What Is The Contraction For What Is? | The Apostrophe Trick

You’ve seen it a thousand times: What’s that?What’s going on? It looks simple, yet people still pause at the keyboard and wonder if it’s correct, formal enough, or even what it stands for in a sentence.

This article clears it up fast, then goes deeper so you can write “what’s” with confidence in schoolwork, emails, captions, and essays. You’ll learn the correct contraction, the punctuation behind it, the common mix-ups, and the spots where you should skip it.

What “contraction” means in grammar

A contraction is a shortened form made by combining two words and removing one or more letters. English marks that missing letter (or letters) with an apostrophe. You already use contractions when you write can’t (cannot) or I’m (I am).

Contractions do two jobs at once: they save space, and they match the rhythm of everyday speech. They’re normal in modern English, yet the “right” choice still depends on the setting and the tone you want.

What’s: The correct contraction and how it’s built

The contraction for what is is what’s.

Here’s what happens when the words compress:

• what + is becomes what’s
• The letter i from is drops out
• The apostrophe in what’s marks the missing i

If you want a quick punctuation check, you can test it by expanding it back out. If “what is” fits your sentence, “what’s” fits too.

What is the contraction for what is in everyday writing

In casual writing, “what’s” is the default choice in questions and quick statements:

• What’s your name?
• What’s the plan?
• That’s what’s bothering me.

In school or professional writing, “what’s” can still be correct. The real question is whether your instructor, style rules, or the situation calls for a more formal tone. You’ll get clear guidance on that later in the article.

Where the apostrophe goes and why

English apostrophes can show possession (the student’s book) and they can show omitted letters (don’t, it’s, what’s). In “what’s,” the apostrophe has one job: it shows omission.

A reliable way to keep apostrophes straight is to remember this: contractions keep the apostrophe where the missing letters would have been. Since “is” loses the i, the apostrophe sits between t and s: what’s.

If you want a clear refresher on apostrophes and contractions, the Purdue OWL apostrophe introduction explains the rule with simple examples you can apply right away.

When “what’s” means something other than “what is”

Most of the time, “what’s” expands to “what is.” Yet it can also expand to “what has” in certain sentences. This is where writers get tripped up, since the spelling stays the same while the meaning shifts.

What’s = what is

You’re in “what is” territory when the sentence is defining, identifying, asking, or pointing to a thing or idea:

• What’s your address? (What is your address?)
• What’s the answer? (What is the answer?)
• What’s in the box? (What is in the box?)

What’s = what has

You’re in “what has” territory when “has” works as a helper verb for the past participle:

• What’s changed since last week? (What has changed since last week?)
• What’s happened to the file? (What has happened to the file?)

A fast test: if you can swap in “has” and the sentence still sounds right, “what’s” is standing in for “what has.” If “has” sounds wrong, it’s almost always “what is.”

Common mistakes with “what’s” and how to fix them

Most errors come from confusing contractions with possessives, or from writing what you hear without checking the grammar. Here are the traps to watch for.

Mixing up “what’s” and “whats”

What’s has an apostrophe because it’s a contraction. Whats is not standard in edited writing. You might see “whats” in informal texting, yet it will look like a mistake in school or professional contexts.

Confusing “what’s” with a possessive

English possessives usually add apostrophe + s, yet “what’s” is not a possessive form. If you’re trying to show ownership, you usually need to rewrite the sentence rather than forcing “what” into a possessive pattern.

Try this instead:

• Awkward: What’s color is it?
• Better: What color is it?

Using “what’s” where “whose” or “which” is needed

Writers sometimes jam “what’s” into sentences that need a different question word.

• Unclear: What’s book is this?
• Clear: Whose book is this?

Quick reference table for “what’s” meanings

Use this table when you’re not sure what “what’s” expands to. Read the “Replace with” column, then test your sentence by expanding it.

