Cool MateHow about this vs What about this
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
How about this
Top 1,000 (very common)
What about this
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: How about this
| How about this | What about this | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //haʊ əˈbaʊt ðɪs//🇺🇸 //haʊ əˈbaʊt ðɪs// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt əˈbaʊt ðɪs//🇺🇸 //wɑt əˈbaʊt ðɪs// |
| Meaning | A way to suggest or propose something. | What do you think about this? |
| Example | How about this restaurant for dinner? | What about this option for our project? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | how about this idea, how about this alternative, how about this option | what about this idea, what about this suggestion, what about this option |
| Common mistakes | Used inappropriately in very formal contexts., Confused with suggestions that require strong persuasion., Omitting the context may lead to confusion about the suggestion. | Omitting 'this' and saying only 'What about?', Using it in too many contexts, making conversations unclear, Confusing it with 'What do you think?' |
| Usage notes | Commonly used to suggest ideas or options. More casual; not typically used in very formal situations. | Used to introduce an idea or suggestion. Appropriate in discussions, but avoid in very formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: How about this vs What about this
What's the difference between How about this and What about this?
How about this: A way to suggest or propose something. What about this: What do you think about this?
Which is more common: How about this and What about this?
How about this is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
How about this: How about this restaurant for dinner? What about this: What about this option for our project?
Can I use How about this and What about this interchangeably?
Not always. How about this and What about this 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.