what's up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "What's up?" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used as a casual salutation similar to "How are you?" or "Hello!", and can be used both informally and in some more formal contexts. For example: In an email to a colleague: "Hey, Jack! What's up?" In a chat message to a friend: "What's up? Want to grab coffee later?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

WHAT'S up, Times readers?

The New York Times

What's up Walker's sleeve next?

Forbes

What's up?

The New York Times

"What's up?" he said.

The New Yorker

So what's up?

The Economist

Dear Kanye: What's up?

The New Yorker

"What's up?" Uncanny timing.

The New York Times

"So that's what's up".

The New Yorker

"What's up?" we breathed.

The New Yorker

"Guy: What's up, dawg?

The New Yorker

"What's up?" I ask.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what's up" in informal settings like conversations with friends, casual emails, or text messages. It's a quick and easy way to greet someone and initiate a conversation.

Common error

While "what's up" is widely accepted, avoid using it in highly formal contexts such as business meetings, academic papers, or official correspondence. Opt for more professional greetings like "how are you?" or "good morning/afternoon".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "what's up" is as an interrogative phrase, serving as a greeting or a casual inquiry about someone's well-being or current activities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely recognized and accepted in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Academia

24%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

15%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"What's up" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used as an informal greeting or inquiry. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is acceptable in various informal contexts such as conversations with friends or casual emails. However, avoid using it in formal settings. Alternatives like "how are you doing?" or "what's going on?" can be used depending on the situation. With its frequent presence in sources like The New York Times and The New Yorker, it is clear that "what's up" is a widely recognized and accepted expression in contemporary English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sup?

A very informal and abbreviated version of "what's up".

what's new?

Specifically asks if there have been any recent developments or changes.

what's going on?

Focuses on current events or happenings in someone's life.

what's happening?

Similar to "what's going on", but can also refer to an immediate situation.

how's it going?

A slightly more casual alternative for inquiring about someone's well-being.

what are you up to?

Inquires about someone's current activities or plans.

how are you doing?

A more formal and complete way of asking about someone's well-being.

how have you been?

Asks about someone's well-being over a period of time, implying a previous acquaintance.

how do you do?

A more formal greeting, often used when meeting someone for the first time.

good to see you

Expresses pleasure at meeting, without necessarily requesting specific information.

FAQs

How can I respond to "what's up"?

Common responses include "Not much", "Nothing", or describing what you're currently doing. You can also return the question by saying "What's up with you?"

Is "what's up" appropriate in professional emails?

It depends on your relationship with the recipient. If you have a casual rapport, it might be acceptable. Otherwise, it's safer to use a more formal greeting like "Hello" or "Good morning/afternoon".

What are some alternatives to "what's up"?

You can use alternatives like "how are you doing", "how's it going", or "what's going on" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "what's up" and "what are you up to"?

"What's up" is a general greeting, while "what are you up to" specifically asks about someone's current activities or plans.