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what vs how

The phrases 'what' and 'how' serve different purposes in English. 'What' is used to ask about the identity or nature of something, while 'how' is used to inquire about the manner or method of doing something. They are not interchangeable and are used in different contexts.

Last updated: August 09, 2024

what

The word 'what' is a correct and commonly used interrogative pronoun in English.

Use 'what' when you want to ask about the identity or nature of something. It is often used to seek information or clarification.

Examples:

  • What is your name?
  • What time is it?
  • What are you doing?
  • We remember who was present when and where, what they said, what they did, what they didn't say, what they undid, what they wrote, what they erased.
  • In him we recognize what is true and what is false, what is radiance and what is darkness.
  • Only what what the little lord telling wants to hear.
  • We must therefore identify what people associate with enlargement, what hopes and expectations and what concerns and dangers.
  • From Giorgio Armani I learnt what creating a structured collection means, what it must have and how to realise what is superfluous.
  • Everywhere, everything, what you say, what you eat, what you wear, what you think.
  • Machines know what people watch, what people read, what people buy, even what people feel.
  • Again, what this does and what it focuses on is saying there are two very different ways that we can deal with HIV/AIDS.
  • No matter what your religion or what you consider to be correct.
  • I keep wondering what it'll be like, what will happen.
  • No one knows what commercials sell what products.
  • He showed me what was what.
  • I cannot express what you meant to me, what our time together was worth.
  • I don't bother asking who's sending what and what for.
  • Unless what drove Ray to kill is also what saved those people.
  • I had no knowledge of what came next, what fate awaited him.
  • About what would happen if she took what wasn't hers.
  • And what really mattered was what Joe said to me before he went.
  • So you can appreciate what we have and know what I'm worth.
  • So, what the deceased wants isn't what matters.

Alternatives:

  • Which
  • Who
  • Whose
  • Whom

how

The word 'how' is a correct and commonly used interrogative adverb in English.

Use 'how' when you want to ask about the manner or method of doing something. It is often used to inquire about processes, procedures, or actions.

Examples:

  • How are you?
  • How do you spell that word?
  • How did you solve the problem?
  • The meaning of HOW is in what manner or way. How to use how in a sentence.
  • Hi, I'm Jess Welcome to how sweet eats! · it's time to cook! Easy Weeknight Meals · Crumbs.
  • USAJOBS posts all federal job opportunities with a position description and instructions how to apply. With USAJOBS.gov tools and resources, you can find the ...
  • Apr 26, 2016 ... Every semester, I see the tweets and Facebook posts. My professor friends, they are annoyed. Their students do not know how to write emails, ...

Alternatives:

  • In what way
  • By what means
  • To what extent
  • In what manner

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