dat (that)

Writers sometimes type or write "dat" when they mean the standard English word "that." It often slips in from quick texting, dialect pronunciation, or a misplaced keystroke. Left unchanged, it makes emails, essays, and reports look unpolished.

Below: when "dat" is ever acceptable, clear fixes for formal and informal contexts, and plenty of ready-to-use examples for work, school, and casual messages.

Quick answer

Use "that" in standard written English. "Dat" is nonstandard and belongs only to deliberate dialectal spelling, quoted speech, or stylized voice.

'I saw dat' → wrong in emails, essays, and reports.
Keep "dat" only for quoted dialogue, lyrics, or intentional voice.
Replace "dat" with "that" in formal and professional writing.

Why people write 'dat' instead of 'that'

Three common causes:

Phonetic spelling: some accents pronounce the "th" sound closer to "d."
Typing slips and autocorrect quirks.
Pasting informal chat or social posts into a formal draft without editing.

Identify the cause to pick the fix: standardize to "that" for formal writing, preserve "dat" only when voice is intentional, and adjust autocorrect or keyboard settings if the error repeats.

Real usage and tone - when (if ever) 'dat' is acceptable

'Dat' appears correctly when an author intentionally reproduces speech: transcriptions, fiction dialogue, song lyrics, or playful social posts. In professional or academic contexts, it reads like a mistake.

'Dat' is OK for character voice or quoted speech you want to preserve.
Avoid it in official documents, proposals, and graded assignments.
If keeping a speaker's voice, put the line in quotes and consider an editorial note (e.g., [sic]) if clarity matters.

Example (fiction): "I ain't gonna lie - I saw dat man on the corner," she said.
Example (professional): Not OK: I saw dat the figures were off in Q2. Use: I saw that the figures were off in Q2.

Examples: wrong → right pairs and context-specific fixes

Minimal fixes are often enough, but sometimes a rephrase improves clarity and tone. Below are direct swaps plus workplace, school, and casual examples you can copy or adapt.

Wrong: I saw dat movie last night.
Right: I saw that movie last night.
Wrong: Dat report needs to be signed by Friday.
Right: That report needs to be signed by Friday.
Wrong: I don't like dat color on the website.
Right: I don't like that color on the website.
Wrong: She told me dat she would come early.
Right: She told me that she would come early.
Wrong: Dat's not what I meant.
Right: That's not what I meant.
Wrong: I saw dat.
Right: I saw that.

Work examples

Wrong (chat): I saw dat number drop in the dashboard-any ideas? Right: I noticed that the conversion rate dropped in the dashboard - any ideas?
Wrong (email): I saw dat the client replied, attaching the contract. Right: I saw that the client replied and attached the contract.
Wrong (spreadsheet note): Dat sheet has the updated figures. Right: That sheet contains the updated figures.

School examples

Wrong (class note): The teacher said dat the homework is due Monday. Right: The teacher said that the homework is due Monday.
Wrong (lab report): We observed dat the solution turned cloudy. Right: We observed that the solution turned cloudy.
Wrong (essay): One argument is dat renewable energy reduces costs. Right: One argument is that renewable energy reduces costs.

Casual examples

Wrong (text): Did u see dat new episode?? Right: Did you see that new episode??
Wrong (social post): I can't believe dat happened lol Right: I can't believe that happened lol
Wrong (chat): bro i saw dat dude downtown Right: Bro, I saw that guy downtown.

Rewrite examples (improve clarity)

Original: I saw dat person at the meeting.
Rewrite: I noticed the person at the meeting earlier.
Original: She told me dat the plan would work.
Rewrite: She said the plan would work and explained why.
Original: We found dat the sample failed.
Rewrite: Our results showed that the sample failed the test.

How to fix your own sentence (step-by-step)

Use this quick checklist whenever you spot "dat":

Step 1: Identify its role - is it pointing to a noun or introducing a clause?
Step 2: Replace "dat" with "that" and check punctuation.
Step 3: If the sentence still sounds awkward, rephrase the clause into a noun phrase or simpler verb phrase.

Fix example: "I saw dat there was an error." → "I saw that there was an error." Or shorter: "I noticed an error."
Fix example: "Dat report needs work." → "That report needs work." Or: "We need to revise the report."

Try your own sentence

Test the entire sentence, not just the word. Context reveals whether "dat" was intentional or just a slip.

Grammar note: what 'that' does and when you can drop it

'That' acts as a determiner (that book), a demonstrative pronoun (I want that), or a complementizer introducing reported clauses (I think that...). In formal writing, keep it when it clarifies meaning.

After verbs like think, say, or believe, dropping the complementizer is often natural (I think we should go). Omission is a style choice - never replace it with "dat" in standard writing.

'That' as determiner: That idea is strong.
'That' as conjunction: She said that the meeting was canceled.
Omission allowed: I believe (that) the data are correct.

Memory tricks and quick fixes to avoid repeating the error

Quick mnemonics and keyboard fixes:

Visual cue: that = hat. Picture the word wearing a hat to remind you it needs the "h."
Read sentences aloud - the "th" sound feels different from "d."
Set a text-replacement rule to expand "dat" to "that" in formal apps, or add a custom autocorrect that corrects "dat" to "that" where needed.
Proofread for "dat" before sending professional messages.

Hyphenation, spacing, and keyboard issues that cause 'dat'

Sometimes "dat" appears because the "h" is dropped by a keyboard layout mismatch, a language setting, or a stray backspace. Check these if the problem is repeatable.

Check keyboard language and autocorrect dictionaries.
Look for patterns: does "th" disappear across multiple words or just in one app?
Type a few words with "th" to see if the "h" consistently vanishes.

Tip: If several words lose "th" (this→dis, that→dat), switch or reset your keyboard and test again.

Similar mistakes to watch for

Writers who slip "dat" into text often have other small visible errors: there/their/they're, then/than, your/you're, and casual shorthand like u/you. Catching these together improves professionalism.

Common lookalikes: there / their / they're; then / than; your / you're.
Contractions: "dat's" should become "that's" or "that is."
Avoid leaving dialectal spellings in formal copy.

Confusable example: I think their going to arrive → I think they're going to arrive.
Contraction fix: "Dat's not right" → "That's not right."

FAQ

Is 'dat' correct English?

No. 'Dat' is nonstandard in written English. It is acceptable only when intentionally representing speech or dialect in quotes, fiction, or lyrics.

Can I use 'dat' in an email to my boss?

No. Use "that" in professional emails. "Dat" looks like a typo and can undermine your credibility.

Why does my phone sometimes change 'that' to 'dat'?

Autocorrect, keyboard language settings, or a custom text shortcut can cause this. Review your device's keyboard and replacement rules.

How do I fix 'I saw dat' in Word or Google Docs?

Replace "dat" with "that." Use find-and-replace or enable grammar checking to flag nonstandard words in context.

Is it okay to keep 'dat' in fiction or lyrics?

Yes, when you're purposefully representing speech or character voice. Make the decision intentional, consistent, and clear to readers so it doesn't distract.

Want a quick double-check?

If you're unsure whether to keep or change a sentence, run it through a grammar or proofreading tool. It will flag nonstandard spellings like "dat" and suggest "that" in context, saving time and improving clarity.