English grammar can sometimes feel confusing, especially when it comes to contractions. One common mistake learners (and even native speakers) make is mixing up that’s and thats.
At first glance, they look nearly identical, but the difference between them is very important.
If you’ve ever typed thats instead of that’s in an email, essay, or social media post, you’re not alone. The truth is: only one of these is grammatically correct, while the other is almost always wrong. Misusing them can create confusion, make your writing look unprofessional, and affect clarity.
In this guide, we’ll break down the difference between that’s and thats, show you correct usage examples, explain why the apostrophe matters, and share practical tips to avoid this common grammar mistake.
Understanding the Basics: “That’s” vs “Thats”
Let’s start with the core difference:
- That’s ✅ – This is a contraction, which means it’s a shortened form of that is or that has.
- Example: That’s the place I was telling you about. (That is the place…)
- Thats ❌ – This spelling is incorrect in standard English. It is not used as a word, except in very rare cases such as brand names (e.g., Honda That’s).
👉 Quick Tip: If you’re in doubt, always use that’s.
The Correct Usage of “That’s” in Sentences
The contraction that’s is extremely common in everyday English. It makes your sentences sound natural, less formal, and more conversational.
Examples of Correct Usage:
- That’s a great idea! (That is a great idea.)
- That’s been on my mind for a while. (That has been on my mind for a while.)
- I’m sure that’s her bag. (That is her bag.)
Notice how that’s keeps the sentence short and smooth without changing the meaning.
The Contraction of “That Is”
One of the most frequent uses of that’s is when it replaces that is.
Examples:
- That’s what I was trying to explain. (That is what I was trying to explain.)
- That’s the main reason we need to act quickly. (That is the main reason…)
- That’s an excellent opportunity. (That is an excellent opportunity.)
In spoken English, using that’s instead of that is feels more natural and less stiff.
When “That’s” Means “That Has”
Another important function of that’s is replacing that has.
Examples:
- That’s been a long journey for him. (That has been a long journey…)
- That’s happened too many times before. (That has happened…)
- That’s already been discussed in the meeting. (That has already been discussed…)
In these cases, that’s refers to something that has already occurred or is continuing.
Everyday Examples of “That’s” in Context
Here are some quick examples that highlight how versatile that’s really is:
| Context | Example Sentence | Expanded Form |
|---|---|---|
| Casual Conversation | That’s my favorite TV show! | That is my favorite TV show. |
| Past Event | That’s already been decided. | That has already been decided. |
| Explaining Something | That’s why I couldn’t join earlier. | That is why I couldn’t join. |
| Strong Emphasis | That’s the last time I’ll do that! | That is the last time… |
👉 Using that’s makes speech and writing concise, friendly, and easy to follow.
Why Do People Make the “Thats” Mistake?
It’s very common to see thats mistakenly used instead of that’s. Here are a few reasons:
- Typing Mistakes – People simply forget to add the apostrophe.
- Autocorrect Issues – Some typing tools don’t automatically correct thats.
- Lack of Awareness – English learners might not know that contractions always require an apostrophe.
How to Avoid the “Thats” Error
Here are some quick tips to make sure you always write that’s correctly:
- ✅ Check for Apostrophes – Contractions always need an apostrophe to replace the missing letters.
- ✅ Read Your Sentence Aloud – If you can replace the word with that is or that has, use that’s.
- ✅ Practice Common Examples – The more you use it correctly, the more natural it becomes.
Why Grammar Matters: The Importance of Using “That’s”
Some people think small grammar details don’t matter. But in reality, even tiny mistakes like using thats can make a big difference.
1. Professional Writing
In emails, reports, or business documents, writing thats looks unprofessional.
❌ Wrong: Thats the reason for the delay.
✅ Correct: That’s the reason for the delay.
2. Clarity and Understanding
Grammar is about communication. Using that’s ensures your reader doesn’t pause or get confused.
❌ Wrong: Thats confusing.
✅ Correct: That’s confusing.
Clear grammar = clear communication.
Exception: The Honda That’s 🚗
Interestingly, there are rare cases where thats is not actually a mistake. One example is the Honda That’s, a compact car launched in Japan.
- Here, That’s is used as a brand name and was intentionally written without following grammar rules.
- But remember: this is a special case and not an example of correct grammar.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the difference between “that’s” and “thats”?
👉 That’s is a contraction of that is or that has. Thats is incorrect in English, unless it’s part of a brand name.
Q2: Is “thats” ever correct in English?
👉 Not in grammar. Only when it’s a proper noun, such as Honda That’s.
Q3: How can I use “that’s” in a sentence?
👉 Example: That’s my best friend. (That is my best friend.)
Q4: Why do people confuse “that’s” and “thats”?
👉 Mostly due to typos, autocorrect, or forgetting the apostrophe.
Q5: What’s the easiest way to remember?
👉 If you can replace it with that is or that has, always use that’s.
Conclusion
To wrap it up:
- ✅ That’s = the correct contraction of that is or that has.
- ❌ Thats = almost always wrong, except in rare brand names.
Mastering this small detail will make your writing more polished, your communication clearer, and your confidence in English grammar stronger.
Whether you’re writing emails, essays, or social media captions, remembering this simple rule will save you from common mistakes.
👉 Now that you know the difference between that’s and thats, why not explore other commonly confused contractions like its vs it’s or your vs you’re?
