Cool MateHow about that vs What about it
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
How about that
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
What about it
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: How about that
| How about that | What about it | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //haʊ əˈbaʊt ðæt//🇺🇸 //haʊ əˈbaʊt ðæt// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt əˈbaʊt ɪt//🇺🇸 //wɑt əˈbaʊt ɪt// |
| Meaning | What do you think about that? | What do you think about it? |
| Example | She just got the job she wanted—how about that! | I love the idea for the picnic. **What about it** makes you hesitant? |
| Register | Informal | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| Collocations | how about that for a story, can you believe it, how about that, how about that idea | ask what about it, discuss what about it, consider what about it |
| Antonyms | never mind, forget it | Nothing about it, Irrelevant, No concern |
| Common mistakes | Used in overly formal situations., Confused with 'how about this?' in suggestions., Mispronounced as separate words instead of as a phrase. | Using it when context is unclear, Not using proper intonation in speech |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase informally to express surprise or to seek agreement. It's casual and should be avoided in formal contexts. | Use in casual conversations to ask someone's opinion on a topic. Avoid in formal discussions or written contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: How about that vs What about it
What's the difference between How about that and What about it?
How about that: What do you think about that? What about it: What do you think about it?
Which is more common: How about that and What about it?
How about that is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
How about that: She just got the job she wanted—how about that! What about it: I love the idea for the picnic. **What about it** makes you hesitant?
Can I use How about that and What about it interchangeably?
Not always. How about that and What about it are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.