how about trying

USAGE SUMMARY

"how about trying" is a perfectly grammatical and acceptable phrase for written English.
You can use it when suggesting an idea or activity, as in, "How about trying a different route?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

How about trying a fence-mending tack?

The New York Times

How About Trying Credit Card Debt?

The New York Times

How about trying to talk them out of it?

The New Yorker

How about trying it extempore next week, was his suggestion.

The Guardian - Opinion

Or how about trying the next step, managed alcohol?

The Guardian

How about trying to achieve something similar for electronic data?

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

Where there is movement there is no pain". How about try to move (changes and exercises)mine and body for pain management.

Harvard University

"It was a play about how we go about trying to understand what's going on in our world when things are beyond understanding, and how to impose meaning that comforts us".

Los Angeles Times

It's how they go about trying to decide what the right answer is.

The New York Times

"I'm comfortable about things and how I go about trying to be the best I can be.

BBC

The story from now on will only be about how Facebook went about trying to secretly smear Google, and got caught.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "how about trying" when you want to make a suggestion in a friendly and informal way. It's perfect for brainstorming ideas or proposing solutions.

Common error

Avoid using "how about trying" in highly formal or professional settings. Opt for more structured and polite alternatives like "may I suggest" or "have you considered".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how about trying" functions as an interrogative suggestion. It proposes an idea or course of action in a question format, inviting consideration or agreement. As Ludwig AI underlines, this construction is commonly employed to initiate brainstorming or offer solutions in an informal manner.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Wiki

9%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "how about trying" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used for making suggestions in informal contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English for suggesting ideas or activities. While it's versatile, remember to consider your audience and opt for more formal alternatives in professional settings. As demonstrated by Ludwig, the phrase appears frequently in news and media, indicating its relevance in everyday communication. When aiming for clarity and friendliness in your suggestions, "how about trying" serves as an effective choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what about attempting

Replaces "how" with "what" and "trying" with "attempting", offering a slightly more formal tone.

why not give a shot at

Uses "why not" for suggestion and "give a shot at" as an alternative to "trying", indicating a more experimental approach.

have you considered giving a try to

Frames the suggestion as a question about consideration, adding a layer of politeness and thoughtfulness.

how about we experiment

Directly suggests an experiment, shortening the phrase for a more concise and immediate feel.

perhaps we could attempt

Introduces "perhaps" for a softer suggestion and "attempt" as a more formal alternative to "try".

what are your thoughts on giving a try to

Asks for an opinion before suggesting, making it more collaborative and less directive.

it might be worth experimenting with

Recommends experimentation, implying that the outcome is uncertain but potentially beneficial.

might I suggest giving a go at

Uses "might I suggest" for a very polite and formal suggestion, replacing "trying" with "giving a go at".

would you be open to test

Checks willingness before suggesting a test or experiment, making it suitable for contexts where consent is important.

let's explore the possibility of

Suggests exploring an option, framing it as an investigation rather than a direct attempt.

FAQs

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

You can use "how about trying" to make a suggestion or propose an idea, as in, "How about trying a new restaurant tonight?" or "How about trying to fix it ourselves before calling a professional?"

What can I say instead of "how about trying"?

You can use alternatives like "what about attempting", "why not give a shot at", or "have you considered giving a try to" depending on the context and desired formality.

Is "how about trying" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "how about trying" is generally considered informal. In formal writing, it's better to use phrases like "may I suggest", "we could consider", or "it is recommended that".

What's the difference between "how about trying" and "how about we try"?

"How about trying" uses a gerund (trying), while "how about we try" uses a clause with a subject (we) and verb (try). Both are grammatically sound and have the same meaning, but "how about trying" is slightly more concise.