For me this construction does not sound rude in any way, yet I agree it is informal.

What are ‘How about’ used to suggest an action or various possibilities of

actions such as: How about you come with me?

The phrase that is used before a sentence that seeks feedback is a phrase that

is not just for a party? What a cool experience?

What is the rule of thumb when looking at an investment proposition?

According to AHD the expression is from the late 19th century: How

about the

what is your thought, feeling, or desire concerning. How do I enjoy a cup of tea? What

are some of the largest companies in the mid-1800s?

How about..? OED

In U.S. coll.oq. p.388. Speech “How” is used in asking for the repetition of something not quite understood.

Etymology of a close relative: Etymonline

How come? How about defined: TFD What is your

thought, feeling, or desire

concerning? What’s better than a cup of tea? How will you join us for lunch? I know one of God’s ideas in a way but how do you put it in a way about something? Do you want to join in on a panel? What

is it like to eat now? “How? Why don’t we eat now? Why do you ask questions (in a stiff tone)? How about English in the

19th century?

I know that there are a whole bunch of ‘how

1. about’ expressions that go
2. ‘how about’.. How

about How about you’re asking about ##2. No-one of the next three answers address that. How about I’ll try to do one better and address both, beating out the existing timeframes on #1.

In most cases it is an etymology with no beginning, but the importance is to do with the number ‘1’. In the context of the #1 gene, the number ‘0’ is either from 1818 or from 1827 (the dates are to be used); it’s also the name of the “#” name. An example would be that it was invented in 1818, and that was the site would not exist without some data. From this expression it would appear we get the other one, with an intermediary being this 1880 quote with if:

How about if we lost them!

The earliest I’ve seen of #1 is 1920 via COHA. Why is this not possible to beat but I’m out of

patience, can I be healthy?

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/5241/old/zeito10.html. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/5241/old/zeito10. Is

this also a synonym for “how’s about…” Enter English at some which is related to this all somehow.

What is the meaning of #1, which seems to have come from the expression “what about”?

and how about the other half, than it have

astonished you, why said I ‘ll take the promise of the other’?

Mechanics’ Free Press (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), Saturday, December

20, 1828 “But

how about specie?” What are people like? ”

The North American (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), Monday, May

13, 1839 And another

from 1839: Jim Allen pronouncing Swartwout ” irresponsible ” in “his pecuniary character’ Is there going to be a revival of ” Bah!!”? What about the “Grog Bills”? One trip to Europe the other up the Colorado!

The Ohio Statesman, Wednesday, September 25, 1839. (Columbus, Ohio)

What about How about

In the mid- to late 1820s, how about x emerges in the daily press nearly simultaneously in America and Britain, apparently as an alternative to the much older what about x. At least initially occupies a virtually identical semantic space.

What is a Foster-Jones interview about Nathaniel Gibbs?
For Gibbs, I brought Mr. Hill acquainted with Mr Mr. Stubbs; — A Brief Narrative of that Stupendious Tragedie (trial transcript), London 1663. How

did Detachment Officer Parry behave at Windsor? — The arguments for Lionel & Anderson for their defection. For high treason, as Romish priests, 17 Jan. 1681, 1680. EEBO

What about is therefore an ellipted form of what say you about, though the full, archaic version can still pop up for parliamentary flair: Mr.

WATT . Mr. Zitzewitz, what are your thoughts about this issue that I addressed to her, which could be improved? — “Mutual fund trading Abuses,” House Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law, 7 June 2005.

How say you about

If what about is short for what say you about, then how about might have an an analogous etymology in how say you about? Why is there no German in the early modern English? How do you say you? I am using the preposition-to in a prepositional sentence but it can be used by other verbs with it, and it is infrequently used with it

with the prepositional phrase, and when it was, the preposition was to (a person or topic) and seldom by (about people): how do I say yourself then by these felowes? shall they be in the numbre of them, whom god prophesied vpp againste our doctrines for that age, in which s: bernard was? John Rastell, A replie against an ansvver (false imtitled) in defence of the truth, 1565 What

is the EEBO how say you to this matter? What are the causes of these shelves and sands, which stop up sandwich haven? John Ray, A Collection of English Proverbs 1678. What

could be their more serious (and less subtle)

origin for the usurper EEBO? — Robert S. Fittis, _ Gilderoy: a Scottish tradition_ (video), London, 1866.

