how about tonight

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "how about tonight" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to suggest or propose an idea or plan for the evening. Example: "How about tonight we go out for dinner and catch up?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

How about tonight?

The New Yorker

To which he countered, "How about tonight?" The date went so well, she skipped her flight.

The New York Times

"Like we're all told 'men love sex and women just deal with it.' "Like every article, every sitcom it's always the guy coming home like "honey how about tonight huh?" and she's always like 'blah, you know I hate your d***.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

If you need proof that security is a red hot market these days, how about this morning's announcement that cybersecurity company CrowdStrike landed a $100 million Series C investment round?

TechCrunch

I'm sure Honduran cuisine — no oxymoron intended — is generally great, even though nobody has ever suggested to me: "Hey, how about Honduran tonight?" Sure, you might get unlucky with a mondongo (intestine) soup — or notice teensy-weensy creatures doing the breaststroke in your water — but I for one refuse to knock Honduran cooking or suggest it's bigger on bulk than finesse.

The New York Times

How about: "Good morning, sir"?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

But how about tomorrow morning instead?

The New York Times

How about mid afternoon in the tropics on artificial turf?

The Guardian - Sport

No? How about Saturday afternoon?' " said David Eckelberry, one of D&D Online's lead designers.

The New York Times - Arts

How about Lord Alan Sugar (7)? Would people find him less intimidating if he rebranded as SugaAl-Lo?

The Guardian - Music

How about tomorrow afternoon?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "how about tonight" to casually propose plans or suggest an idea for the evening. It's suitable for informal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "how about tonight" in highly formal or professional settings. Opt for more formal phrasing like "Would you be available this evening?" or "May I suggest we convene tonight?"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how about tonight" functions as a suggestion or proposal. It's used to casually introduce an idea for an activity or plan to be carried out during the evening. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through its examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "how about tonight" is a versatile and commonly used expression for proposing plans or making suggestions for the evening. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While typically informal to neutral in tone, as evidenced by its frequent appearance in news and media sources, it's important to consider the context and audience. In more formal settings, alternatives such as "Would you be available "this evening"?" may be more appropriate. Understanding these subtle nuances helps ensure effective and context-appropriate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what about this evening

Replaces "tonight" with "this evening", offering a slightly more formal tone.

how does tonight sound

Seeks feedback on the suggestion of 'tonight'.

shall we do something tonight

Inquires about doing something, shifting from a suggestion to a question.

tonight, perhaps

A more concise and slightly hesitant way of suggesting something for the evening.

any plans for tonight

Asks about existing plans, indirectly suggesting the possibility of making new ones.

is tonight an option

Poses the idea of tonight as one of possibly many options.

what are you doing tonight

Directly asks about the other person's plans for the evening.

could we do it tonight

Focuses on possibility and permission to do something tonight.

what's on for tonight

Similar to 'any plans', but more specific about searching for activities.

do you have anything on tonight

Directly inquires about any prior commitments for the evening.

FAQs

How can I use "how about tonight" in a sentence?

You can use "how about tonight" to make suggestions or propose plans for the evening. For example, "How about tonight we try that new Italian restaurant?" or "I'm free tonight, how about we watch a movie?"

What's a more formal alternative to "how about tonight"?

For more formal situations, consider using phrases like "Would you be available this evening?" or "May I suggest we convene tonight?". These alternatives are better suited for professional or official contexts.

Is "how about tonight" suitable for business communication?

While "how about tonight" is acceptable in informal business settings, it's generally better to use more formal language. Something like, "Would you be available for a meeting "this evening"?" is often more appropriate.

What's the difference between "how about tonight" and "what about tonight"?

"How about tonight" is generally used to suggest an activity or plan. "What about tonight" can be used similarly but can also be used to ask about the state of something or inquire about the evening in general. The practical difference is minimal, but "how about tonight" is usually a more direct suggestion.