What about the next step

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "What about the next step" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a process or plan and wanting to address what should happen next. Example: "We've completed the initial phase of the project. What about the next step?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

He should have more time to assess the situation accurately, will not be exhausted by the physical battering of flying a jet and will be less affected by the adrenalin rush of combat.Automatic enemy deletion in progressBut what about the next step?

The Economist

But what about the next step above just "good"?

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"I go to conferences and listen to all the key people in our fields of interest, just to hear what they are saying about who's doing what and about what the next steps are likely to be".

Science Magazine

"Well," explains Lumley, gently, "with Mr Woolas we had just come from a room where we had been talking with the lawyers and [Liberal Democrat] Peter Carroll for about half an hour about what the next step would be, and in that press conference all I was doing was saying aloud and corroborating with him what was said.

The Guardian

"I am not on the inside of the thinking about what the next step should be with this man," he said.

The New York Times

The presiding officer, Col. Lee Deneke, will then make his recommendation about what the next step should be and whether the death penalty should be considered, as the prosecution has requested.

The New York Times

Naturally, network administrators and security experts are pretty concerned about what the next step might be perhaps unleashing a tsunami of spam, or maybe bombarding a banking site with an unmanageable amount of traffic in an extortion scheme.

MIT Technology Review

It's the same with language; there needs to be no confusion about what the next step the user has to take is".

Forbes

But following a big round of growth funding that Huddle raised last year, McLoughlin began to think about what the next step in his career would be.

TechCrunch

I have free time to be thinking about what the next step should be, rather than be focused on overseeing the last step". He knows his partners are tackling their part of running the business just as they know he's handling his end of things.

Forbes

"There's a lot of unknowns about what the next step is," agreed Czaczkes.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "What about the next step?", ensure it logically follows a previous action or discussion point to provide clear context for the inquiry.

Common error

Avoid using "What about the next step?" when the current step hasn't been clearly defined or agreed upon. Make sure all the participants are on the same page before asking about what comes next.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "What about the next step" functions primarily as an interrogative phrase, prompting a discussion or plan regarding subsequent actions. Ludwig AI shows it's a direct way to solicit information about the continuation of a process.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "What about the next step" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to prompt discussion about future actions. Ludwig AI confirms its versatility, appearing in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Scientific contexts. While adaptable to varying formality levels, it's best used when the current step has already been established to ensure clarity and forward progression. Alternatives such as "What's the subsequent action?" or "What should we do next?" can provide slight variations in tone and formality. This phrase serves as a practical tool for initiating planning and driving decision-making.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

What's the subsequent action?

Replaces 'next step' with 'subsequent action', focusing on the immediate follow-up.

What comes after this?

Simplifies the query to ask about the immediate successor to the current situation.

What's the next course of action?

Substitutes 'step' with 'course of action', implying a more deliberate plan.

Where do we go from here?

Expresses the query as a directional inquiry, focusing on the progression from the current state.

What should we do next?

Directly asks for the immediate action to be taken.

What is the subsequent phase?

Replaces 'step' with 'phase', suggesting a more structured process.

How do we proceed?

Asks about the method of continuation, rather than the specific action.

What's on the horizon?

Uses a metaphorical expression to inquire about future plans.

What are the future implications?

Shifts the focus to the consequences of future actions.

What will happen down the line?

Inquires about events that will occur further in the future.

FAQs

How can I use "What about the next step" in a sentence?

You can use "What about the next step" to inquire about the subsequent action in a process. For example, "We've finished the planning phase. What about the next step?"

What is a formal alternative to "What about the next step"?

A more formal alternative could be "What is the subsequent course of action?" It maintains the inquiry about future steps while using more formal language.

What's the difference between "What about the next step" and "What's next"?

"What's next?" is a more concise and informal way of asking the same question. "What about the next step" implies a slightly more structured or planned process than simply asking "what's next".

Is "What about the next steps" grammatically correct?

Yes, "What about the next steps" is grammatically correct if you are referring to multiple actions or a series of actions to be taken. Whereas, "What about the next step" refers to a single action.