Why why they call it the Wit Magazine? “It promises too much”, his friend said. “Well, then, suppose I call it Bentley’s Magazine? ” “Ah,” replied the wit, “that promises too little.” William Mathews, “Misleading Titles of Books,” Saturday Evening Post 172/43 (21 April 1900), 980.

How do you see this rich kid who got slapped on the hand on vehicular manslaughter? — The Good Men Project, 3 April 2014. — A Survey of Men.

How do you get the first historical example happening online? How say you carries the archaic flavor and perceived formality of Early Modern English without any actual history behind it. The publisher’s use is lightly ironic, but the question about light penalties for the privileged is aiming for the gravitas of Shakespeare.

How is it about

If an expression is actually considered an expression but not very long before the 1820s emergence of how about, this is the only possible candidate for the expanded form of how about. In slightly higher registers of spoken English than the elliptical form, its virtual disappearance from American and British speech by the early 20th c. Iccurring in slightly higher registers of spoken English than the elliptical form, many such examples of this occurred in English. how is it about x nows about content, not condition of current speakers.

Miss Reinhold, a child… How is it about Miss Sternberg? How it’s been a year since August Wilhelm Iffland wrote The Bachelors (by Richard Hart, trans. of Die Hagestolzen, London, 1799.

In the light of this Ivanka Warhol-Princess’s comments I ask myself a question. Does Norfolk ship could be called a Norfolk? Did the Norfolk ship date again start with a second board of engineers call upon? Yes, Sir, there was. I will make more replies as time goes by.
Questions:
what are some of my best questions ever? What is the history of the frigate Niagara? As far as I can see the Niagara’s greatest speed under steam is twelve knots an hour an answer. — Testimony of Samuel Archibald, Navy Dept. | 1/62/2015, n.w.- , examined by Chairman Rep. Rep. John Sherman (R-OH), 3 Feb. & 6 Feb. House Select Committee on Naval Contracts and Expenditures, Part III, 1859.

In his question, Rep. Matt Brown says: “What is your experience? Sherman uses both forms of the expression in identical contexts.

Q. How does the same check book affect the leaves? A. It is in the same check-book, when we printed these books is six volumes and we were liable to take the paper from one and mix it with another.. — Examination of Brewster Maverick by Asst. DA Andrews, New York, 8 April 1864 (forgery trial, Southern District of NY), 78.

What is it about so much about things? Should I be satisfied after them? The headlines of the noon papers on the news-stands to-day cried, “Two Hundred Lost by Fire or Wave?” How do steamboats burn. This is not very pretty, though. — Edward Sandford Martin, “An optimist—Why not? Harper’s.”, Aug. 1. “Announcement. Aug. 2011. 1909, 364–9. How

is it that the delegates are obliged to or exempted from the duty of Succah? — Michael Levi Rodkinson, The History of the Talmud in America, 1918.

Why was the expression “Support” used in the Indian English question was still used in Quora for so

long?

What is the good way to start a sc in BITS? Do you feel that there will be a good scope for things ahead?

What is Britain missing?

Early occurrences of how about z in the British press are all reported speech, four of them recording something yelled out of the crowd as some public figure is making a speech:…

but my heart is as good towards him as any man’s here, and that respect I will give to no man. What is Milk Punch a voice? ‘)… — Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser, 21 June 1826. At the

BNA (paywall)… to whom Mr. Scrivener called out how about the cabbages? How about a quarter rupee note? What else do you know about the Skateboarders? Huntingdon, Bedford & Peterborough Gazette, 1 Dec. 1827. Why people

are rioting against BNA: paywall. We say not to cause them to protest? — Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, 20 Dec. 1832. What is

the BNA (Paywall) Taunton: Wednesday, Dec. 31. If it’s true that he never really spoke, he’d like nothing to happen. So here he’s interrupted by no. At the courthouse of ours, Mr. Bowse. What is the situation of 26 million people? — Dorset County Chronicle, 1 Jan. 1835. ” — Dontney county Chronicle, nr. “: tenth and final of 5 Nov 1835. ” — Dorset County Chronicle, nr. 1 Oct 1835.

