This or That: The Correct Spelling, Meaning and Usage Explained

Quick Answer
This or that is a correct English phrase used when choosing between two things, ideas, people, or options. This usually points to something closer or more immediate, while that often points to something farther away or less immediate.

The phrase this or that looks simple, but it can have several uses in everyday English. You may see it when someone asks you to choose between two options, when a speaker compares two things, or when a writer refers to different possibilities without naming every detail.

For example, someone might ask, “Do you want this or that?” The speaker is giving you two choices. You might choose the item that is closer, or you might point to the other one.

The words also have their own grammar rules. This normally refers to one person or thing that is near or connected to the current situation. That often refers to something farther away, earlier, or less immediate.

Once you understand these basic ideas, this or that becomes much easier to use.

What Does This Mean?

This is used to point to a person, thing, idea, situation, or experience that is close to the speaker or closely connected to the current moment.

For example:

• This book is interesting.
• This phone is new.
• This is my seat.
• This looks delicious.
• This is a good idea.

The idea of closeness does not always mean physical distance. This can also refer to something happening now or something that has just been mentioned.

For example:

This is exactly what I needed.

Here, this points to something that is currently relevant.

What Does That Mean?

That can point to a person, thing, idea, or situation that is farther away.

For example:

• That car is expensive.
• That house belongs to my uncle.
• That is my old phone.
• That looks interesting.
• That was a great movie.

Distance can also be about time or the speaker’s connection to an idea. English often uses that when something feels less immediate.

For example:

That was a great trip.

The trip is finished, so that naturally points back to a past experience.

What Does This or That Mean?

This or that usually presents two possibilities or choices.

For example:

Do you want this or that?

The speaker is asking you to choose between two things.

It can also appear in more general expressions.

For example:

You can choose this or that depending on what you need.

Here, the phrase means one option or the other.

The exact meaning depends on context. Sometimes the speaker is talking about two specific objects. At other times, the phrase refers more generally to different choices or possibilities.

This or That for Choices

One of the most common uses of this or that is when someone wants you to make a choice.

Imagine that you are shopping for shoes. A friend might ask:

Do you like this pair or that pair?

If one pair is near you and the other is farther away, this and that can help distinguish them.

You might also hear:

Would you rather have this or that?

The phrase clearly presents two options.

Other examples include:

• Do you want this or that?
• Should I choose this or that?
• Which do you prefer, this or that?
• Would you pick this or that?
• Is this better than that?

This and That for Physical Distance

The easiest way to understand this and that is to think about distance.

Use this for something close:

This chair is comfortable.

Use that for something farther away:

That chair looks comfortable.

The same idea works with objects, people, and places.

For example:

This jacket is mine.

That jacket belongs to my brother.

The first jacket may be close to the speaker, while the second one may be farther away.

English also has plural forms. These is the plural form related to this, while those is the plural form related to that.

This and That for Time

The difference can also involve time.

This can refer to something happening now or something very recent.

For example:

This is a busy week.

That can refer to something farther back in time.

For example:

That was a difficult week.

The same idea appears in everyday conversation.

This is a great movie.

This can describe a movie you are watching now.

That was a great movie.

This can describe a movie you already finished watching.

So, distance is not always about physical space. It can also be about time.

This or That in Everyday Conversation

You will hear this or that often in casual conversations.

For example:

“Do you want coffee or tea?”

“Coffee.”

You could also ask:

“This or that?”

while pointing to two choices.

Another example:

“Should we go with this plan or that one?”

The phrase keeps the conversation short and natural.

It is especially useful when both people already understand what the two choices are.

This or That in Shopping

Shopping is a great example of how these words work.

Imagine two shirts are sitting on a table.

You might ask:

Do you like this shirt or that shirt?

If you are holding one shirt, this shirt is natural.

If another shirt is across the room, that shirt may be more natural.

You can also use the words without repeating the noun:

I like this.

I prefer that.

This works when everyone already knows which objects the speaker means.

This or That in Questions

Both words appear naturally in questions.

Examples:

• What is this?
• What is that?
• Who is this?
• Who is that?
• Is this yours?
• Is that yours?
• Do you want this?
• Do you want that?

The choice depends on what the speaker is pointing to or referring to.

For example:

What is this?

You may ask this while holding an unfamiliar object.

You might say:

What is that?

when pointing toward something across the room.

This or That as Pronouns

This and that can work without a noun.

For example:

This is my favorite.

There is no noun after this, but the listener understands what it refers to.

Another example:

I don’t like that.

Here, that stands alone.

This use is common in conversation because the context often makes the meaning clear.

Compare:

This book is mine.

Here, this comes before the noun book.

Now:

This is mine.

Here, this stands alone.

Both structures are correct.

This or That Before a Noun

When this or that comes directly before a noun, it helps identify the person or thing being discussed.

Examples:

• this car
• this house
• this idea
• that car
• that house
• that idea

For example:

This car is faster.

That car is cheaper.

The nouns are singular, so this and that fit naturally.

For plural nouns, use these or those:

These cars are fast.

Those cars are expensive.

This or That With Singular and Plural Nouns

This is an important grammar point.

Use this and that with singular nouns and uncountable nouns.

Examples:

• this book
• this problem
• that house
• that idea
• this information
• that music

Use these and those with plural nouns.

Examples:

• these books
• these problems
• those houses
• those ideas
• these shoes
• those cars

A simple pattern is:

This → one nearby

That → one farther away

These → more than one nearby

Those → more than one farther away

This distinction is a basic part of using demonstrative words correctly.

This or That When Talking About Ideas

The words do not only point to physical objects.

