If you have ever wondered whether to say “thats mean” or “that means,” you are not alone. The two expressions look similar, but they do not follow the same grammatical pattern.
The correct standard expression is “that means.” It is commonly used when you want to explain the meaning, result, or implication of something. For example, “The store is closed. That means we need to come back tomorrow.”
“Thats mean” is incorrect in standard English. It usually combines two different forms incorrectly: “that’s” and “mean.” Understanding why the error happens makes it much easier to avoid.
The Core Rule Explained Simply
The basic rule is straightforward: “that means” is correct when that is the subject and means is the third-person singular form of the verb mean.
For example:
- “That means you are ready.”
- “That means we have to leave.”
- “That means something important.”
- “That means she agreed.”
Here, means is a verb. Because the subject is that, the verb takes the singular form means.
By contrast, “that’s” is a contraction of “that is” or sometimes “that has.” It cannot normally be followed by mean when you are trying to express the idea “that indicates” or “that signifies.”
“That Means”
That means = that indicates / that signifies / as a result
Example:
“He missed the train. That means he will be late.”
The expression tells us what follows logically from the previous information.
“That’s Mean”
That’s mean can technically appear only when mean is functioning as an adjective, meaning unkind or cruel, although this construction is usually unnatural without additional context.
For example:
“You laughed at her mistake? That’s mean.”
Here, that’s means that is, and mean is an adjective describing the behavior.
This is completely different from “that means.”
Side-by-Side Comparison Table
| Situation | Example | Meaning | Correct Usage |
| Explaining a result | “That means we are late.” | That indicates we are late. | That means |
| Explaining information | “That means he knows.” | That indicates he knows. | That means |
| Describing unkind behavior | “That’s mean.” | That is unkind. | That’s mean |
| Asking about significance | “What does that mean?” | What does that signify? | that mean |
| Talking about a general implication | “That means a lot.” | That has great significance. | that means |
| Referring to cruelty | “That’s really mean.” | That is unkind. | that’s mean |
Deep Dive Into “That Means”
“That means” is the expression you need when you are explaining what something indicates, signifies, or leads to.
It can connect two pieces of information. The first statement provides a fact, and that means introduces the conclusion or implication.
When to Use “That Means”
Use that means when one fact leads you to another conclusion.
For example:
“The lights are off. That means nobody is home.”
The lights being off is the information. Nobody being home is the conclusion.
Another example:
“She has already finished the assignment. That means she can leave early.”
The first sentence establishes a fact. The second explains its implication.
“That Means” With a Clause
A common pattern is:
That means + subject + verb
Examples:
- “That means we need to hurry.”
- “That means he understands.”
- “That means they are ready.”
- “That means you made the right decision.”
- “That means she will probably arrive soon.”
This structure is extremely common in everyday English.
“That Means” With a Noun
You can also use that means before a noun phrase.
Examples:
- “That means trouble.”
- “That means a lot to me.”
- “That means another problem.”
- “That means more work.”
- “That means success for the team.”
The exact meaning depends on the surrounding sentence.
Quick Test
When you are unsure whether “that means” is correct, replace it with “that indicates.”
If the sentence still makes sense, that means is probably what you need.
For example:
“The road is closed. That means we need another route.”
Replace it:
“The road is closed. That indicates we need another route.”
The basic relationship remains clear.
Try the same test with:
“You made fun of him. That’s mean.”
Replacing it with “that indicates” completely changes the meaning.
So the two expressions are not interchangeable.
Deep Dive Into “That’s Mean”
Now consider the other construction.
“That’s mean” can be grammatically correct when mean is an adjective describing behavior as unkind, nasty, or cruel.
Here, that’s means that is.
For example:
“You refused to help her after she helped you? That’s mean.”
The speaker is not saying that something has a particular meaning. The speaker is judging an action as unkind.
“That’s” Means “That Is”
A useful way to understand this expression is to expand the contraction:
That’s mean → That is mean
For example:
“That’s mean of you.”
becomes:
“That is mean of you.”