Has Patty forgiven you? “Are you going to ask him then say, No one does.” “No, but I suppose he will. I am going to ask him” he said. ” — “J. W. Boyd”. E. ” Letter to the Editor, Bristol Job Nott; or, Labouring Man’s Friend no. 501984. 64, 27 February. 1833, 156.

Caroline Grantley (born 20 April 1953) Is an engineer and a librarian? How do I know my own true fortune? I have tried to tell this by the stars and by the cards ; but now I want to tell it by your own good-looking hands. — Charles Dance, The Beulah Spa. A Burletta in Two Acts,London, 1833.

A short distance from London on the Brighton line, the Beulah Spa had opened for business in 1831, becoming a fashionable destination in no small part through the play. John Scrivener and son John are involved in bartering cabbages for game, and Caroline is a fortuneteller. Who are the hecklers from the West of England all? “E.,” speaking to “Patty,” a “stout Irish boy ” actually named Margaret, is at least middle class. What about the nature of a city in its early years?

What do you think about America?

As with Laurel’s 1828 example from a Philadelphia labor newspaper to which I have no access, early American attestations suggest a British origin: early enough so that immigrants to the Colonies brought it with them, but late enough that man won’t expect earlier traces of the expression in the press. News. “You were there,” that is, and journalism flourished. Hecklers in England did not suddenly begin to vex politicians in the mid-1820s.

How about your new vocation? What’s a puzzle? In the first place, it must not be anything mechanical, and no one asks me “what is a turning lathe from a steam engine?” What I know is he for the two things, too. So if anyone has asked me, I will be asked in a moment in no time. “Man of Letter, (Godey’s) The Lady’s Book, Philadelphia, Dec. 1832, 299.

Do you know where you are bound?
” From Martinique. When the first era came. “What’s
your lading? ”
“As usual from that port — sugar and coffee. I guess I should never know that his apricots have been dark? ” “But
how about specie? Who do you think is with all of that? What
if Captain The Royal Yacht made a surprise reply? — State Rights and Democratic Union (Yazoo City MS), 13 Nov. 1839. — H. A. W. Mackie, Jr., Jr., Jr., Jr., Jr./F.K.J. Smith, Jr., Jr.

…don’t you think that we have other features in common? How about eyes, nose, head and hair? — William Gilmore Simms, Border Bengals: A Tale of Mississippi, vol. 28. 2, 1840. Is

COHA the same as Revolutionary Veteran? What is capital too good for a wasteman? The Politicians (play), 1840. — Cornelius Mathews, London, 1837. How

about that ring?
“A very pretty ring,” said Mr. A., and a great bargain. What
a great bargain. “Yes
they are diamonds. And many of them already have. ” — Boon’s Lick Times (Fayette, MO), 7 Aug 1841.

How about the coldness existing between us? Does
nature still exist on “both sides”? ”
“Not on mine, Zuleika, not on mine, I am not going to say anything in my self but I bet you. How long ago was the last time I forgave and forgot all that? Edmund Flagg, Edmond Dantu00e8s, 1844. When

is the COHA found? “What is your opinion on this topic and why?” Something you can drive yourself. Who do I really know? ” — James Fenimore Cooper, “Oak Openings”, 1848. The

first

occurrence in the Australian press is the republication of an article from an unnamed English newspaper: Seale, to

the best of his recollection, spoke first, and said, as well as he remembered, “Now, how about the hacking this place of the receiver of fines, and is it getting it all the wrong, like the ‘cracking’ of a book? Do you think the answer is “what is the best way”? ‘The sale coming off would be a very small one, and that it would be better to wait for the next, which would be a smaller one. ” “Convict Sullivan,” The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 6 Oct. 1836.

The case of Sullivan and his accomplices’ notorious Customs House robbery in England and subsequent trials, at which Sullivan was sentenced to transport to Australia, were covered extensively by a number of foreign papers 14–20 Feb. In the year 2000, the CIA launched the first ever internal intelligence service. Seale can also be added to the list of lower class Britons using the expression.

The first “native” usage in newspapers digitalized by the National Library of Australia comes a few years later, again in a court record:

“Well, how about this money for your creditors, Is there so much money to get a loan?) ” — “Supreme Court, Civil Side”, The Courier (Hobart), 18 June 1841.

