Cool MateHow about that vs What about it vs What do you think
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
How about that
What about it
What do you think
| How about that | What about it | What do you think | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //haʊ əˈbaʊt ðæt//🇺🇸 //haʊ əˈbaʊt ðæt// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt əˈbaʊt ɪt//🇺🇸 //wɑt əˈbaʊt ɪt// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt də juː θɪŋk//🇺🇸 //wɑt də ju θɪŋk// |
| Meaning | What do you think about that? | What do you think about it? | Ask someone for their opinion. |
| Example | She just got the job she wanted—how about that! | I love the idea for the picnic. **What about it** makes you hesitant? | What do you think about this plan? |
| Register | Informal | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very 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 | ask what you think, what do you think about, I wonder what you think |
| Antonyms | never mind, forget it | Nothing about it, Irrelevant, No concern | I don't think, I have no opinion, I disagree, I believe the opposite |
| 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 | Confused with 'what do you want', Forgetting to use a question mark at the end, Using it too abruptly without context |
| 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. | Use in discussions to invite others' opinions. Avoid in formal presentations or when you expect a specific answer. |
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Frequently asked questions: How about that vs What about it vs What do you think
What's the difference between How about that, What about it, and What do you think?
How about that: What do you think about that? What about it: What do you think about it? What do you think: Ask someone for their opinion.
Which is more formal: How about that, What about it, and What do you think?
What do you think is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: How about that, What about it, and What do you think?
What do you think 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? What do you think: What do you think about this plan?
Can I use How about that, What about it, and What do you think interchangeably?
Not always. How about that, What about it, and What do you think 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.