is” or “that has,” use that’s.

Case Study: Fixing Writing Using “That’s”

Before Editing (with the mistake)

Thats not how this project works. Thats been tried before.

After Editing

That’s not how this project works. That’s been tried before.

Notice the difference. Only two apostrophes completely transform the professionalism of the message.

How “That’s” Improves Clarity and Tone

Contractions like that’s make your writing:

• Friendlier
• Easier to read
• Less robotic
• Clearer
  

Many business writing experts encourage using contractions because they sound conversational and direct. They help the reader feel like you’re speaking to them, not lecturing at them.

Mini Practice Test (With Answers)

Choose the correct version:

• ___ a great idea!
• ___ been a productive week.
• I think ___ the right choice.
• ___ not what I asked for.
• ___ really helpful, thank you.
  

Answers:

• That’s
• That’s (that has)
• That’s
• That’s
• That’s
  

If you try replacing the blank with that is or that has, you’ll understand why.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the difference between That’s and Thats?

That’s is a contraction for that is or that has, while Thats without an apostrophe is usually incorrect in standard writing. Using the right form ensures clarity and correctness.

Q2: Can I use Thats in casual writing?

Even in casual emails or social media posts, it’s best to use That’s. Leaving out the apostrophe can confuse readers and make your writing look unprofessional.

Q3: Why do people often confuse That’s and Thats?

Many writers, students, and professionals confuse them due to fast typing, autocorrect, or unfamiliarity with punctuation rules. Knowing the correct usage avoids common errors.

Q4: How can I remember when to use That’s?

Think of That’s as short for that is or that has. If it makes sense to expand the contraction, it’s correct. Otherwise, leaving out the apostrophe usually makes it incorrect.

Q5: Does using That’s vs Thats affect professional writing?

Yes, even small errors like this impact clarity, precision, and reader perception. Correct usage shows attention to detail and improves communication skills across all forms of writing.

Final Takeaway

In summary, mastering That’s versus Thats is essential for clear, precise, and professional writing. Small details like apostrophes, punctuation, and correct sentence structure can change how your readers, students, or professionals interpret your text. By understanding the difference, practicing proper usage, and avoiding common mistakes, you can improve clarity, confidence, and communication skills in everyday writing, from emails and social posts to academic papers. Remember, paying attention to these small but important rules ensures your expression is accurate, effective, and polished every time.