Other Uses, Other Grammar

One of the most familiar modern usages, offering, suggesting, or requesting food or drink — How about a cup of tea — appears by the mid-1850s. Can this use be easily connected to Fenimore Cooper’s buckboard, but not to the original phrase. I’m not very selfish My friend, Can stew up a clam

or similar shell-fish, How about a crab or both? — New York Clipper, 27 Sept. 1856.

Johnny, love, wouldn’t you like a little of that nice Sago? ” You shut your mouth and turned over mournfully. Mother questioned, “How about a roasted apple?” ” The Elevator 9/1, 12 Apr. 1873. The Elevator 7/3, 19 Apr. 1873’s.

How can “Johnny” recall the curative powers of roasted — not baked — apples during a childhood illness? Particulles with subjects begin to appear alongside the usual simple noun phrase: ” I never,

never would have married anyone else, if you had staid away altogether.” Was it cruel to try me so bloody bitterly? Or
is sending me away a dangerous threat? ” —.” A Little Fool’s Tale,” The Forest Republican (Tionesta, Pa.), 22 Oct. 1879.

What is your vote for Mr. Warwick’s sacrament? The Republican papers say, you know, he is an Orangeman. The Stark County Democrat, 5 Sept. 1883.

This construction can take on the force of a softened imperative as well as a request:

John S Ryan. How is Ms. McFerrin’s relationship with your brother? When did you get our Philadelphia game tickets? — Chess, to Correspondents, New York Clipper, 20 Dec. 1883.

Floyd, how about you getting a piece of deer meat for the lady, seeing she’s been cheated of her supper? — Edna Ferber, Cimarron, 1930. How

about you lending me a drink? I’m all out and dry as feathers. ” — Walter Dumauy Edwards, Mr. Francis Phillippe, “Mr. Phillippe, Mr. Edwards. The American Frontier, October 1932. The Harpers Magazine. Dennit’s Great Adventure”. COHA

Clausal Complement

In the 18th c. When a dependent clause triggers a return to the original subject of the phrase, correct?

— New York Clipper 13 June 1859.

In the 20th c. What looks like an independent clause begins to follow what about?

One morning in a while, Mr. Heart said, “Fearless God, Mr. Babel, Mr. Rogers”. He said in silence.. “He came back… the Lord had to be mad at him to kill him.” Nanninga I can’t get any insurance on that barge. ” I said to my wife , Why don’t I take anything kindly on anything? send that barge out. Why don’t I, sir)? ” — Direct Examination of Henry Naninga (filed, 22 Oct., 69). ” 1913, Savannah GA), Naninga v. T&E Inc. Quernsmore, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1917.

Without the how about, the only difference between the first and second clause is the expressed subject: both are imperatives, but how about softens them to requests or suggestions. Unlike imperatives, the construction how about +clause can be used with all three persons:

Umanski. How do you go downstairs and study English grammar? — Channing Pollock, The Fool (play), 1922.

Is he “Spoilers”? Possibly “OK”, he suggested. How do I teach my boys at Butte? Norman Macleod, The Bitter Roots was released in 1941.

Manny: She is laughing for now.
Jack: No, he laughs. Is there an impasse in today’s world? Jack and Manny exchange hostile glances.)
Moe (finally): Isn’t it nice that they laugh. For me, it’s a happy-type-of-thing. For me, it’s quite the good or bad. — Esquire, 1958, 58.

What are some tips on self help? — “One of those days,” Australia Women’s Weekly, 26 Nov. 1975. 143 in English. Read more at Oxford University.

Whether this form is more assertive than, say, a participle probably depends more on the appearance of the voice and tone of voice than grammatical format. How about stopping that right now and How about you stop that right now are marginally softer than the imperative, but the difference between the two how-abouts seems tiny to me.

A participle also explains why your sentence How about the speaker breaks sounds unidiomatic unless you’re suggesting a plot point in a sitcom. If you change the action to event: How about the speaker breaking, then all is well.

Present Sunjunctive

In its request/suggest mode, how about can also trigger the present subjunctive. Given that verbs such as ask, propose, request, recommend, or suggest traditionally require verb form, it’s hardly surprising that a what about clause could do the same. It would be highly unusual to call any clause with a verb in the present subjunctive independent. This is a standard case for a verb which is not called “subjunctive independent.”

