what else

USAGE SUMMARY

'what else' can be used correctly in written English.
It is typically used to ask the person you are speaking to if there is anything else they would like to say or add to the conversation. For example: Person 1: "I think that's all I need to say on the topic." Person 2:"What else do you want to add?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What else? What else?

The New Yorker

What else? What else? What else? What else?

The New York Times

What else what else.

The New York Times - Books

But what else? Here's what else.

The New Yorker

What else? What else did you notice?

Yale University

What else was it?

The Guardian

What else? A. Adaptable.

The New York Times

What else isn't affected?

The New York Times

So what else remains?

Independent

What else?" she said.

The New York Times - Arts

What else happened?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what else" to encourage elaboration or to explore additional options. It's a great way to keep a conversation flowing or to ensure all possibilities are considered.

Common error

While acceptable in most contexts, avoid overusing "what else" in very formal writing. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "furthermore" or "additionally" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "what else" is as an interrogative phrase used to solicit additional information, suggestions, or options. It prompts the speaker to provide further details or consider alternative possibilities, as demonstrated in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

26%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what else" is a versatile and widely used interrogative phrase that effectively prompts further information or suggestions. According to Ludwig, its grammatical status is correct, and it is commonly found in news, academic, and scientific contexts. While appropriate for most situations, it should be used judiciously in highly formal writing, where alternatives like "furthermore" or "additionally" may be more suitable. Using "what else" can greatly help in eliciting more detailed responses and ensuring a comprehensive consideration of all possibilities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Anything else?

A common and concise way to inquire about additional items or actions.

What else is there?

Focuses on available options or possibilities.

What other things?

More direct in seeking additional items or information.

What more?

A shorter, more direct way of asking for additional information or items.

Is there anything more?

A more formal and polite way to ask for additional information or items.

What remains?

Implies a process of elimination and asks about what is left.

What else is possible?

Explores potential opportunities or outcomes.

What else can be done?

Specifically asks about potential actions or solutions.

What are the alternatives?

Focuses on different options or choices.

What's next?

Focuses on future steps or actions.

FAQs

How can I use "what else" in a sentence?

"What else" is typically used as a question to prompt additional information or options. For example, "We've covered the main points; "what else" should we discuss?"

What is a formal alternative to "what else"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "furthermore", "additionally", or "moreover" instead of "what else".

How does "what else" differ from "anything else"?

"Anything else" and "what else" are often interchangeable, but "anything else" is generally used when the speaker is offering something, while "what else" is used to solicit further information or suggestions.

Is it correct to say "what other" instead of "what else"?

While "what other" can sometimes be used similarly to "what else", it typically specifies a category. For example, "What other options are available?" versus "What else should we consider?"