This makes grammatical sense because mean is functioning as an adjective.
Compare that with:
“That means we should leave.”
Here, means is a verb and cannot be expanded as “that is means.”
That simple distinction explains much of the confusion.
Examples of “That’s Mean”
Here are situations where that’s mean can be correct:
- “You deleted his work? That’s mean.”
- “She laughed at his accent. That’s mean.”
- “You didn’t invite her after promising you would. That’s mean.”
- “That was a mean thing to say.”
- “It’s mean to make fun of someone.”
In each example, mean describes behavior rather than explaining meaning.
Pattern to Remember
The pattern is:
That’s + adjective
Examples:
- “That’s nice.”
- “That’s strange.”
- “That’s funny.”
- “That’s rude.”
- “That’s mean.”
Here, that’s means that is.
The Meaning Shift
The difference between “that means” and “that’s mean” is more than a spelling difference.
That means usually introduces an explanation, conclusion, consequence, or significance.
“He hasn’t replied. That means he may be busy.”
That’s mean describes something as unkind.
“You ignored his message on purpose. That’s mean.”
The first expression answers a question like:
“What does this indicate?”
The second can answer a question like:
“Was that unkind?”
This is why changing means to mean can completely change the sentence.
“That Means” = Signifies
Think:
That means = That signifies
Example:
“The price increased. That means customers will pay more.”
“That’s Mean” = That Is Unkind
Think:
That’s mean = That is unkind
Example:
“You embarrassed him in front of everyone. That’s mean.”
These replacement phrases are excellent tests when writing quickly.
Why the Confusion Persists
The confusion often comes from the similarity in pronunciation and spelling.
Mean and means are closely related forms of the same verb, so learners may remember the base form without noticing that English requires the third-person singular form means after that.
Another source of confusion is the contraction that’s.
People sometimes hear:
“That means…”
and mentally divide it incorrectly into something resembling “that’s mean.”
But the grammatical structures are different.
There is also a pronunciation issue. In rapid speech, the final s in means may not receive much emphasis. That can make “that means” sound less distinct to learners.
Written English makes the difference visible:
- That means = verb
- That’s mean = “that is” + adjective
Understanding the grammatical roles is more reliable than depending on sound alone.
Formal vs Casual Contexts
“That means” is appropriate in virtually every variety of standard English. It works in casual conversations, academic writing, professional communication, explanations, reports, and presentations.
For example:
“The deadline has been moved forward. That means we need to complete the project sooner.”
This sentence would work in both a workplace discussion and a formal report.
“That’s mean” is also standard English when mean means unkind, but it is more conversational because people frequently use it to react to someone’s behavior.
For example:
“You ate the last slice without asking? That’s mean!”
In formal writing, you might choose a more precise description:
“That behavior was unkind.”
The grammatical distinction remains the same regardless of the level of formality.
Case Studies / Pop Culture Examples
Everyday dialogue provides many examples of the distinction.
Imagine someone says:
“The restaurant closes at 9 p.m.”
You respond:
“That means we need to leave now.”
You are interpreting information.
Now imagine someone deliberately embarrasses a friend.
Another person might say:
“That’s mean.”
The speaker is describing the action as unkind.
Academic writing also uses that means frequently when explaining consequences.
For example:
“The sample size was reduced. That means the results should be interpreted carefully.”
The expression creates a logical connection between the first statement and the conclusion.
The adjective mean, meanwhile, commonly appears when discussing behavior:
“Calling someone by an insulting nickname can be mean.”
The contexts differ, even though the words are closely related.
Advanced Scenarios & Flowchart
Use this decision process when you are uncertain:
Are you explaining what something indicates or signifies?
↓
Yes → Use “that means.”
↓
Example: “The store is closed. That means we need another option.”
Are you describing something as unkind or cruel?
↓
Yes → Use “that’s mean.”
↓
Example: “You laughed at him. That’s mean.”
Are you asking about the significance of something?
↓
Use “What does that mean?”
↓
Example: “What does this word mean?”