How about I be a maiden in distress and you rescue me? Don Del Grande, Life of Monty 38, 6 Feb. 1984.

Someone posted a whisper, which reads ” How about they be courteous and not loud!!! ” ” — Whisper. ”

Stanton was brought here a finishing piece in the champion race. Would Trump really be a part of simply getting the Yankees the wild card game against the Dodgers? Joel Sherman, “Giancsrlo Stanton is Risking the Wrath Once Saved for A-Rod,”New York Post, 28 Sept. 2018.

Felix has the truck all warmed up, so how about he take you to get your things first and then bring you to your new home first? Avalee’s Gift, 2017. — Linda Apple, Avalee’s Gift, 2017.

She is a prophet, and sinead O’Connor. She is irreplaceable. How can she be herself? — Highline Ballroom, 23 Feb. 2012.

What is the correct way to exercise human rights when it is not in the power of law to pay if you want to live a happy and healthy life? —Twitter

“Quotative” how about

When a how about clause suggests a point of view rather than a request or suggestion, then it can function much like as a quotative. Other writers mark this use with punctuation, while some simply plough through. Is it possible for a sentence in the usage of “those are differences because of a particular Sith-Jesus

specific action” in this usage? Why are Sith bad.? IGN Boards, 8 Mar. 2011. 2009

How about, they are fun and exciting? How about, the satisfaction that comes from mastering that vehicle, becoming an excellent driver, learning about the mechanics of it? Is a car coming to a city? Could Jim Nash

just tell me something? — Pat Tucker, All About Him, 2017, 91.

How do they call it a small business? Money Saving Expert, 16 Sept. 2014.

How’s about

An earlier question on this website notes that the Dictionary of American Slang dates even more informal how’s about to circa 1925. It is obviously too late for it to be an alternative abbreviation of how is it about, and it is highly unlikely that it derives from the Irish greeting _how’s about ye, which abbreviates itself as..

In Head-Driven Phrase Structure Grammar (1994), Carl Pollard and Ivan A. Sag suggest that in contrast to how about, how’s may only be used to make requests (www.puppetmation.com)

The extra s was popular in the 1930s and 40s. This is not saying they were not popular a minute or two earlier. The Library of Congress copyright catalogue for musical compositions includes this tune from 1933 :

How’s about it; with ukulele arr. Apr. How is the English pub, e pub., 23 November 1933? 36069; Schellman Clay & Co. 7778

How’s About It is also the title of a 1941 movie starring the Andrews Sisters, Buddy Rich, and Shemp Howard, one of the original Three Stooges. What are the names of some of the Ukuleles that have been made in the last 400 years?

A three-hour self-help course from the Better-Speech Institute of America has this example of boorish behavior.

How come it would never hurt to get into a buying agent today? You could write a research paper titled “Personal Development: A Practical Self-Teaching Course, 1939. ”

Added additional s means meaningless, the spelling an analog of how’s, abbreviation of how is/has. What are some examples of slang bebes?

The

use of how about as an alternative to what about has changed from the now obsolete how is it about. But how about was historically a truncated form of what about. In Britain and America, how about appeared almost simutaneously in the mid – to late 1820s. With words or expression only limited to the spoken language, court records and other recorded speech are the only means of knowing of their existence. Possibly this spontaneous appearance tells us more about the maturity of the early 19th c. Press to record the speech of common people than the age of how about.

Though still with a great deal of semantic overlap, if native speakers want a stronger contrast in the sense of “wait, you aren’t considering this” or “what about this you don’t want to talk about” native speakers tend to use what about. If those early 19th c. it still existed. When hecklers would call it like they’re rioting, “What about the 20 million?” or “What about the 20 million” than the original where.

Beginning with simple noun phrases, how about began to head participial phrases with subjects, clauses with a present subjunctive verb, and in its “quotative” function, an independent clause. It can soften imperatives and include all three persons in singular or plural. How do I politely offer someone new something to eat?

How about is most remarkable feature of the present subjunctive, not in terms of its meaning — I suggest, request, propose this or that — but because how about is an interrogative, not a verb. According to a search I could find no corresponding constructions using What about. Despite broad similarities in use, I could find no corresponding constructions using what about. What makes How about unique in present day English?