how about you

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "how about you" is correct in written English.
It is an informal way of asking someone about their thoughts or opinions on something. For example: "I'm going to the movies tonight. How about you?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

So, how about you?

The New York Times

How about you?

The New York Times

How about you, Brian?

The New York Times

How about you, though?

The New York Times

I'm giving... how about you?

The New York Times

How about you, Cesar Angel?

The New York Times

PG: How about you, Carole?

The New York Times

"How about you?" she asked.

The New Yorker

"How about you?" I ask.

The New Yorker

How about you, Dagan?

The New Yorker

How about you? "No".

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "how about you" to smoothly transition a conversation and show interest in the other person's perspective. It's a versatile phrase applicable in both casual and semi-formal settings.

Common error

While acceptable in many contexts, avoid using "how about you" excessively in formal or academic writing. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "what are your thoughts on this matter?" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how about you" functions primarily as an interrogative, used to solicit the opinion, feelings, or intentions of the person being addressed. Ludwig examples show it used in conversational contexts to engage the listener after the speaker shares something about themselves.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

16%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "how about you" is a versatile phrase used to solicit someone's opinion or to encourage interaction. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various sources. While commonly found in news and media, as well as academic contexts, it's essential to consider the formality of the situation. For more formal settings, alternatives like "what are your thoughts?" may be more appropriate. This phrase serves as a simple yet effective way to engage in conversation and show genuine interest in another person's perspective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

What about you?

A more direct alternative, placing emphasis on the individual being addressed.

What's your opinion?

A straightforward way of asking for someone's viewpoint.

What are your thoughts?

Focuses directly on eliciting the other person's opinion or perspective.

And yourself?

A more concise and slightly formal way of asking for the other person's input.

What's your take?

Informal and conversational, asking for their opinion or assessment.

How do you feel?

Shifts the focus to the person's emotional state or sentiment regarding a topic.

Where do you stand?

Asks about their position or opinion on a particular matter.

Your perspective?

A shortened, more direct way to request someone's point of view.

Care to weigh in?

Invites someone to share their thoughts or contribute to a discussion.

What say you?

An older, slightly archaic way of asking for someone's opinion or agreement.

FAQs

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

Use "how about you" to inquire about someone's opinion, preferences, or situation after sharing your own. For example, "I'm feeling tired today, "how about you"?"

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

In professional settings, consider using phrases like "what are your thoughts?", "what is your perspective?", or "I'm interested in your opinion" instead of ""how about you"" to maintain a higher level of formality.

Is it appropriate to use "how about you" in business emails?

It depends on your relationship with the recipient. If you have a friendly rapport, it's acceptable. Otherwise, opt for more formal alternatives such as "I would appreciate your input" or "what are your thoughts on this matter?" instead of ""how about you"".

Can "how about you" be used to make a suggestion?

Yes, especially when offering something. For example, "I'm going to order pizza, "how about you"?" implies an invitation to join in the pizza order.