how about telling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "how about telling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to suggest or propose that someone share information or express their thoughts on a particular topic. Example: "How about telling us your thoughts on the new project during the meeting?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

How about telling the truth?

The Guardian

How about telling him that Miley Cyrus called and wants her phone back.

The New York Times

How about telling them about your brother Claud, who became a zookeeper and had a tragic experience in the tiger pit?

Independent

Since we profess needs blind admission and seek to admit the "very best class," how about telling us about their pre-college experiences and accomplishments rather than distinguishing them by their physical, racial and ethnic characteristics which are no longer deemed to matter.

Princeton University

62 mins: "How about telling us what the hell is happening on the pitch, Barry?" whines Alex McGillivray, who's taking a bit of a liberty considering I don't go around to where he works and tell him how to empty bins.

The Guardian - Sport

How about telling him to take his most creative ideas for businesses and try them out?

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Second: how's about telling us what you thought on in the thread for the Guardian Film Show?

The Guardian - Film

That's how I felt about telling it.

Huffington Post

How about just telling the Haggler that it's working on the phone problem, or wants to, or is really bummed that it hasn't already?

The New York Times

As a starter, he asked, in the spirit of reaching across the aisle, of bipartisanship and openness, "How about … telling us what's in this bill?" Thune's answer made me marvel that a man with such good hair could deceive so baldly.

Huffington Post

How did you go about telling your chair about your porn career?

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "how about telling", consider the audience and the potential impact of the information being shared. Be mindful of privacy and confidentiality concerns.

Common error

Avoid using "how about telling" in highly formal or professional documents. Opt for more direct and assertive phrasing when conveying information in such settings. For example, in formal business communication, use a more direct approach such as "please provide details regarding…" instead of a casual "how about telling us…".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how about telling" functions as an interrogative suggestion or a polite request. It's used to prompt someone to share information or provide an explanation. Ludwig AI examples show the phrase used in contexts ranging from news commentary to casual advice.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "how about telling" is a versatile phrase used to politely suggest or request information. According to Ludwig AI, it functions as an interrogative prompt, commonly found in News & Media, Academia and Wiki sources. While grammatically sound and frequently used, its appropriateness varies with context, making it less suitable for formal business or academic writing. For professional settings, direct requests are preferable, enhancing clarity and precision. The phrase offers a balanced blend of inquiry and suggestion, making it a valuable tool in conversations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what about sharing

A more general way of suggesting the exchange of information or experiences.

how about explaining

Specifically suggests providing clarification or details about something.

what about revealing

Focuses more directly on making something known that was previously hidden.

how about disclosing

Implies a more formal or official sharing of information.

what if you told

Presents a hypothetical scenario where information is shared.

have you considered telling

Suggests a more thoughtful approach to sharing information, often when the decision is difficult.

why not tell

Expresses a direct and sometimes challenging suggestion to share information.

what are your thoughts on telling

More gentle invitation than the QUERY that takes into account the opinion of the interlocutor.

how would you feel about telling

More polite invitation that also takes into account the feeling of the interlocutor.

how do you feel about telling

More polite invitation that explicitly asks for the feeling of the interlocutor.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "how about telling" to sound more formal?

In formal settings, use phrases like "Could you please explain…", "I would appreciate it if you could clarify…", or "Please provide information regarding…" instead of the more casual "how about telling".

What's the difference between "how about telling" and "how about sharing"?

"How about telling" specifically suggests providing information, while "how about sharing" is a broader term that can include experiences, resources, or information.

Is "how about telling" appropriate for business communication?

It depends on the context. While acceptable in internal, informal communications, it's best to use more direct language like "Please inform us" or "Kindly provide details" in external or formal business settings.

What's a more direct way to ask someone to share information instead of "how about telling"?

Use direct requests like "Please explain…", "Can you clarify…", or "Provide details on…" for a more assertive approach.