Eat what tonight? (correct English?)

[ashely_1010]

[h=3]Hello everyone![/h]
I received a text from my mother today, saying “Eat what Tonight?”. That got me thinking.
I thought it wasn’t good English, even for texting, I thought we should say “What should we tonight?” or something like that whenever we were starting a (text) conversation.

But I thought maybe we could you it as a follow up, but is it still rude?
Like,
A: We should eat out tonight.
Me: Eat what?

I think that’s quite rude and it suggests I don’t quite want to eat out or maybe even eat.

What do you think?
Thanks!

 

[5jj]

The only guide to acceptability in texts is whether the recipient understands the message the sender wants to convey. There are absolutely no 'rules' about what we should say.

A: We should eat out tonight.
Me: Eat what?

I think that’s quite rude and it suggests I don’t quite want to eat out or maybe even eat.

The response may come across as a little terse, but it's not rude.

 

[SoothingDave]

"Where?" is a more logical follow up question, if you are trying to make plans to eat out.

Or "where do you want to go?"

Or "what do you feel like having?"

 

[ashely_1010]

What about if I want know ask my mom what we should eat tonight, can I just say "Eat what tonight?"? I don't think so. :roll:
I understand there's no rule in texting, but would you text that?

Thanks for the suggestions. I thought "Eat what" wasn't good. Did you think so too? Is it not grammatical??

 

[SoothingDave]

What about if I want know ask my mom what we should eat tonight, can I just say "Eat what tonight?"? I don't think so. :roll:
I understand there's no rule in texting, but would you text that?

Thanks for the suggestions. I thought "Eat what" wasn't good. Did you think so too? Is it not grammatical??

Say "what are we going to eat tonight?"

 

[5jj]

What about if I want know ask my mom what we should eat tonight, can I just say "Eat what tonight?"? I don't think so. :roll:

One can, and I imagine some people do.

I understand there's no rule in texting, but would you text that?

No, I wouldn't, but that was not the question.

I thought "Eat what" wasn't good. Did you think so too? Is it not grammatical??

I have already said that there are no rules about the language of texting. It's not a question of whether the words are 'good' or 'grammatical', - but whether they are easily understood by the recipient.

 

[ashely_1010]

One can, and I imagine some people do.

How do you mean by some people? Do you mean native English speakers?
I guessing if English speakers do say that, they mainly say that in informal conversations?

 

[Tdol]

What about if I want know ask my mom what we should eat tonight, can I just say "Eat what tonight?"? I don't think so. :roll:
I understand there's no rule in texting, but would you text that?

I wouldn't- I normally text in ordinary language. However, it's OK as a text message, as is wot 4 dinner 2nite?

 

[5jj]

How do you mean by some people? Do you mean native English speakers?
I guessing if English speakers do say that, they mainly say that in informal conversations?

Yes, I mean native speakers of English in informal conversations.