Are you describing something with “that is”?
↓
Try expanding that’s to that is.
↓
If it works, “that’s” may be correct.
Another Useful Test
Ask yourself what mean is doing.
If it is an action or verb meaning “signify,” use:
means
If it is an adjective meaning “unkind,” use:
mean
Compare:
“What does that mean?”
Here, mean is a verb after does.
“That means something.”
Here, means is the main verb.
“That’s mean.”
Here, mean is an adjective after is.
This three-way comparison solves many common mistakes.
Quick Reference Table
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
| That means | That indicates or signifies | “That means we should wait.” |
| That’s mean | That is unkind | “That’s mean of you.” |
| What does that mean? | What does that signify? | “What does that mean?” |
| It means | It signifies | “It means something different.” |
| It’s mean | It is unkind | “It’s mean to say that.” |
Common Mistakes That Lower Quality
Mistake 1: Writing “Thats mean” Without an Apostrophe
“Thats” is incorrect in standard English when it is intended to mean “that is” or “that has.”
The correct contraction is:
that’s
However, adding the apostrophe does not automatically make “that’s mean” the right expression.
Mistake 2: Using “That’s Mean” for “That Means”
Incorrect:
“He didn’t come, thats mean he is sick.”
Correct:
“He didn’t come, that means he is sick.”
The second clause is an explanation of what the first fact indicates.
Mistake 3: Assuming “Mean” Is Always the Correct Verb
The base form mean appears in several grammatical structures, but it does not work everywhere.
For example:
“I mean what I say.”
But:
“She means what she says.”
The subject determines the form.
Mistake 4: Confusing “That’s” With “That Means”
These expressions sound related, but they perform different grammatical jobs.
That’s is a contraction.
Means is a verb.
Putting them together incorrectly creates confusion.
Mistake 5: Forgetting “Does” in Questions
A common related mistake is:
“What that means?”
In standard English, the correct question is:
“What does that mean?”
After the auxiliary verb does, the main verb returns to its base form, mean, not means.
This is an important pattern to remember.
Memory Hacks That Actually Work
Use the “signifies test.”
If you can replace the phrase with “that signifies,” use:
that means
Example:
“The deadline passed. That means we cannot submit it normally.”
Think:
“The deadline passed. That signifies we cannot submit it normally.”
The meaning works.
Now use the “that is test.”
If you can expand that’s into that is, then that’s is grammatically possible.
Example:
“That’s mean.”
becomes:
“That is mean.”
The sentence can describe something as unkind.
Another useful memory trick is:
Means = meaning
Both are connected to explaining significance.
Mean = unkind
When mean is used as an adjective, think of words such as unkind, cruel, or nasty.
Finally, remember this simple pair:
That means = it signifies.
That’s mean = it is unkind.
Why Precision Matters (SEO/Authority)
Small grammatical distinctions can have a noticeable effect on how polished your writing appears.
When you consistently use “that means” correctly, your explanations become clearer because readers immediately understand that you are drawing a conclusion or explaining an implication.
This matters in SEO content, educational writing, professional communication, websites, and informational articles. Search engines and readers both benefit from content that communicates ideas clearly and naturally.
Correct grammar also supports authority. A sentence such as:
“That means the results are different.”
is immediately understandable.
A sentence such as:
“Thats mean the results are different.”
contains multiple problems that can distract readers and reduce perceived quality.
Precision does not require complicated vocabulary. In fact, choosing the simplest correct structure often makes content stronger.
A Quick Quiz
Fill in each blank with mean, means, that’s, or that means where appropriate.
- The office is closed today. ______ we need to return tomorrow.
- You made fun of her mistake. ______ really mean.
- What does this sentence ______?
- He hasn’t answered my message. That ______ he may be busy.
- You deliberately embarrassed him in front of everyone. ______ mean.
- She said she would arrive at noon. That ______ she should be here soon.
- What does “reliable” ______?
- The weather forecast predicts heavy rain. ______ we should take an umbrella.
