Cool MateHow's about vs What about vs Why not
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
How's about
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
What about
Top 2,000 (common)
Why not
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: What about
| How's about | What about | Why not | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //haʊz əˈbaʊt//🇺🇸 //haʊz əˈbaʊt// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt əˈbaʊt//🇺🇸 //wɑt əˈbaʊt// | 🇬🇧 //waɪ nɒt//🇺🇸 //waɪ nɑt// |
| Meaning | What do you think about this? | A way to ask for someone's opinion on a subject. | A suggestion to consider an idea or action. |
| Example | How's about we go for a hike this weekend? | What about going to the beach this Saturday? | You should try the new restaurant; why not? |
| Register | Informal | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | how's about dinner, how's about a visit, how's about a break | What about that, What about this, What about me | suggest trying, consider doing, encouragement to |
| Common mistakes | Used in formal situations where 'how about' would be appropriate., Confused with other phrases like 'how about that'., Adding unnecessary words like 'how's about that'. | Confused with 'What about that?' - often used differently in context., Not using it to introduce new topics when needed., Overusing in formal discussions where direct questions are preferred. | Misusing in formal contexts where other phrases are more appropriate., Confusing with 'why not?' as a question instead of a suggestion. |
| Usage notes | Used in casual conversations to propose or suggest an idea, often in friendly contexts. Avoid in formal settings. | Used in conversation to introduce a new topic or ask for opinions. Appropriate in most informal and neutral contexts. | Commonly used in casual conversations to encourage someone to try or consider something. Avoid in formal situations. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: How's about vs What about vs Why not
What's the difference between How's about, What about, and Why not?
How's about: What do you think about this? What about: A way to ask for someone's opinion on a subject. Why not: A suggestion to consider an idea or action.
Which is more formal: How's about, What about, and Why not?
What about is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
How's about: How's about we go for a hike this weekend? What about: What about going to the beach this Saturday? Why not: You should try the new restaurant; why not?
Can I use How's about, What about, and Why not interchangeably?
Not always. How's about, What about, and Why not 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.