what of him

USAGE SUMMARY

"what of him" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to inquire about someone's situation or status, often implying concern or curiosity. Example: "He seems distant lately; what of him?" Alternative expressions include "what about him" and "how is he doing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But what of him?

The Guardian - Books

"What of him is in me?" asks Ron.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He's been very private over the last few years, very careful about what of him made it out into the world.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

… So what became of him?

The New York Times

And after this what became of him?

The New Yorker

I often wondered what became of him".

The New Yorker

"What became of him?" he asked morosely.

The New York Times - Magazine

Mr. Woollcott wonders what became of him.

The New Yorker

What became of him?

The Guardian

I often wonder what became of him.

The Guardian

Goodness knows what became of him.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ the phrase as a concise inquiry into a person's fate, especially in contexts where their previous history has already been established.

Common error

Avoid using the query when you actually mean "what's his" or "what is his". While "what of him" asks about his general state, it cannot replace phrases denoting specific ownership or inherent traits without the proper context of a relative clause.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what of him" primarily functions as an interrogative fragment or as the core of a relative clause. It acts as a shorthand for "what [is the case/is the news/became] of him". According to Ludwig, it is frequently used to introduce a shift in perspective or to probe into a subject's current state.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what of him" is a highly effective and grammatically sound phrase used to investigate a person's status or fate. While Ludwig AI identifies its exact occurrence as rare compared to more casual variants, its presence in elite publications like The Guardian and The New Yorker highlights its utility in formal and literary writing. It serves as a sophisticated alternative to what about him, perfect for writers aiming for a more evocative or inquisitive tone. Whether asking about what remains of a person's legacy or their literal whereabouts, this phrase remains a versatile tool in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what about him

Provides a more modern and direct conversational equivalent.

what became of him

Specifies an inquiry into the subject's final outcome or fate.

what has become of him

Adds a present perfect tense to emphasize the current state resulting from past events.

what of his situation

Focuses the inquiry specifically on external circumstances rather than character.

what news of him

Used to specifically request updates or recent information.

what is his status

Shifts to a more formal, administrative, or professional tone.

how is he faring

Focuses on the subject's well-being and current progress.

what remains of him

Carries a more literal or somatic connotation, often used in poetic or tragic contexts.

what regarding him

A more business-oriented prepositional structure.

how is he

The simplest and most informal functional equivalent.

FAQs

How to use "what of him" in a sentence?

You can use "what of him" as a standalone question to ask about someone's status, as in: "We have discussed the company's future, but "what of him"?" It also works within relative clauses like "I wonder "what became of him"."

What can I say instead of "what of him"?

You can use common alternatives like "what about him", "how is he doing", or the more formal "what is his status" depending on the register you need.

Is "what of him" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is perfectly correct. Ludwig provides numerous examples from high-quality sources like The Guardian and The New York Times, where it is used to inquire about the fate or nature of a person.

What is the difference between "what of him" and "what about him"?

While both inquire about a person, "what of him" often carries a more inquisitive, literary, or slightly formal weight, whereas what about him is the standard conversational choice in modern English.