Cool MateWhat are you trying to say vs What's your point
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
What are you trying to say
Top 2,000 (common)
What's your point
Top 2,000 (common)
| What are you trying to say | What's your point | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //wɒt ɑː jʊ ˈtraɪɪŋ tə seɪ//🇺🇸 //wʌt ɑr jʊ ˈtraɪɪŋ tə seɪ// | 🇬🇧 //wɒts jɔː pɔɪnt//🇺🇸 //wɑts jʊr pɔɪnt// |
| Meaning | What do you mean? | What do you mean? |
| Example | I didn't understand your point. What are you trying to say? | After listening to him ramble on, I finally asked, 'What's your point?' |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | trying to say something, what are you implying, trying to convey, trying to express | make a point, get to the point, miss the point |
| Antonyms | What are you trying to hide, What are you trying to imply, What are you trying to conceal | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'What do you mean?', Incorrectly uses 'trying to say' in formal situations., Omission of 'you' in casual speech. | Confused with 'What's the point?' which asks about the purpose., Used too aggressively in disagreement, which may offend., Misused in formal situations, where a more polite phrasing is needed. |
| Usage notes | 'What are you trying to say?' is used to ask for clarification. It's neutral and appropriate in most contexts, but can sound confrontational if said sharply. | Used to ask for clarification. Appropriate in conversations but can sound confrontational if overused. |
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Frequently asked questions: What are you trying to say vs What's your point
What's the difference between What are you trying to say and What's your point?
What are you trying to say: What do you mean? What's your point: What do you mean?
Can you show an example of each?
What are you trying to say: I didn't understand your point. What are you trying to say? What's your point: After listening to him ramble on, I finally asked, 'What's your point?'
Can I use What are you trying to say and What's your point interchangeably?
Not always. What are you trying to say and What's your point 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.