How About You vs. What About You — What’s the Difference?

How Or What About You. 40 Other Ways to Ask "How Are You" in English • 7ESL From my point of view, if the difference between what about and how about in general is slight, the difference between what about you and how about you is even slighter They are certainly interchangeable, as you mentioned, but I would go so far as to say that their common usages are semantically indistinguishable.

They are certainly interchangeable, as you mentioned, but I would go so far as to say that their common usages are semantically indistinguishable. Basically, 'how about you' is slightly more positive or upbeat than 'what about you', which is just a flat inquiry without a hint of the speaker's emotion.

40 Other Ways to Ask "How Are You" in English • 7ESL

In English, the phrases "What about you?" and "How about you?" are commonly used but often misunderstood Which one to use, How about you or what about you? Learn the difference between How about you and What about you here and use them correctly. Basically, 'how about you' is slightly more positive or upbeat than 'what about you', which is just a flat inquiry without a hint of the speaker's emotion.

Collections by musicalryo Shutterstock Contributor. You have heard 'how about you' and 'what about you' many times but do you know their difference? In this lesson, we will learn more about these two. Which one to use, How about you or what about you? Learn the difference between How about you and What about you here and use them correctly.

How about you and What about you Meaning, Examples & Difference Promova. Use "how about" when you feel much more optimistic and confident about your suggestion, and "what about" when you feel a little less certain and more open to hearing alternatives. They are certainly interchangeable, as you mentioned, but I would go so far as to say that their common usages are semantically indistinguishable.