Whats or What’s: Which Is Correct and When Should You Use?

Whats or what’s is a common question because the two forms look almost identical. A single apostrophe changes the meaning completely, making many writers unsure which version belongs in an email, essay, social media post, or text message. If you’ve ever paused before typing one of these words, you’re not alone.

The good news is that the difference is simple once you understand how English contractions work. This guide explains what each form means, when to use it, why people confuse them, and which version dictionaries and grammar experts recommend in different situations.

Quick Answer

“What’s” is the correct standard English form. It is a contraction of what is or what has.

“Whats” without an apostrophe is generally considered incorrect in standard English. It usually appears because the apostrophe was accidentally omitted while typing or texting.

Meaning of Both Spellings

What’s

What’s combines two words into one.

It can mean:

• What is
  • What’s your name?
  • What’s happening today?
• What has
  • What’s changed since yesterday?
  • What’s happened here?

The exact meaning depends on the sentence.

Whats

Whats is not recognized as a standard English word by major dictionaries.

You may see it:

• As a typing mistake.
• In casual text messages where punctuation is skipped.
• In internet searches from people looking for the correct spelling.

In formal and correct English, whats should almost always be written as what’s.

Comparison Table

Feature	Whats	What’s
Standard English	No	Yes
Dictionary entry	No	Yes (contraction)
Meaning	Usually none	What is or What has
Formal writing	Incorrect	Correct
Academic writing	Avoid	Recommended
Business communication	Avoid	Recommended
Everyday conversation	Usually a typo	Correct

Origin Of What’s

The word what comes from Old English hwæt, which has been used for centuries as an interrogative pronoun.

The contraction what’s developed naturally as spoken English became more conversational. English often shortens common word combinations using apostrophes, such as:

• it’s = it is
• that’s = that is
• here’s = here is
• what’s = what is

The spelling whats became common only because many people omit apostrophes while typing quickly on phones or keyboards.

Why Confusion Exists

Several reasons make this comparison confusing.

• The apostrophe is small and easy to overlook.
• Many people skip punctuation in text messages.
• Search engines frequently receive queries without apostrophes.
• Mobile keyboards sometimes make punctuation inconvenient.
• Fast typing increases the chance of leaving out the apostrophe.

Because of these habits, many users search for whats even though they actually mean what’s.

Dictionary Recommendations

Major English dictionaries and grammar authorities recognize what’s as the correct contraction.

They explain that it stands for:

• what is
• what has

The spelling whats is not listed as a standard English word and is treated as an error rather than an accepted alternative.

Real Life Examples

Correct:

• What’s your favorite movie?
• What’s the weather like today?
• What’s new at work?
• What’s happened since our last meeting?
• I wonder what’s inside the box.

Incorrect:

• Whats your favorite movie?
• Whats the time now?
• Do you know whats happening?

Correcting these sentences simply requires adding the apostrophe.

Common Mistakes

Many writers make these mistakes:

Using whats in professional emails.

Writing whats in school assignments.

Assuming apostrophes are optional.

Believing search popularity makes whats correct.

Copying informal social media spelling into formal writing.

Memory Trick

Remember this simple test.

Replace what’s with what is.

If the sentence still makes sense, what’s is correct.

Example:

• What’s your name?
• What is your name?

Both work, so what’s is correct.

If you cannot replace it with what is or what has, check whether another word should be used instead.

Professional Writing Recommendation

For business writing, academic work, journalism, websites, and professional communication, always write what’s when you mean what is or what has.

Avoid whats because readers, editors, and grammar checkers will usually treat it as a spelling or punctuation mistake. Even in casual writing, using the apostrophe makes your message clearer and more polished.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is “whats” ever correct?

In standard English, no. It is almost always a missing-apostrophe error.

What does “what’s” mean?

It means what is or what has, depending on the sentence.

Why do people type “whats” online?

Many people skip apostrophes when typing quickly on phones, in text messages, or on social media.

Is “whats” acceptable in formal writing?

No. Formal writing should use what’s whenever the contraction is appropriate.

Can I write “what is” instead of “what’s”?

Yes. Both are correct. What is is slightly more formal, while what’s sounds more natural in everyday English.

Conclusion

Although whats and what’s differ by only one apostrophe, they are not equally correct in standard English. What’s is the accepted contraction of what is or what has and should be used in professional, academic, and everyday writing. Whats is usually just a typing error caused by omitted punctuation. Remember the simple replacement test with what is, and you’ll know which spelling to choose every time.