'thanks giving' (Thanksgiving)

Short answer: Write Thanksgiving as one word and capitalize it when you mean the holiday. Avoid "thanks giving" or "thanks-giving."

Quick answer

Use Thanksgiving (one word). Use Thanksgiving Day for the full name. Hyphenation and spacing are nonstandard.

Correct: Thanksgiving
Wrong: thanks giving, thanks-giving
Full name: Thanksgiving Day
As modifier: Thanksgiving dinner, Thanksgiving break (no hyphen)

Core explanation: why it's one word

Common phrases sometimes fuse into closed compounds through repeated use. Thanksgiving is one of those: dictionaries and major style guides list it as a single lexical item and treat it as a proper noun.

As a holiday name it functions like other single-word holidays (Easter, Halloween).
Splitting it into two words looks like a spacing error and interrupts the proper-noun signal.

Spacing and hyphenation rules

Do not insert a space or hyphen inside the holiday name: write Thanksgiving. Use a hyphen only for temporary compound modifiers where standard rules call for one.

Wrong: thanks giving, thanks-giving
Right: Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day
Acceptable modifier: pre-Thanksgiving sale (but "a sale before Thanksgiving" is clearer)

Example: Wrong: We always watch the parade on thanks-giving.
Right: We always watch the parade on Thanksgiving.

Grammar, capitalization, and possessives

Treat Thanksgiving as a proper noun: capitalize it. Form possessives and plurals the usual way.

Capitalize: Thanksgiving
Possessive: Thanksgiving's menu
Plural (rare): Thanksgivings (for multiple years/events)
Adjectival use: Thanksgiving dinner, Thanksgiving break (no hyphen)

Real usage and tone: copy-ready examples

Below are short, natural lines you can paste into emails, calendars, assignments, or messages.

Work: Subject: Office closed for Thanksgiving (Thursday, Nov. 25)
Work: Reminder: Please submit expense reports before Thanksgiving.
Work: Calendar: Thanksgiving Day - company holiday
School: Essay: Many families in the U.S. gather for Thanksgiving to share a meal and give thanks.
School: Announcement: Thanksgiving break runs Nov. 24-27; classes resume Nov. 28.
School: Student email: I will turn in the assignment after Thanksgiving.
Casual: Text: Happy Thanksgiving! See you Saturday.
Casual: Social post: Thanksgiving dinner prep today - stuffing and pies.
Casual: Message: Are you coming over for Thanksgiving this year?

Try your own sentence

Check the whole sentence, not just the phrase. Context usually clarifies whether you mean the holiday or separate ideas.

Examples: wrong → right pairs you can copy

Drop-in fixes for common mistakes. Replace the wrong sentence with the right one and adjust nearby punctuation or dates as needed.

Incorrect: I love the holiday of thanks giving. →
Correct: I love the holiday of Thanksgiving.
Incorrect: The thanks giving dinner starts at six. →
Correct: The Thanksgiving dinner starts at six.
Incorrect: We always watch the parade on thanks-giving. →
Correct: We always watch the parade on Thanksgiving.
Incorrect: I'm working on my thanks giving presentation. →
Correct: I'm working on my Thanksgiving presentation.
Incorrect: thanks giving's menu includes turkey. →
Correct: Thanksgiving's menu includes turkey.
Incorrect: We'll have a thanks giving potluck at the office. →
Correct: We'll have a Thanksgiving potluck at the office.
Incorrect: Thanks giving was hectic this year. →
Correct: Thanksgiving was hectic this year.
Incorrect: She thanked them for their thanks giving. →
Correct: She thanked them for their Thanksgiving generosity. (Or: She thanked them for their thanks.)
Incorrect: Prethanks-giving sales are annoying. →
Correct: Pre-Thanksgiving sales are annoying. (Better: Sales before Thanksgiving are annoying.)

How to fix your sentence: checklist + rewrites

Quick checklist to find and fix errors, followed by simple rewrites in different tones.

Search for "thanks giving" and "thanks-giving".
If it refers to the holiday, replace with "Thanksgiving".
Capitalize and fix possessives/adjectives (Thanksgiving's, Thanksgiving dinner).
If the words are unrelated (their thanks, giving to charity), reword so meaning is clear.

Rewrite (formal): Original: I'm finishing a project over thanks giving. → I'll finish the project after Thanksgiving.
Rewrite (neutral): Original: We have a thanks giving potluck. → We're having a Thanksgiving potluck.
Rewrite (concise): Original: Thanks giving was hectic this year. → Thanksgiving was hectic this year.
Rewrite (clarify separate words): Original: Their thanks giving moved the volunteers. → Their expression of thanks moved the volunteers.
Rewrite (reword modifier): Original: Prethanks-giving chaos hit the mall. → The mall was chaotic before Thanksgiving.

Memory trick and three quick rules

Memory trick: Picture one turkey labeled "Thanksgiving" - one turkey, one word.

Say it out loud: if it comes as one beat, write it as one word.
Capitalize the holiday; don't split or hyphenate the name.
Use Thanksgiving + noun when modifying another noun (Thanksgiving dinner).

Similar compound mistakes to watch for

Writers who split Thanksgiving often make other compound errors. Treat these the same way: check function and common usage.

email (not e-mail)
everyday (adjective) vs. every day (adverb)
New Year's Day (holiday name with apostrophe)
follow-up (noun) vs. follow up (verb)

FAQ

Is "thanks giving" correct?

No. When referring to the holiday, use Thanksgiving as one word. "thanks giving" looks like two separate words and is nonstandard.

Should I ever hyphenate Thanksgiving as "thanks-giving"?

No. "thanks-giving" is outdated and nonstandard. You may see "pre-Thanksgiving" for temporary modifiers, but rewording is usually clearer.

Do I capitalize Thanksgiving?

Yes. Capitalize Thanksgiving when you mean the holiday. Form possessives normally: Thanksgiving's menu.

What's the difference between "Thanksgiving" and "Thanksgiving Day"?

"Thanksgiving" names the holiday; "Thanksgiving Day" includes the word Day and is useful when you want to emphasize the date.

How can I quickly find and fix this error in a long document?

Search for "thanks giving" and "thanks-giving" and replace each instance with "Thanksgiving". Then check nearby words for possessives or adjectival use.

Want to check a sentence quickly?

If you're unsure, paste the sentence into a grammar checker or run a find for "thanks giving" and "thanks-giving" before you finalize the document.