Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
that's engaging
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesTable of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
15 human-written examples
So, in a way, I suppose it is a kind of emotional map of the book that's engaging me.
News & Media
Ms. Graves added, "We're seeing an administration that's engaging in a lot of legal hair-splitting to justify behavior that's not authorized by the law".
News & Media
It's racism that's engaging Samuel Jackson and US comic W Kamau Bell, with the former dissing the latter for his comments about Quentin Tarantino's liberal use of the word "nigger" in the script for Django Unchained.
News & Media
ROC is a truly global brand with a global audience that's engaging through a global platform.
News & Media
In prose that employs a variety of British dialects, Broun composes a story that's engaging not only for its strange plot, but for its inventive use of language, too.
News & Media
"It's often an effective tool for a party that's engaging in an business practice that's against the law because we can get a disgorgement of their profits," City Attorney spokesperson Matt Dorsey told the Huffington Post.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
45 human-written examples
They claim to be profitable and also have a user community that's engaged.
News & Media
Digg can't treat Wired like any other user that's engaged in fraud.
News & Media
Show body language that's engaged.
Wiki
The trick is to find activities that are engaging yet doable.
News & Media
It is the present or the near present that is engaging them.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
In formal academic writing, consider expanding the contraction to "that is engaging" to maintain a professional tone.
Common error
Avoid using "that's engaging" when you mean "that's engaged". The former describes an inherent quality of an object or idea that attracts others, while the latter describes the state of being involved or participating in something.
Source & Trust
95%
Authority and reliability
4.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "that's engaging" functions as a relative clause consisting of the relative pronoun "that", a contracted copular verb "is", and the present participle "engaging" used as an adjective. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it consistently serves to qualify a noun or noun phrase by attributing an active, attention-holding quality to it.
Frequent in
News & Media
55%
Science
25%
Wiki
10%
Less common in
Formal & Business
5%
Social Media
3%
Reference
2%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In conclusion, "that's engaging" is a highly effective and standard English phrase used to describe objects or experiences that successfully capture and hold interest. Ludwig AI data confirms its prevalence in News & Media and Science, where it often qualifies learning tools, journalistic styles or biological mechanisms. It is functionally a relative clause that adds a positive evaluative layer to a subject. While the contraction makes it suitable for neutral and digital registers, writers should expand it to "<a href="/s/that+is+engaging" target="_blank" rel="alternative">that is engaging" for the most formal contexts. Its widespread use across authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its reliability as a descriptive tool in modern English.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
which is engaging
uses the formal relative pronoun instead of the informal contraction
that's captivating
implies a stronger, almost irresistible level of interest or charm
that's compelling
suggests the content is so powerful it demands attention
that is immersive
specifically refers to an experience that deeply surrounds and involves the user
that's interesting
provides a more generic and slightly less active alternative
which is absorbing
emphasizes the ability to fully occupy one's mind or time
which draws you in
describes the effect of engagement through an active verbal phrase
that's stimulating
focuses more on the mental or sensory arousal caused by the subject
that's thought-provoking
limits the engagement to the intellectual or cognitive realm
that's interactive
focuses on the two-way nature of the engagement process
FAQs
How do I use "that's engaging" in a sentence?
You can use it to describe something that captures attention, for example: "We need to create content <a href="/s/that's+engaging" target="_blank" rel="alternative">that's engaging for our younger audience."
What can I say instead of "that's engaging"?
Depending on the intensity you want to convey, you could use "<a href="/s/that's+captivating" target="_blank" rel="alternative">that's captivating", "<a href="/s/that's+compelling" target="_blank" rel="alternative">that's compelling", or "<a href="/s/that's+absorbing" target="_blank" rel="alternative">that's absorbing".
Which is correct, "that's engaging" or "that is engaging"?
Both are grammatically correct. "<a href="/s/that+is+engaging" target="_blank" rel="alternative">that is engaging" is simply the non-contracted version, which is often preferred in formal or academic writing.
What is the difference between "that's engaging" and "that's engaged"?
"<a href="/s/that's+engaging" target="_blank" rel="alternative">that's engaging" describes a thing that attracts attention (like a movie), whereas "<a href="/s/that's+engaged" target="_blank" rel="alternative">that's engaged" refers to someone or something already involved in an activity.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
95%
Authority and reliability
4.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested