For English learners, the specific pair of phrases can create confusion because “What It Looks Like” vs. “How It Looks” may sound similar at first. In daily conversation, movies, social media, and other forms of communication, people often mix up these expressions and connect them with the same meaning. However, the difference becomes clearer when you understand the grammar and context. What it looks like is the correct phrase when you ask about appearance, while how it looks like is incorrect in standard English. Native speakers commonly use how it looks as a natural expression. From my teaching experience, I notice that learners often struggle with this tricky question because both phrases appear similar in meaning. A single misused word can make a sentence sound awkward, especially in writing, speaking, workplace emails, school assignments, and ESL conversations.
The easiest way to break this idea down is to examine structure, meaning, and usage. What can introduce a noun clause, as in “Tell me what it looks like,” when someone wants a description of an appearance or object. In contrast, how it looks asks about the way something appears. Adding like after how creates the common mistake “how it looks like.” This rule may seem tricky at first glance, but examples, memory tricks, and practical exercises can help you master it. Think of what it looks like as a request for a description, while how it looks focuses on the overall appearance or manner. This distinction can make your English language more natural, clear, and confident. Another language may influence this mistake when you are directly translating, so attention to context and grammar structure can help.
In real world use, the expression appears in casual conversations, spoken English, TV shows, learning forums, posts, and formal situations. Many people who are searching for “What It Looks Like vs. How It Looks Like” want a clear explanation because these phrases are often used interchangeably without thought. That common slip can create a world difference in meaning, even though the words may sound almost same. Intermediate and advanced learners can improve faster when they review real examples, practice the correct phrase, and see how sentence structure combines with meaning. For example, “Can you describe what it looks like?” focuses on describing appearances, describing appearance, describing things in English, and describing objects with clear characteristics.
Let’s dive in!
Quick Answer:
The simplest distinction is this:
- What it looks like usually asks for a description of appearance.
- How it looks usually asks about the quality, condition, impression, or overall appearance.
- How it looks like is not the standard English combination. Use how it looks or what it looks like instead.
| Expression | Typical focus | Example |
| What it looks like | Description or visual characteristics | “Can you describe what it looks like?” |
| How it looks | Impression, condition, quality, or evaluation | “Do you like how it looks?” |
| What does it look like? | Direct request for a description | “What does the new house look like?” |
| How does it look? | Direct request for an assessment or impression | “How does my new haircut look?” |
| How it looks like | Nonstandard construction | ❌ “I don’t know how it looks like.” |
A useful shortcut is:
WHAT → description
HOW → appearance or impression
That isn’t an absolute rule for every possible context. The meanings can overlap, especially when you’re talking about abstract subjects. Still, it’s an excellent practical guide for everyday English.
What Does “What It Looks Like” Mean?
“What it looks like” refers to the appearance or visual characteristics of something.
You use it when the listener needs to know what something is visually like. The answer might include its color, shape, size, design, texture, features, or resemblance to something else.
For example:
- “I don’t know what the new restaurant looks like.”
- “Can you show me what it looks like?”
- “She described what the apartment looks like.”
- “Do you remember what his car looks like?”
In each example, the speaker wants information about appearance.
The Grammar Behind “What It Looks Like”
The structure becomes clearer when you look at a direct question first:
What does it look like?
This question asks for information that can function as the object of look like.
For example:
“What does the animal look like?”
Possible answer:
“It looks like a large black dog with a white patch on its chest.”
The word what stands in for the thing being described. That’s why “what it looks like” works naturally in an embedded or indirect question.
Consider:
“I don’t know what it looks like.”
The entire clause “what it looks like” functions as the information that the speaker doesn’t know.
This pattern is standard English. (English Language & Usage Stack Exchange)
Examples of “What It Looks Like”
The expression appears naturally in many situations.
Describing a Person
If someone hasn’t met a person, you might ask:
“What does your new manager look like?”
The expected answer could include physical characteristics:
“He’s tall, has dark hair, and usually wears glasses.”
You’re asking for a visual description, not necessarily an opinion about the person’s attractiveness.
Describing an Object
Suppose someone needs to identify a missing package.
You might ask:
“What does the package look like?”
A useful answer could be:
“It’s a small brown box with a blue label on the front.”
Again, the speaker needs descriptive information.
Describing a Place
Imagine you’re meeting someone at a large shopping center.
You might say:
“What does the café look like?”
The answer could identify the location:
“It’s a small white building with large glass windows.”
Here, what it looks like helps someone recognize the place.
Describing a Design
You might also use the expression when discussing digital products:
“Can you show me what the new website looks like?”
The person probably wants to see the layout, colors, menus, images, and overall design.
What Does “How It Looks” Mean?
“How it looks” focuses on the way something appears rather than necessarily asking for a detailed description.
Depending on context, it can refer to:
- Overall appearance
- Visual impression
- Condition
- Quality
- Attractiveness
- Suitability
- Result
- The way something appears from a particular angle
For example:
“I really like how it looks.”
That sentence doesn’t normally ask you to describe every visual detail. Instead, it expresses a reaction to the appearance.
Likewise:
“Let’s see how it looks on the wall.”
Here, the speaker wants to see the result after placing something on the wall.
The meaning depends heavily on context.
Examples of “How It Looks”
Asking About a General Impression
Imagine someone has just finished decorating a room.
You might ask:
“How does it look?”
The answer could be:
“It looks great.”
Or:
“It looks a little crowded.”
The response gives an assessment, not a detailed inventory of furniture.
Asking About Condition
Consider a car that has just returned from a repair shop.
“How does the car look?”
A possible answer:
“It looks much better now.”
The question concerns the car’s current visual condition.
Asking About a Result
Suppose you’ve redesigned a website.
“Let’s see how it looks on a phone.”
Here, how it looks refers to the resulting appearance when viewed on a particular device.
The question isn’t necessarily asking for a description such as “It has three buttons and a blue header.” It focuses on the overall visual result.
“What It Looks Like” vs. “How It Looks” Side by Side
The difference becomes much easier when you place similar examples next to each other.
| “What It Looks Like” | “How It Looks” |
| “What does the dress look like?” | “How does the dress look?” |
| Usually invites a description | Often invites an assessment |
| “It has long sleeves and a floral pattern.” | “It looks beautiful.” |
| Focuses on visual characteristics | Focuses on impression or quality |
| “What does the house look like?” | “How does the house look now?” |
| “It’s a two-story brick house.” | “It looks much better after the renovation.” |
The distinction isn’t carved in stone. Native speakers can use the expressions with overlapping meanings.
Still, the expected answer often reveals the difference.
If the question asks what, the listener may describe the thing.
If the question asks how, the listener may evaluate or characterize its appearance.
“What Does It Look Like?” vs. “How Does It Look?”
These are the direct-question versions of the two expressions.
“What Does It Look Like?”
Use this when you want a description.
“What does your new apartment look like?”
A natural response:
“It’s on the third floor. It has two bedrooms, large windows, and a small balcony.”
“How Does It Look?”
Use this when you want to know about the appearance or impression.
“How does your new apartment look?”
A natural response:
“It looks fantastic.”
You could also say:
“It looks spacious and modern.”
The distinction is especially noticeable with clothes, hairstyles, decorations, and finished projects. Grammar references and usage discussions commonly describe “what does it look like?” as a request for description and “how does it look?” as a request for an assessment or general impression.
“What It Looks Like” vs. “How It Looks” in Indirect Questions
This is where many English learners get tripped up.
Direct questions use normal English question word order:
- What does it look like?
- How does it look?
But indirect questions don’t use that inverted structure.
Compare:
“What does it look like?”
with:
“I don’t know what it looks like.”
And:
“How does it look?”
with:
“I don’t know how it looks.”
Notice what happens.
| Direct question | Indirect question |
| What does it look like? | I know what it looks like. |
| How does it look? | I know how it looks. |
The indirect question keeps the normal subject-verb order.
That’s why this sentence is correct:
“Can you tell me what it looks like?”
But this sentence is not standard:
❌ “Can you tell me what does it look like?”
The second version incorrectly carries direct-question word order into an indirect question.
Why “How It Looks Like” Is Incorrect
This is probably the most important grammar point in the entire comparison.
“How it looks like” combines two different structures that normally work separately.
You can say:
What it looks like
Or:
How it looks
But standard English doesn’t normally combine them as:
❌ How it looks like
The same problem appears in direct questions:
❌ “How does it look like?”
Instead, use:
✅ “How does it look?”
Or:
✅ “What does it look like?”
Usage discussions consistently identify “how it looks like” and “how does it look like?” as nonstandard constructions in this context.
The Two Correct Patterns
Think of these as two separate grammatical patterns:
Look + adjective
“It looks beautiful.”
Question:
“How does it look?”
Look like + noun or noun phrase
“It looks like a castle.”
Question:
“What does it look like?”
That difference gives you a reliable way to avoid the common mistake.
“Looks Like” vs. “Looks”
The word like changes the grammatical pattern.
“Look” + Adjective
Use look when an adjective describes the appearance or condition.
Examples:
- “You look tired.”
- “The room looks clean.”
