These: a plural demonstrative word used to refer to people or things that are near or being discussed while Theese an incorrect spelling of these with no standard English meaning.
Quick Answer
These is the correct spelling. Theese is a misspelling and is not a standard English word.
Quick Comparison
| Spelling | Correct? | Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| These | ✅ Yes | More than one person, place, thing, or idea that is near the speaker | Standard English |
| Theese | ❌ No | No standard English meaning | Misspelling |
What Does “These” Mean?
These is the correct spelling. It is the plural form of this and is used to point to or refer to two or more people, things, places, or ideas that are relatively near the speaker or already being discussed.
Example:
These books belong to me.
One-Line Definition
These: A plural demonstrative determiner or pronoun used for people or things that are near or being referred to.
What Does “Theese” Mean?
Theese is not a standard English word. It is usually a spelling mistake caused by adding an extra e to these.
❌ Theese books are expensive.
✅ These books are expensive.
One-Line Definition
Theese: An incorrect spelling of these with no standard English meaning.
Etymology of “These”
The word these comes from Old English þās, the plural form of þes (“this”). Over time, its spelling changed through the development of Middle English into the modern form these.
The word has remained a demonstrative term, used to point to or identify two or more people or things that are near the speaker or being discussed.
These is therefore an established English word with a long linguistic history, while theese is simply a modern spelling error.
Why Do People Spell “These” as “Theese”?
The spelling theese is most likely caused by the pronunciation of these. The word is pronounced /ðiːz/, with a long ee sound. As a result, some writers may incorrectly add another e and write theese instead of these.
However, English spelling does not always represent pronunciation exactly. Although these contains the long ee sound, it is spelled with only one e after the h.
Correct: These /ðiːz/
Incorrect: Theese
Therefore, hearing the long ee sound should not lead you to add an extra e when writing the word.
These vs. Theese: The Main Difference
The difference is simple: these is the correct English spelling, while theese is an incorrect spelling.
These is commonly used as a plural form of this:
- This book is interesting.
- These books are interesting.
The spelling theese does not follow the standard spelling of the word and should not be used in formal or informal English.
These vs. This vs. That vs. Those
Understanding these becomes easier when you compare it with the other demonstrative words in English. The choice depends on both number and distance.
| Word | Number | Distance | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| This | Singular | Near | This book is interesting. |
| These | Plural | Near | These books are interesting. |
| That | Singular | Farther away | That book is interesting. |
| Those | Plural | Farther away | Those books are interesting. |
For example, this refers to one nearby thing, while these refers to two or more nearby things. Similarly, that refers to one thing farther away, whereas those refers to multiple things farther away.
Remembering this pattern can also help you avoid writing theese by mistake.
Grammar Rule: These
These is used with plural nouns to refer to people or things that are near the speaker.
Singular → Plural
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| This book | These books |
| This apple | These apples |
| This student | These students |
| This idea | These ideas |
Example:
- This chair is comfortable.
- These chairs are comfortable.
These as a Determiner
When these comes directly before a noun, it functions as a demonstrative determiner.
Example:
These students are preparing for the exam.
These as a Pronoun
These can also stand alone when the noun is understood from the context.
Example:
Which shoes do you want?
These, please.
Real-World Examples of “These”
- These flowers smell wonderful.
- Can you put these books on the table?
- These are my favorite shoes.
- I bought these yesterday.
- These students have completed their assignments.
- These ideas could improve the project.
- Please wash these dishes.
- These cookies taste delicious.
Common Mistake
One frequent spelling error is adding an unnecessary e to these, resulting in the incorrect form theese. Although the two spellings look similar, only these is accepted in standard English.
For example:
❌ I bought theese shoes yesterday.
✅ I bought these shoes yesterday.
Similarly, the incorrect spelling can appear in everyday sentences:
❌ Can you arrange theese flowers on the table?
✅ Can you arrange these flowers on the table?
Likewise, when referring to books, objects, or ideas, remember to use these:
❌ Theese books are useful for beginners.
✅ These books are useful for beginners.
Therefore, when you are unsure, remember that these is the only correct spelling. The extra e in theese should always be removed.
Memory Trick
Remember the pattern:
This → These
That → Those
When you are talking about more than one nearby person or thing, use these.
👉 These = correct
👉 Theese = incorrect
If you remember this → these, you will be less likely to add an unnecessary e and write theese.
Learning Outcomes
After reading this guide, you should be able to:
- Identify these as the correct spelling.
- Recognize theese as a misspelling.
- Understand the difference between this and these.
- Use these correctly with plural nouns.
- Avoid adding an unnecessary e to the word.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is “theese” a correct spelling?
A: No. Theese is not a standard English spelling. The correct form is these.
Q: Is “these” the correct spelling?
A: Yes. These is the correct spelling and is a standard English demonstrative word.
Q: What is the difference between “these” and “theese”?
A: These is a correct English word used to refer to plural people or things. Theese is simply a misspelling of these.
Q: Is “theese” a commonly confused spelling?
A: Yes. Theese can be classified as a commonly confused spelling variant, because writers may accidentally add an extra e when spelling these.
Q: What is the plural of “this”?
A: The plural form of this is these.
This book → These books
Q: How do you remember the spelling of “these”?
A: Remember the pair this → these. The correct spelling is these, not theese.
An Extra Letter, No Extra Meaning
“Theese” doesn’t add anything to the word it’s just an extra ‘e’ that sneaks in, maybe from the visual pull of words like “cheese” or “freeze” that follow a similar pattern. But “these” doesn’t work that way, and the extra letter turns a simple, common word into a mistake. The same kind of letter-slip shows up in Writing or Writting and Savy or Savvy, where one small addition or omission is the only thing separating the right spelling from the wrong one.
Final Verdict
These ✅ is the correct spelling.
Theese ❌ is incorrect and should not be used in standard English.
Correct: These are my books.
Incorrect: Theese are my books.
I am Calara Stephen passionate about making English simple and easy to understand through clear spelling comparisons, grammar guides, and language tips. Through thoughtful, reliable content, I aim to be a trusted guide for anyone looking to improve their English.
