what about going

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what about going" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to ask someone for their opinions on an idea. For example, "What about going to the beach this weekend?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

What about?" Going on stage?

The Guardian

Like what about going to the loo?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"What about, Going, going, gone,?" But that wasn't original to Valentino, either.

The New York Times - Sports

What about going bigger?

The New York Times

"What about going home, Dorothy?

The New Yorker

But what about going beyond contingency planning?

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

What about, to go back to my original question, a new mattress?

The New York Times

What brought this about goes like this.

Huffington Post

12.05pm: And what about Clarke going to justice?

The Guardian

And, since ZeroGravity16 mentions it, what about "13 Going on 30"?

The New Yorker

JB: What about Google going into content?

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what about going" to introduce a suggestion or idea you want someone to consider. It's best used when you're looking for a quick opinion or sparking a conversation.

Common error

While versatile, "what about going" can sound too casual in professional or academic settings. Opt for more formal alternatives like "have you considered" or "what are your thoughts on" to maintain a respectful tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what about going" functions as an interrogative suggestion or proposal. It introduces an idea or option for consideration. Ludwig confirms that this is a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "what about going" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression for suggesting an idea or initiating a conversation about a potential activity. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it maintains a neutral to slightly informal tone. While versatile, it may be wise to consider more formal alternatives for professional or academic contexts. Remember to use this phrase when you're looking to propose a simple suggestion or opinion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how about going

Replaces "what" with "how", subtly changing the tone while maintaining the suggestion.

what if we go

Shifts from a suggestion to a hypothetical question about a potential action.

why not go

Frames the suggestion as a question of justification for not taking the action.

have you considered going

Poses the idea as something to consider, implying a more thoughtful approach.

what are your thoughts on going

Directly asks for an opinion on the action, inviting a discussion.

what's your take on going

More informal way to ask for someone's opinion on the action.

would you consider going

A more polite and less direct way to suggest an action.

what about a trip to

Specifies a trip in particular instead of a generic going.

let's go where

Proposes going somewhere, prompting a collaborative decision on the destination.

shall we go

A formal way to suggest going somewhere or doing something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "what about going" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "have you considered going" or "what are your thoughts on going". These options are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Is it appropriate to use "what about going" in a business email?

While generally acceptable, "what about going" might be too informal for some business emails. Evaluate your relationship with the recipient and the overall tone of the communication. More formal options might be preferable.

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

The difference is subtle; "how about going" is slightly more casual and conversational, while "what about going" is a bit more direct in its suggestion. Both are generally interchangeable in most contexts.

When should I not use "what about going"?

Avoid using "what about going" in situations that demand a highly formal or serious tone, such as legal documents, academic papers, or critical business communications. Opt for more professional alternatives in those scenarios.