- “The painting looks beautiful.”
- “The website looks professional.”
- “The food looks delicious.”
The adjective tells us how something appears.
“Look Like” + Noun or Noun Phrase
Use look like when you compare something with another person, object, or category.
Examples:
- “It looks like a house.”
- “She looks like her sister.”
- “That cloud looks like a dragon.”
- “The building looks like a castle.”
- “This sounds like a good idea.”
In the last example, like isn’t about physical appearance because sounds like describes similarity.
The same grammatical idea applies to looks like.
Read More: Maximal vs. Maximum: What’s the Difference? 2026
“What It Looks Like” vs. “How It Looks” in Real-Life Situations
The distinction becomes much clearer when you see both expressions in realistic conversations.
Talking About a New Outfit
Suppose your friend bought an outfit you’ve never seen.
You ask:
“What does your new outfit look like?”
Your friend might answer:
“It’s a black jacket with silver buttons and dark blue jeans.”
Now suppose your friend is already wearing it.
You might ask:
“How does the outfit look?”
Your friend could respond:
“I think it looks great.”
The first question naturally requests details. The second can invite an opinion or assessment.
Talking About a New House
If you’ve never seen the house:
“What does your new house look like?”
Possible response:
“It’s a two-story house with a red roof and a small front garden.”
If you’ve already seen pictures and want an opinion about the finished result:
“How does the house look after the renovation?”
Possible response:
“It looks much brighter and more modern.”
Talking About a Haircut
If someone tells you they got a haircut:
“What does your new haircut look like?”
This could invite a description.
However:
“How does your new haircut look?”
could invite an assessment.
A response such as:
“It looks really good.”
fits naturally with the second question.
Talking About a Website
If a designer tells you about a website you’ve never seen:
“What does the new website look like?”
You might expect details about the layout and design.
But if you’ve already seen it on a computer and want to know how it appears on a phone:
“How does it look on mobile?”
Now the focus is the visual result in a particular setting.
“That’s What It Looks Like” Meaning
The phrase “that’s what it looks like” identifies or describes an appearance.
For example:
“That’s what the building looks like from the outside.”
It means that the speaker is describing the building’s appearance.
You can also use it when explaining a result:
“That’s what it looks like after you remove the cover.”
Here, the phrase introduces the resulting appearance.
Another example:
“This is what it looks like when the screen is damaged.”
The phrase can therefore introduce a visual example, explanation, or description.
“That’s How It Looks” Meaning
“That’s how it looks” focuses more on the way something appears in a particular situation.
For example:
“That’s how it looks from this angle.”
The speaker isn’t necessarily identifying the object’s complete visual characteristics. They’re explaining its appearance from a specific viewpoint.
You might also say:
“That’s how it looks in the final version.”
Or:
“That’s how it looks in natural light.”
The expression works especially well when circumstances affect the appearance.
When “What It Looks Like” and “How It Looks” Can Overlap
English isn’t a collection of airtight boxes. Context can blur the distinction.
For example:
“Do you know what the restaurant looks like?”
and:
“Do you know how the restaurant looks?”
Both could lead to a discussion about its appearance.
However, the first version more naturally invites a description:
“It’s a small restaurant with a green door and outdoor seating.”
The second can sound more like a general assessment:
“It looks nice.”
This overlap becomes even stronger with abstract subjects.
Consider:
“What does your week look like?”
This can mean what your schedule contains.
A response might be:
“I’m free Monday and Wednesday but busy the rest of the week.”
Meanwhile:
“How does your week look?”
might also ask about the schedule or general situation.
Usage examples show that these expressions can overlap considerably when the subject isn’t a physical object.
Common Mistakes With “What It Looks Like” and “How It Looks”
Mistake: “How Does It Look Like?”
This is the classic error.
❌ “How does your new car look like?”
Use one of these:
✅ “What does your new car look like?”
or:
✅ “How does your new car look?”
The first asks for a description. The second can ask about the car’s appearance or condition.
Mistake: “I Don’t Know What Does It Look Like”
This incorrectly uses direct-question word order inside an indirect question.
❌ “I don’t know what does it look like.”
Correct:
✅ “I don’t know what it looks like.”
The same rule applies to other indirect questions:
❌ “Can you tell me where is the store?”
✅ “Can you tell me where the store is?”
Mistake: Assuming “How It Looks” Always Means “Is It Good?”
That’s too narrow.
“How it looks” can refer to quality or attractiveness, but it can also refer to appearance under particular conditions.
For example:
“Let’s see how it looks in daylight.”
This doesn’t necessarily ask whether it looks good. It asks about its appearance under daylight conditions.
