Cool MateHow'd it go vs What happened
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
How'd it go
InformalTop 3,000 (common)
What happened
Top 2,000 (common)
Most formal: What happenedMost common: What happened
| How'd it go | What happened | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //haʊd ɪt ɡəʊ//🇺🇸 //haʊd ɪt ɡoʊ// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt ˈhæp.ənd//🇺🇸 //wɑt ˈhæpənd// |
| Meaning | A casual way to ask how something happened or the result of an event. | Ask someone about an event or situation. |
| Example | How'd it go with your presentation today? | Can you tell me what happened during the meeting? |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | how'd it go, how'd it turn out, how'd it happen | what happened next, what happened then, can you tell me what happened |
| Antonyms | - | What will happen, What is going to happen, What occurs next |
| Common mistakes | Overusing it in formal situations., Not using it with a question intonation., Confusing with 'How did it go?' | Confused with 'what's happening?' which refers to current events., Using it to ask about an ongoing situation instead of a past event., Inappropriately using 'happened' in place of 'has happened' in some contexts. |
| Usage notes | Use in friendly conversations, typically when asking someone about an experience or event they attended. It's not suitable for formal contexts. | Use in conversations to inquire about past events. Suitable in both formal and informal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: How'd it go vs What happened
What's the difference between How'd it go and What happened?
How'd it go: A casual way to ask how something happened or the result of an event. What happened: Ask someone about an event or situation.
Which is more formal: How'd it go and What happened?
What happened is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: How'd it go and What happened?
What happened is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
How'd it go: How'd it go with your presentation today? What happened: Can you tell me what happened during the meeting?
Can I use How'd it go and What happened interchangeably?
Not always. How'd it go and What happened 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.