what would you think

USAGE SUMMARY

"what would you think" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are asking someone for their opinion about something, and making an example sentence would be, "What would you think if I decided to take a gap year?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If you were someone thinking of investing in Greece and you read these articles, what would you think?

Huffington Post

What would you think?

The Guardian

'Go' without respect, what would you think?

Independent

"What would you think?" Lane said.

The New York Times - Sports

So, what would you think of earning 10 percent?

The New York Times

What would you think as further future consequences?

Yale University

What would you think about getting that one December?

The Guardian - Books

- But what would you think if you heard about this..

The Guardian - Books

If you saw the eyeshine below during a night survey, what would you think it was?

The New York Times

I'm like, "What would you think about singing — ?" She goes, "I'd love to".

The New Yorker

"What would you think about playing the Baker part?" "Sure," Mr. Locilento said instantly.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "what would you think" in written communication, clearly define the scenario or context to ensure the respondent understands the basis for their opinion.

Common error

Avoid using "what would you think" repeatedly in direct questioning as it can sound repetitive. Vary your phrasing with alternatives such as "what are your thoughts" or "what is your opinion" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what would you think" primarily functions as an interrogative phrase used to elicit opinions or reactions to a given scenario or proposal. Examples from Ludwig show its use in diverse contexts, ranging from personal decisions to broader societal issues. Ludwig AI confirms it as grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

21%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Science

5%

HuffPost

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "what would you think" is a versatile and frequently used interrogative phrase that aims to solicit opinions or reactions to a given scenario. Grammatically correct and applicable across diverse contexts, from personal decisions to societal issues, as confirmed by Ludwig. It's particularly common in News & Media and Academic discussions, reflecting its neutrality and widespread acceptability. While generally neutral, the tone can shift towards informality depending on the context. When writing, consider the potential for redundancy and vary your phrasing to maintain engagement. By offering a platform for diverse opinions and encouraging critical thinking, "what would you think" functions as an invitation for further thought and dialogue.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

What are your thoughts?

More direct and concise, focusing on current opinion.

How would you feel?

Focuses on emotional reaction rather than rational thought.

What's your opinion?

Direct request for an opinion, less about hypothetical situations.

What do you make of that?

Asks for an assessment or interpretation of something.

What's your take on it?

Informal way to ask for someone's perspective.

If you were in my shoes, what would you do?

Shifts the focus to a specific action and includes a personal element.

How does that strike you?

More formal and indirect way of asking for an opinion.

What's your perspective?

Asks for a broader viewpoint or understanding.

What are your views on this?

Formal way of inquiring about someone's stance or beliefs.

What conclusion would you draw?

Focuses on the process of deduction and inference.

FAQs

How can I use "what would you think" in a sentence?

Use "what would you think" to solicit someone's opinion on a hypothetical situation, such as "What would you think if I quit my job and traveled the world?"

What's a more formal alternative to "what would you think"?

A more formal alternative could be "what is your opinion on this matter?" or "how does this strike you?" depending on the context.

Is "what would you think" always a question?

Yes, "what would you think" is typically used as a question to prompt someone for their opinion or reaction to a hypothetical or real situation.

How does "what are your thoughts" differ from "what would you think"?

"What are your thoughts?" is a general inquiry about someone's current opinion, while "what would you think" often introduces a hypothetical scenario or a future possibility.