Whats vs. What’s – Which is Correct?
“What’s” and “whats” are both valid, but they serve different purposes. “What’s” is the contraction of “what is” or “what has,” while “whats” is the uncommon plural of “what,” used mainly when discussing questions, details, or distinctions. In ordinary sentences, use the apostrophe in “what’s” when required, not omit it.
whats or what’s – Which is Correct?
“What’s” and “whats” are both correct spellings, but they are not interchangeable. “What’s” is a contraction that means either what is or what has. For example, “What’s the answer?” means “What is the answer?”
“Whats” without an apostrophe is the plural form of the noun what. This use is uncommon and usually appears when someone is discussing several questions, facts, details, or categories. For example, “The report explains the whats and whys of the decision.”
In everyday writing, people sometimes type “whats” when they mean “what’s,” especially in quick messages. That omission is incorrect when the intended meaning is what is or what has.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the apostrophe expansion test. If you can replace “what’s” with what is or what has, keep the apostrophe: “What’s happening?” becomes “What is happening?” If you mean several “whats”—several questions, details, or distinctions—use “whats” without an apostrophe.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| whats | Plural noun | Several questions, details, or distinctions | The guide covers the whats and whys. |
| what’s | Contraction | What is or what has | What’s the best option? |
How to Use whats
Whats is a plural noun formed from the word what. It refers to multiple questions, facts, details, or points concerning the nature or identity of something. The word is most common in the expression the whats and whys, which means the details and reasons behind an action or situation.
This usage is grammatically valid but relatively uncommon. It tends to appear in informal, explanatory, philosophical, or metalinguistic writing. In formal prose, alternatives such as questions, details, particulars, or key facts may sound more natural.
Example 1: The training session explains the whats and whys of the new procedure.
Example 2: Before approving the proposal, the committee wanted to understand all the whats and hows.
Example 3: The article separates the whats from the whys of the controversy.
What are the different forms of whats?
Whats is already the plural form of the noun what. Its singular form is what when what is treated as a noun, as in “That is the what of the issue.” The plural form normally takes no apostrophe. An apostrophe would indicate possession, as in “the what’s meaning,” although that construction is unusual and generally better rewritten.
Etymology of the word whats
What comes from Old English hwæt, meaning “what” or “which.” It developed from an interrogative pronoun into several grammatical uses, including a noun referring to an unspecified thing, question, or detail. The plural whats follows the regular English pattern of adding -s to a noun.
How to Use what’s
What’s is a contraction of either what is or what has. It is widely used in conversation, informal writing, dialogue, headlines, advertising, and other contexts where a natural, concise tone is appropriate. In highly formal writing, spelling out what is or what has may be preferable, although the contraction is not grammatically wrong.
Use what’s before a noun, adjective, adverbial phrase, or present participle when it means what is. Use it before a past participle when it means what has.
Example 1: What’s the most efficient way to solve this problem?
Example 2: What’s happening outside?
Example 3: What’s changed since the last meeting?
What are the different forms of what’s?
What’s has two expansions: what is and what has. The meaning must be determined from the surrounding words. “What’s your name?” means “What is your name?” while “What’s happened?” means “What has happened?” The related forms what are, what were, and what have are not normally contracted to what’s.
Etymology of the word what’s
What’s developed from the combination of the interrogative word what and either is or has. English contractions became especially common in speech and informal writing because they reflect the way words are naturally pronounced together. The apostrophe marks the letters omitted from the original phrase.
Related Concepts
Understanding contractions and noun forms makes the difference between whats and what’s easier to recognize.
- Contractions: A contraction combines two words and uses an apostrophe to show omitted letters. For example, what’s can represent what is or what has.
- Plural nouns: A plural noun names more than one person, place, thing, or idea. Whats is the regular plural of the noun what in specialized usage.
- Apostrophes: Apostrophes can mark omitted letters in contractions or possession. They do not normally form ordinary plurals, so whats is correct when referring to multiple “whats.”
- Homophones and sound-alike forms: In speech, whats and what’s sound the same. Their written meanings differ because the apostrophe reveals that what’s is a contraction.
Examples from Media and Literature
The two forms appear in different types of real-world language. What’s is common in titles, dialogue, questions, and conversational prose, while whats generally appears as a specialized plural noun.
- Film titles: The title What’s Up, Doc? uses what’s as a contraction of what is.
- Song and broadcast titles: Expressions such as What’s New? use the contraction to ask about current information or developments.
- News writing: A headline or interview question may say, “What’s next for the company?” Here, what’s means what is.
- Explanatory writing: A guide might discuss “the whats and whys of the policy,” using whats as a plural noun for the relevant details or questions.
- Dialogue: A character might ask, “What’s happened?” In this example, what’s means what has.
whats Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Questions | Points of inquiry or matters requiring answers |
| Details | Individual pieces of information about a subject |
| Particulars | Specific facts or features of an issue |
| Facts | Pieces of information that describe what is true |
what’s Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| What is | The expanded form of what’s when identifying or asking about something |
| What has | The expanded form of what’s when describing a completed or changed action |
| Which is | A possible contextual replacement when selecting among alternatives |
| What has occurred | A contextual expansion when what’s means what has happened |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “whats” a real word?
Yes. Whats can be the plural of the noun what, especially in expressions such as “the whats and whys.” However, it is uncommon and should not replace what’s in ordinary contractions.
Question 2: Is “what’s” always short for “what is”?
No. What’s can mean either what is or what has. “What’s the problem?” means “What is the problem?” but “What’s happened?” means “What has happened?”
Question 3: Should I write “whats” or “what’s” in a question?
Use what’s when you mean what is or what has, as in “What’s the time?” Use whats only when referring to multiple questions, details, or types of information.
Conclusion
Whats and what’s are both valid, but they have different grammatical roles. Whats is an uncommon plural noun, while what’s is the common contraction of what is or what has. The apostrophe expansion test provides the quickest way to choose correctly. Pro tip: using the correct form in professional writing demonstrates care, accuracy, and credibility.
