Cool MateWhat did you do vs What'd you do
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
What did you do
Top 1,000 (very common)
What'd you do
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: What did you doMost common: What did you do
| What did you do | What'd you do | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //wɒt dɪd jʊ duː//🇺🇸 //wɑt dɪd ju du// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt dʒə du//🇺🇸 //wɑt dʒə du// |
| Meaning | A phrase asking someone about their actions. | What did you do? |
| Example | What did you do over the weekend? | After the weekend, I asked my friend, 'What'd you do?' |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | what did you do yesterday, what did you do today, what did you do for fun | ask what'd you do, heard what'd you do, wonder what'd you do |
| Common mistakes | Omitting 'did' - saying 'What you do?' instead., Confusing it with 'What have you done?' which refers to past completed actions., Using it in formal contexts where a more polished question is needed. | Using it in a formal context., Not recognizing it's a contraction of 'What did you do?'., Confusing it with similar phrases like 'What are you doing?' |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase when you want to inquire about someone's activities in a casual context. It is appropriate in conversations but can be too informal for formal situations. | Used in casual conversations, typically when asking someone about their recent actions or experiences. Not suitable for formal or professional contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: What did you do vs What'd you do
What's the difference between What did you do and What'd you do?
What did you do: A phrase asking someone about their actions. What'd you do: What did you do?
Which is more formal: What did you do and What'd you do?
What did you do is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: What did you do and What'd you do?
What did you do is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
What did you do: What did you do over the weekend? What'd you do: After the weekend, I asked my friend, 'What'd you do?'
Can I use What did you do and What'd you do interchangeably?
Not always. What did you do and What'd you do 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.