this books

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this books" is not correct in written English.
It should be "this book" when referring to a single item. Example: "I really enjoyed reading this book; it was captivating from start to finish."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

In the process, as this books demonstrates, he came to understand his own.

The New York Times - Books

"I think this books is as worthy as any out there," he said.

The New York Times

Old friendship, new friendship, reluctant friendship and failing friendship; this books is a great read!

The Guardian

This books echoes a Vietnam-era insistence that those who enlist deserve to have good reasons for doing so.

The New York Times - Books

This books also has a lot in it about real life people and things that are important in a gymnast's career.

The Guardian

This books takes you through a weird rock n' roll dream filled with appearances by Buddy Holly, Beyonce, Etta James, Ian Curtis, The Beatles, Phil Spector, Amy Winehouse and so many more.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

In this books-as-widgets thinking, sales of one-cent books would be nearly limitless.

The New Yorker

You like this book?

The New York Times - Books

This book is proof.

The New York Times - Books

Read this book.

The New York Times - Books

This book is not.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure demonstrative adjectives ("this", "that", "these", "those") agree in number with the nouns they modify. Use "this book" for a single book and "these books" for multiple books.

Common error

Avoid using "this" with plural nouns like "books". This error often occurs due to oversight, especially when writing quickly. Proofread your work to catch these grammatical mistakes.

Linguistic Context

Demonstrative phrases like "this books" (although grammatically incorrect) aim to specify particular books being referred to. Ludwig highlights the prevalence of the error, showcasing instances from diverse sources. The correct forms, "this book" or "these books", serve the same function with grammatical accuracy.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "this books" appears in various contexts, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig provides examples from diverse sources, highlighting its common usage despite the error. The correct alternatives are "this book" (singular) and "these books" (plural). Remember to ensure number agreement between demonstrative adjectives and nouns to maintain grammatical accuracy. Based on Ludwig AI's analysis, the prevalence of the error suggests the importance of careful proofreading.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this book

Corrects the grammatical error by using the singular form of the noun to match the singular demonstrative adjective.

these books

Corrects the grammatical error by using the plural form of the demonstrative adjective to match the plural noun.

this particular book

Adds emphasis on a specific book within a larger context.

this collection of books

Rephrases to emphasize the collection aspect, while maintaining the singular "this".

this set of books

Similar to the previous alternative, emphasizing a set or series.

these volumes

Uses a more formal term, "volumes", to refer to the books.

this aforementioned book

Suitable in formal context where the book has been previously discussed.

the aforementioned books

Suitable in formal context where the books have been previously discussed.

this title

Uses "title" to refer to single work instead of using books.

the book in question

Refers to a specific book that is under discussion.

FAQs

What is the correct way to refer to a single book?

The correct way to refer to a single book is "this book". The word "this" is a singular demonstrative adjective and should be used with singular nouns.

How do I refer to multiple books?

To refer to multiple books, use "these books". The word "these" is the plural form of "this" and should be paired with plural nouns.

What are some alternatives to saying "this books" (incorrect)?

Instead of the incorrect phrase "this books", you can use alternatives like "this book" (singular) or "these books" (plural), depending on the number of books you are referring to.

Is "this books" ever grammatically correct?

No, "this books" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The demonstrative adjective "this" requires a singular noun.