how about having lunch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'how about having lunch' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are inviting someone to have lunch with you. For example: "Good morning! How about having lunch together at noon today?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"But it was on the level of Gore Vidal telling a story about having lunch with Eleanor Roosevelt.

The New York Times

That's what we watch when we're done at the end of the day.' I said, 'Get out.' And he said, 'Really.' So I said, 'if you win, how about we have lunch in the rose garden?' and he said, 'You're on.' I'm still waiting for that call".

Huffington Post

There aren't any Greek plays about people having lunch.

The Guardian - Film

How about we just have lunch?

Forbes

I usually spend about 30 minutes having lunch.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They ended up having lunch about 10 days later.

Huffington Post

I was completely stunned hearing about it on local radio after having lunch at home.

Los Angeles Times

How can you have lunch or breakfast with him?

The New York Times - Sports

The former wife of a top golfer told the court how she had once had lunch with Rebekah Brooks (then Wade) and the editor had told her about phone hacking.

BBC

She'll pop in for a cup of tea if she's in town, or we'll go shopping together and have lunch, arguing about how I'm spending money and what she wants for her birthday, Christmas, or Mothers' Day, depending on the visit.

Vice

He talked about how his best collaboration had resulted from having had lunch with an oceanographer, and how rare this was.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "how about having lunch" when you want to make a casual and friendly suggestion. It's suitable for both personal and professional contexts where a relaxed atmosphere is desired.

Common error

Avoid using "how about having lunch" in highly formal or business-critical scenarios. Opt for more professional phrasing like "I would like to invite you to lunch" to maintain a respectful tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how about having lunch" primarily functions as an invitation or suggestion. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, effectively proposing a lunchtime meeting.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Social Media

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "how about having lunch" is a versatile phrase used to suggest a casual meeting, particularly for lunch. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable in written English. While its usage spans various contexts, it is most commonly found in news and media, with a neutral to informal register. When considering alternatives, phrases like "what about lunch" offer similar directness, while options like "shall we have lunch" provide a more formal tone. When in doubt about formality, consider your audience and the context of the interaction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what about lunch

Changes the introductory word to a more direct inquiry.

how does lunch sound

Asks for an opinion on the idea of having lunch.

shall we have lunch

Uses a more formal and suggestive tone.

care for some lunch

Offers lunch in a polite and inviting manner.

are you free for lunch

Shifts the focus to the other person's availability.

interested in lunch

Directly inquires about interest in having lunch.

want to grab lunch

More casual and implies a quick meal.

let's do lunch

A common and slightly more assertive suggestion.

fancy lunch

A very informal British expression to suggest having lunch.

lunch

The shortest way to indicate about a lunch appointment.

FAQs

How can I use "how about having lunch" in a sentence?

You can use "how about having lunch" to suggest a casual meeting, such as, "I'm free next Tuesday, how about having lunch then?"

What's a more formal way to suggest a lunch meeting?

Instead of "how about having lunch", you could say, "I would like to invite you to lunch to discuss this further".

Is it appropriate to use "how about having lunch" in a business email?

It depends on your relationship with the recipient. If you have a friendly rapport, it's acceptable. Otherwise, a more formal invitation might be better.

What can I say instead of "how about having lunch"?

You can use alternatives like "what about lunch" for a direct inquiry, or "shall we have lunch" for a slightly more formal suggestion.