They can also point to ideas, opinions, situations, and things someone has just said.

For example:

I don’t agree with that.

Here, that can refer to an idea or statement rather than an object.

Another example:

This is exactly the problem.

Here, this points to a situation or issue that is currently being discussed.

This makes this and that useful in both spoken and written English.

This or That in Writing

In writing, this and that can help connect one sentence to another.

For example:

The company changed its return policy. This created confusion for some customers.

Here, this refers to the change just mentioned.

You can also use that when referring back to an earlier point.

For example:

The original plan failed. That made a second attempt necessary.

The choice can create a sense of closeness or distance between the writer and the idea being discussed.

This or That in Phone Conversations

There is a special everyday use of this and that when talking on the phone.

When introducing yourself, you can say:

Hi, this is Alex.

When asking who is speaking, you can say:

Is that Sarah?

This may seem different from physical distance, but it follows the conversational relationship between the speaker and listener.

The words help identify who is speaking and who is being addressed.

This or That When Introducing Someone

When introducing a person, this is commonly used.

For example:

Sarah, this is my friend Mark.

The speaker is introducing Mark to Sarah.

You would not normally say:

Sarah, that is my friend Mark.

when making a normal introduction.

That structure can sound as if Mark is physically distant or is being pointed out rather than directly introduced.

This or That in Common Expressions

The phrase can appear in several natural expressions.

This or That

This usually means one option or another.

You can choose this or that.

This and That

This has a different meaning.

We talked about this and that.

Here, this and that means various things or a range of topics.

This or That Way

This can refer to different possible methods.

You can solve the problem this or that way.

This or That Person

This can mean one person or another when the exact person is not important.

Someone from this or that department may contact you.

The meaning changes slightly depending on the sentence.

This or That vs This and That

These phrases look similar, but or and and create different meanings.

This or that usually presents alternatives.

Do you want this or that?

You are choosing between possibilities.

This and that usually groups things together.

We talked about this and that.

You discussed several different things.

Compare:

You can choose this or that.

with:

We discussed this and that.

The first focuses on alternatives. The second suggests a collection of topics or things.

This or That vs Either or

This or that is often casual and conversational.

Either or can make the choice structure more explicit.

For example:

You can choose this or that.

You could also say:

You can choose either this or that.

The second version clearly emphasizes two alternatives.

However, everyday speakers often use the shorter version when the context is already clear.

Common Mistakes With This or That

One common mistake is using this and that without considering distance or context.

For example:

That book in my hand is interesting.

This may sound unusual if the speaker is holding the book. In that situation, this book would usually be more natural.

Another mistake is using this with a plural noun.

Incorrect:

This books are expensive.

Correct:

These books are expensive.

The same problem happens with that and plural nouns.

Incorrect:

That shoes are mine.

Correct:

Those shoes are mine.

This or That: Singular and Plural Practice

Choose the correct word.

1. ______ book in my hand is new.

Answer: This

2. ______ car across the street belongs to Tom.

Answer: That

3. ______ shoes beside me are comfortable.

Answer: These

4. ______ houses on the hill are beautiful.

Answer: Those

5. ______ is my favorite song.

Answer: This

6. ______ was a great movie.

Answer: That

The main idea is to think about number and distance before choosing the word.

More Practice With This or That

Try these sentences:

1. Can you pass me ______ cup here?

Answer: this

2. Look at ______ building across the street.

Answer: that

3. ______ cookies on this plate are fresh.

Answer: These

4. Who is ______ person over there?

Answer: that

5. I really like ______ idea we are discussing now.

Answer: this

These examples show how context controls the choice.

How to Remember This or That

Use a simple mental picture.

Think:

This = here

That = there

If something feels close to you, this is often the natural choice.

If something feels farther away, that is often the natural choice.

For plural nouns:

These = here, more than one

Those = there, more than one

You can remember the complete pattern like this:

This → one close

That → one farther away

These → many close

Those → many farther away

Quick Comparison

This simple table covers the main grammar rule.

Final Tips

Remember these points:

• This usually points to something close or immediate.
• That usually points to something farther away or less immediate.
• These is the plural form related to this.
• Those is the plural form related to that.
• This or that commonly presents two choices.
• This and that usually refers to different things or topics together.
• This and that can refer to ideas, situations, and statements.
• Use this and that with singular nouns.
• Use these and those with plural nouns.
• Context can be more important than physical distance.

FAQs

What does this or that mean?

This or that usually means a choice between two things, ideas, or options. The exact meaning depends on the situation.

Is this or that grammatically correct?

Yes. This or that is a normal and widely used English phrase. It can be used to present alternatives or choices.

What is the difference between this and that?

This usually refers to something near the speaker or something closely connected to the current situation. That often refers to something farther away, earlier, or less immediate.

What is the difference between this or that and this and that?

This or that usually presents alternatives, while this and that groups different things or topics together. For example, “Choose this or that” gives a choice, while “We talked about this and that” means you talked about several things.

Can this or that refer to ideas instead of objects?

Yes. This and that can refer to ideas, statements, situations, or events. For example, “I understand this” can refer to an idea, while “I don’t agree with that” can refer to something another person just said.

Conclusion

This or that is a simple phrase, but it has several useful roles in English. Most often, it presents two choices, but the individual words this and that also help speakers show distance, time, focus, and connection.

Use this for something that feels close or immediate. Use that for something that feels farther away or less immediate. When talking about more than one thing, use these and those.

The easiest way to remember the basic rule is this means here, while that means there. Once you add the plural forms these and those, you can handle most everyday situations with confidence.

Michael Turner