Cool MateHow would you know vs What makes you think
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
How would you know
Top 3,000 (common)
What makes you think
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: What makes you think
| How would you know | What makes you think | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //haʊ wəd juː nəʊ//🇺🇸 //haʊ wəd juː noʊ// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt meɪks jʊ θɪŋk//🇺🇸 //wɑt meɪks jʊ θɪŋk// |
| Meaning | A way to ask if someone has information about something. | A way to ask someone why they believe something. |
| Example | How would you know if the event is canceled? | What makes you think that I would lie to you? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | ask how would you know, wonder how would you know, question how would you know | What makes you think that, What makes you think otherwise, What makes you think you know |
| Common mistakes | Omitting 'you' and saying 'How would know?', Using 'who' instead of 'you' and asking 'How would who know?', 'How do you know?' is often confused with this phrase. | Using 'think' without 'what makes you'—it sounds incomplete., Confusing it with 'What do you think?'—which asks for an opinion rather than reasoning. |
| Usage notes | Often used when the speaker doubts someone's knowledge or information. It's polite but can imply skepticism. | Use this phrase when you want to inquire about someone's reasoning or justification for a belief. It's neutral in tone but can be perceived as challenging if used in a certain tone. |
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Frequently asked questions: How would you know vs What makes you think
What's the difference between How would you know and What makes you think?
How would you know: A way to ask if someone has information about something. What makes you think: A way to ask someone why they believe something.
Which is more common: How would you know and What makes you think?
What makes you think is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
How would you know: How would you know if the event is canceled? What makes you think: What makes you think that I would lie to you?
Can I use How would you know and What makes you think interchangeably?
Not always. How would you know and What makes 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.