What's new?

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "What's new?" is correct and usable in written English
It is typically used as a greeting when you have not seen someone in a while and want to know what they have been up to. For example: Hi, John! It's been a while - What's new?

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What's new now?

The New York Times

What's new under the bonnet?

Independent

What's new with them?

The New York Times

What's new with you?

The New Yorker

What's new here?

The New York Times

What's new this year?

The Guardian

What's "new" about "Revolutionaries"?

The New York Times - Books

What's new for you?

The New York Times

What's new there?

The New York Times

What's new about automation?

The New York Times

What's New in Econometrics?

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In professional or technical contexts, append a specific subject to make the query more targeted, such as "What's new in the latest software release?"

Common error

Avoid giving an exhaustive list of your life events if the speaker uses "What's new?" as a passing greeting (similar to "how are you"). Gauge the context to see if they are actually inviting a long conversation or just being polite.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "What's new?" serves as an interrogative greeting or a rhetorical inquiry. Grammatically, it is a contraction of "What is new?", where "what" is the interrogative pronoun and "new" is the subject complement. Ludwig examples show it often functioning as a thematic header or a way to pivot a conversation toward recent developments.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "What's new?" is a highly versatile and correct English phrase that bridges the gap between casual social bonding and professional reporting. Ludwig AI indicates that it is a standard tool for both individuals and major publishers like The New York Times and BBC to highlight recent transformations or updates. Whether used as a simple "hello" or as a deep dive into the latest developments of a complex field like "Econometrics", its clarity and directness make it an essential part of the English lexicon. Writers should feel confident using it in a wide array of contexts, provided they match the depth of their inquiry to the social or professional setting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

What's the latest?

Focuses specifically on the most recent piece of information or update available.

What's new with you?

Personalizes the inquiry to the individual rather than a general situation.

What's happening?

Broadens the scope to current activities rather than just new developments.

Anything new?

A more concise and slightly more informal variation that invites a yes/no response.

What's been going on?

Inquires about a period of time since the last interaction.

What has changed?

Specifically targets differences or transformations in a situation.

What's the news?

Implies a search for formal or significant information.

What's up?

A very common informal greeting that functions more as a 'hello' than a literal query.

What's the current status?

Shifts to a more professional or technical register.

Anything to report?

Common in professional or structured environments where updates are expected.

FAQs

How to use "What's new?" in a sentence?

According to Ludwig AI, it is typically used as a greeting or an inquiry into recent events. For example: "Hi, John! It's been a while—"What's new?"".

What can I say instead of "What's new?"?

You can use alternatives like "what's the latest", "anything new", or "what is happening" depending on the level of formality.

Is "What's new?" correct in a professional email?

Yes, it is correct but leans toward a neutral or friendly professional register. For more formal communication, you might prefer "what has changed" or "What are the latest updates?".

What is the difference between "What's new?" and "What's up?"?

While both are greetings, "What's new?" more literally asks for recent information, whereas "what's up" is a general informal greeting often used as a synonym for hello.