Cool MateWhat about it vs What do you think
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
What about it
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
What do you think
Top 1,000 (very common)
Most formal: What do you thinkMost common: What do you think
| What about it | What do you think | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //wɒt əˈbaʊt ɪt//🇺🇸 //wɑt əˈbaʊt ɪt// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt də juː θɪŋk//🇺🇸 //wɑt də ju θɪŋk// |
| Meaning | What do you think about it? | Ask someone for their opinion. |
| Example | I love the idea for the picnic. **What about it** makes you hesitant? | What do you think about this plan? |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| Collocations | ask what about it, discuss what about it, consider what about it | ask what you think, what do you think about, I wonder what you think |
| Antonyms | Nothing about it, Irrelevant, No concern | I don't think, I have no opinion, I disagree, I believe the opposite |
| Common mistakes | Using it when context is unclear, Not using proper intonation in speech | Confused with 'what do you want', Forgetting to use a question mark at the end, Using it too abruptly without context |
| Usage notes | Use in casual conversations to ask someone's opinion on a topic. Avoid in formal discussions or written contexts. | Use in discussions to invite others' opinions. Avoid in formal presentations or when you expect a specific answer. |
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Frequently asked questions: What about it vs What do you think
What's the difference between What about it and What do you think?
What about it: What do you think about it? What do you think: Ask someone for their opinion.
Which is more formal: What about it and What do you think?
What do you think is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: What about it and What do you think?
What do you think is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
What about it: I love the idea for the picnic. **What about it** makes you hesitant? What do you think: What do you think about this plan?
Can I use What about it and What do you think interchangeably?
Not always. What about it and What do 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.