Quiz Answers
- That means
- That’s
- mean
- means
- That’s
- means
- mean
- That means
The key distinction is simple: use “that means” when you are explaining what something signifies or implies. Use “that’s mean” when mean is an adjective describing something as unkind.
Conclusion
Understanding “thats mean” vs “that means” becomes much easier once you identify the grammatical role of each word. In standard English, “that means” is the correct expression when you are explaining what something indicates, signifies, or implies. For example, “The store is closed, that means we need another place.” Meanwhile, “that’s mean” can be correct when mean is an adjective describing something as unkind, such as “That’s mean of you.” The apostrophe in that’s represents that is, while means functions as a verb. Keeping this distinction in mind will help you avoid one of the most common mistakes in everyday English writing and conversation.
The easiest way to remember the difference is to use two substitution tests. If you can replace “that means” with “that indicates” or “that signifies,” then means is the correct choice. If you can replace “that’s mean” with “that is unkind,” then that’s mean is appropriate. Also remember that the question “What does that mean?” uses the base verb mean because it follows the auxiliary does. Mastering these small grammatical patterns improves clarity, accuracy, and professionalism. Whether you are writing an email, creating SEO content, completing an assignment, or speaking naturally, choosing the right expression makes your meaning immediately clear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “thats mean” grammatically correct?
“Thats mean” is not correct standard English when you intend to say that something indicates or signifies something else. The correct expression is “that means.” If you intend to say that something is unkind, use “that’s mean,” with an apostrophe. The apostrophe represents that is, creating a completely different grammatical structure and meaning.
Is “that means” correct English?
Yes, “that means” is completely correct English. It is commonly used to explain a consequence, interpretation, result, or implication. For example, “The train has left, that means we need another option.” Here, means is a verb that tells the reader what the previous information indicates.
What is the difference between “that means” and “that’s mean”?
“That means” means that something indicates, signifies, or implies something. “That’s mean” means “that is unkind.” For example, “She is absent, that means she cannot attend” explains a consequence. “You laughed at him, that’s mean” describes someone’s behavior as unkind.
Should I write “that means” or “that mean”?
Use “that means” when that is the singular subject of the sentence. For example, “That means we have to wait.” However, “that mean” can appear after certain auxiliary verbs or plural subjects. For example, “What does that mean?” uses mean because it follows does, while “Those results mean something” uses mean because the subject is plural.
Is “that’s mean” ever correct?
Yes. “That’s mean” can be grammatically correct when mean is an adjective meaning unkind, cruel, or nasty. For example, “You told everyone her secret. That’s mean.” Here, that’s means that is, and mean describes the action. It does not mean “that signifies.”
Why do people confuse “that means” and “that’s mean”?
The expressions are easy to confuse because mean and means look and sound similar, especially in quick conversation. The contraction “that’s” also sounds similar to the beginning of “that means.” Remembering their grammatical functions helps: that means explains significance, while that’s mean describes something as unkind.
What does “that means” mean?
“That means” is used to explain what a fact, action, statement, or situation indicates. It often introduces a conclusion or consequence. For example, “The deadline has passed. That means we cannot submit the application today.” In this sentence, the second statement explains the consequence of the first statement.
What does “that’s mean” mean?
“That’s mean” means “that is unkind” when mean is being used as an adjective. It is commonly used when reacting to someone’s behavior or words. For example, “You made fun of his mistake. That’s mean.” The expression describes the behavior rather than explaining the meaning of information.
Is “What does that means?” correct?
No. The standard form is “What does that mean?” When does is used as the auxiliary verb, the main verb must remain in its base form. Therefore, use mean, not means. Compare “What does that mean?” with “That means something.” The auxiliary does explains why the verb forms differ.
How can I quickly remember “that means” vs “that’s mean”?
Use two simple substitutions. If you can replace the phrase with “that signifies” or “that indicates,” use “that means.” If you can replace it with “that is unkind,” use “that’s mean.” This quick test focuses on meaning and grammatical function, making the distinction easier to remember in both writing and conversation.