Mistake: Thinking “What It Looks Like” Always Requires a Long Description
Not necessarily.
You can ask:
“What does it look like?”
and receive a short answer:
“It looks like a small bird.”
The expression invites descriptive information, but the response can be brief.
Case Study: Choosing the Right Expression
Imagine three friends are discussing a new café.
Situation A: Nobody has seen it.
Sarah asks:
“What does the café look like?”
She probably wants identifying details.
John answers:
“It’s a small white building with large windows and a wooden sign.”
Situation B: Everyone has seen the café.
Sarah asks:
“How does the café look after the renovation?”
Now she likely wants an assessment of the new appearance.
John answers:
“It looks much brighter and more welcoming.”
Situation C: Someone uses the common incorrect form.
Sarah says:
❌ “Do you know how the café looks like?”
The natural correction is:
✅ “Do you know what the café looks like?”
Or:
✅ “Do you know how the café looks?”
The correct choice depends on whether Sarah wants a description or an impression.
A Simple Decision Guide
When you’re unsure, ask yourself one question:
Do I want details about the appearance, or do I want an impression of it?
Use “What It Looks Like” When You Want:
- A physical description
- Visual characteristics
- Shape or size
- Color
- Design details
- Identifying features
- A comparison or resemblance
Examples:
“Tell me what the building looks like.”
“I can’t remember what she looks like.”
“Do you know what the new phone looks like?”
Use “How It Looks” When You Want:
- An overall impression
- An evaluation
- A reaction
- Information about condition
- The result of a visual change
- Appearance under a specific condition
Examples:
“I like how it looks.”
“How does the room look now?”
“Let’s see how it looks in natural light.”
“I’m not sure how it looks from the back.”
“What It Looks Like” vs. “How It Looks”: Example Table
| Sentence | Likely meaning |
| “What does the car look like?” | Describe the car |
| “How does the car look?” | Give an impression of its appearance |
| “I know what the car looks like.” | I know its visual characteristics |
| “I like how the car looks.” | I like its appearance |
| “Tell me what the room looks like.” | Describe the room |
| “Tell me how the room looks.” | Give an impression or assessment |
| “What does she look like?” | Describe her appearance |
| “How does she look?” | Describe or assess her current appearance or condition |
| “Let’s see how it looks.” | Check the visual result |
| “Show me what it looks like.” | Show or describe its appearance |
Notice that context remains important. English speakers don’t always draw a sharp semantic line between the two forms.
A Useful Memory Trick
Here’s an easy way to remember the distinction:
WHAT = What does it look like? → Describe it.
HOW = How does it look? → Assess or characterize it.
Think of what as asking for the picture and how as asking about the impression that picture creates.
For example:
What does the dress look like?
“It’s long, black, and covered with small silver patterns.”
How does the dress look?
“It looks elegant.”
That’s not a perfect rule for every sentence. Still, it will steer you toward natural English in most everyday situations.
FAQs:
Is “What It Looks Like” correct?
Yes, “what it looks like” is correct when you ask someone to describe the appearance of a person, object, place, or thing. For example, “Can you tell me what it looks like?”
Is “How It Looks Like” grammatically correct?
No. In standard English, “how it looks like” is generally considered incorrect. You should use “what it looks like” when asking for a description.
What is the difference between “What It Looks Like” and “How It Looks”?
“What it looks like” asks for a description of appearance. “How it looks” can ask about the appearance or impression of something. For example, “Tell me what it looks like” and “Tell me how it looks” are both natural.
Can I say “How It Looks”?
Yes. “How it looks” is grammatically correct. You can use it when commenting on or asking about the appearance of something. For example, “I like how it looks in this room.”
Why do people say “How It Looks Like”?
People may use “how it looks like” because “what it looks like” and “how it looks” have similar meanings. Speakers can sometimes combine the two structures and create an incorrect phrase.
How can I remember the correct phrase?
A simple memory trick is to connect what with a request for a description: “Tell me what it looks like.” If you use how, leave out like: “Tell me how it looks.”
Which phrase should English learners use?
Use “what it looks like” when you want someone to describe an appearance. Use “how it looks” when you are asking about or commenting on the way something appears.
Conclusion:
The difference between “what it looks like” and “how it looks” becomes much easier once you understand their sentence structures. “What it looks like” is the standard choice for asking about appearance, while “how it looks” works without like. Avoid “how it looks like” in standard English. With a little practice, you can recognize the correct structure quickly and use both expressions naturally in everyday speaking and writing.
1 thought on ““What It Looks Like” vs. “How It Looks”: Grammar, and Correct Usage for 2026”