Sentence	Replace “what’s” with	Why it works
What’s your full name?	what is	Asks for identification
What’s the due date?	what is	Asks for a fact
What’s in your backpack?	what is	Points to contents
What’s your main point?	what is	Requests a definition or summary
What’s changed since yesterday?	what has	“Has changed” forms a present perfect verb
What’s happened to the website?	what has	“Has happened” forms a present perfect verb
What’s been decided?	what has	“Has been” forms a present perfect verb
What’s your best guess?	what is	Links “what” to a noun phrase

When to avoid “what’s” in school and formal writing

“What’s” is correct grammar, yet some settings still prefer the full form “what is.” If you’re writing a lab report, a formal cover letter, or an academic essay with a strict tone, expanding the contraction can make your writing look more traditional.

Think of it like choosing shoes. Sneakers aren’t wrong shoes. They just aren’t the right pick for every room.

Good moments for “what is”

• When a teacher asks for no contractions
• When you want a formal, steady tone
• When the sentence already feels tight and you want more clarity

Good moments for “what’s”

• Dialogue in stories
• Personal statements that sound like your real voice
• Emails and messages where you want a friendly tone
• Blog writing meant to feel natural and direct

If you follow a style manual, check what it says about contractions. Many guides allow them when they fit the tone. A dictionary entry can also help you confirm accepted usage. Merriam-Webster’s entry for “what’s” shows how the contraction is treated in standard reference writing.

How “what’s” behaves in questions, statements, and clauses

“What’s” shows up in more than direct questions. You’ll also see it in statements and in clauses that act like questions inside a bigger sentence.

Direct questions

These are the classic cases. “What’s” usually starts the sentence:

• What’s the topic today?
• What’s your reasoning?

Statements

In statements, “what’s” often appears after a subject or connector phrase:

• Here’s what’s weird about that result.
• That’s what’s slowing me down.

Embedded clauses

These clauses sit inside a longer sentence:

• I don’t know what’s on the test.
• Tell me what’s different in this draft.

A quick tip: embedded clauses can hide mistakes because the sentence is longer. If something looks off, expand “what’s” to “what is” or “what has” and read it again.

Spelling and typography details writers get asked about

Small formatting choices can matter in school assignments and polished web writing. Here are the ones that come up most.

Curly apostrophe vs straight apostrophe

You might see two apostrophe styles:

• Straight apostrophe: what’s
• Curly apostrophe: what’s

Both represent the same contraction. Many word processors automatically turn straight apostrophes into curly ones. For most writing, you don’t need to stress about it. Just make sure you’re using an apostrophe, not a stray quote mark or a missing character.

Capitalization

Capitalize “What’s” only when grammar calls for it, like at the start of a sentence or in a title. In the middle of a sentence, it stays lowercase: I know what’s next.

Second table for fast editing checks

When you’re proofreading quickly, these checks catch most “what’s” problems before you hit publish or submit.

Check	What to do	What it prevents
Expand test	Replace “what’s” with “what is”	Using “what’s” where “what is” doesn’t fit
Has test	Try “what has” in the same spot	Missing the “what has” meaning in perfect tenses
Apostrophe check	Confirm the mark is between t and s	Typing “whats” by accident
Possessive trap	If you mean ownership, rewrite the sentence	Awkward lines like “what’s book”
Read aloud	Read the full sentence once	Hidden errors inside long clauses
Formality check	Swap to “what is” if your tone is formal	Contractions in no-contraction assignments

Mini practice: Pick the right expansion

If you want to lock this in, try these quick ones. Don’t overthink it. Just expand “what’s” in your head and see what fits.

• What’s the main idea? → “what is”
• What’s changed in the new version? → “what has”
• I can’t tell what’s wrong. → usually “what is,” though context can shift it
• That’s what’s been decided. → “what has”

After a few rounds, you’ll start to feel the pattern. If “has” pairs naturally with a past participle like changed, happened, or been, that’s your sign.

One last clarity tip for learners

If English isn’t your first language, contractions can feel like hidden grammar. Treat them like small puzzles. Expand them when you read. Contract them when you write, if your tone allows it. Over time, you’ll spot them instantly.

And if your goal is clean, confident writing, “what’s” is a good place to start. It’s short, common, and easy to test. You don’t need to guess. You can verify it in two seconds by expanding it back to the full words.