what does it means

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'what does it mean' is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used anytime when asking someone to explain the meaning of something. For example: I don't understand what this symbol means, can you explain it to me? What does it mean?.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Given this diversity of the working age population, what does it means to be a worker in the UK?

The Guardian

What does it means to raise a person's standard of living?" After a few minutes, allow students to share their responses.

The New York Times

What does it means for the president to have an unaccountable paramilitary force, which can assassinate anyone anywhere in the world?

The Guardian - Opinion

What does it means to be gay in Arab society?

Huffington Post

Ultimately, the situation presses the question: What does it means to be black?

Huffington Post

Rattani said, "Muslims have been trying to create a normative definition of what does it means to be Muslim.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

And what does it mean?

The New York Times

LANE: What does it mean?

The New Yorker

But what does it mean?

The New York Times - Health

"What does it mean?" "What?" "That word.

The New Yorker

What does it mean to them?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure subject-verb agreement. With singular subjects like "it", use the singular verb form: "what does it mean".

Common error

A common mistake is using the plural verb form "means" with the singular pronoun "it". Remember that singular subjects require singular verb forms. Therefore, use "what does it mean" instead of "what does it means".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what does it means" is intended as an interrogative expression used to elicit the definition or significance of something. Though grammatically incorrect, the intent is to understand the meaning, as evidenced by the examples Ludwig provides.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "what does it means" is a grammatically incorrect construction, primarily due to a subject-verb agreement error. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct form is "what does it mean". Despite its presence in various online sources, the accurate and preferred phrasing should always be "what does it mean" to maintain grammatical correctness. While the intent behind the phrase is clear—to seek clarification—adhering to proper grammar ensures clarity and credibility in communication. Always remember to use the base form of the verb 'mean' after the auxiliary verb 'does' when the subject is singular.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what does it mean

Corrects the subject-verb agreement error by using the singular verb form 'mean' to agree with the singular subject 'it'.

what's the definition of it

Uses a more formal and direct approach to ask for the definition.

what is the meaning of it

Rephrases the question to focus on the 'meaning' as a noun, avoiding the verb agreement issue.

can you explain its meaning

A polite request for someone to clarify the meaning of something.

how should it be interpreted

Shifts the focus to interpretation rather than direct meaning, offering a broader perspective.

what is implied by it

Explores the implied or suggested meaning, going beyond the literal definition.

what are its implications

Focuses on the consequences or effects of something, rather than its definition.

what is its significance

Asks about the importance or value of something, not just its meaning.

what's it all about

An informal way of asking for the main idea or purpose.

what are we to make of it

Asks for an interpretation or understanding of something, often in a more analytical way.

FAQs

What is the correct way to ask about the meaning of something using "it"?

The correct phrasing is "What does it mean?" The auxiliary verb "does" requires the base form of the main verb "mean".

What can I say instead of "what does it means"?

Use the correct phrase, "what does it mean". This ensures grammatical accuracy and clarity.

Is "what does it means" grammatically correct?

No, "what does it means" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "what does it mean", which maintains subject-verb agreement.

How to use "what does it mean" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "I saw that symbol, but what does it mean?"