What All vs. Which All – Which is Correct?
Both expressions can be understood, but they are not equally natural in standard American English. “What all” means “everything that” or “all the things”; “which all” is mainly regional, especially Indian English, and is usually replaced by “which ones” or “which of these.” For writing, choose according to meaning.
Just as usage depends on context, Affect vs. Effect also requires distinguishing meaning before choosing the correct word.
What All or Which All – Which is Correct?
“What all” and “which all” are phrases used to ask about multiple items, people, actions, or details. However, they do not have the same level of acceptance in global English.
What all is an informal expression meaning “all the things that” or “everything that.” It is common in some varieties of American English and Indian English, especially in conversation. For example, “What all did you buy?” means “What things did you buy?”
Which all is common in Indian English, where it is used to ask someone to identify several items from a known group. In standard American and British English, speakers usually say which ones, which of these, or simply which instead. Therefore, “which all” is understandable but regional and less suitable for formal international writing.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use what when the possible answers are open or unspecified: “What all did you pack?” Use which when choosing from a known group: “Which of these did you pack?” If you want to sound natural in formal or international English, replace “what all” with “what things” or “everything that,” and replace “which all” with “which ones” or “which of these.”
| Word or Phrase | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| What all | Interrogative phrase | All the things or details involved | What all did you discuss at the meeting? |
| Which all | Interrogative phrase | Several choices from a known group; regional usage | Which all documents do we need? (Regional) |
How to Use What All
What all is an informal interrogative phrase. It asks for a complete list of things, activities, topics, or details. It often appears before a plural noun or at the beginning of a question. The phrase is especially common in conversational English and in certain regional varieties.
In formal American or British English, “what all” can sound unusual. Depending on the sentence, use what, which things, everything that, or all the things that instead.
Example 1: What all did you bring for the picnic?
Example 2: She explained what all the students needed to complete the assignment.
Example 3: Please tell me what all is included in the travel package.
Etymology of the Phrase What All
The phrase combines the interrogative word what with the quantifier all. Although “what” traditionally asks about an unspecified item or fact, “what all” broadens the question to include an entire set. This pattern developed naturally in several regional varieties of English and remains more common in speech than in formal edited writing.
How to Use Which All
Which all is used in some regional varieties of English, particularly Indian English, to ask about multiple selections from a known group. For example, “Which all chapters are included?” asks the listener to identify every chapter included from a larger, understood set.
In standard international English, the phrase is usually replaced with which chapters, which chapters in particular, which ones, or which of these chapters. “Which all” is not generally considered a spelling mistake, but it may sound nonstandard or regional to readers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
Example 1: Which all topics will be covered in the examination? (Regional usage)
Example 2: Which all cities are included in the tour? (Regional usage)
Example 3: Which of these cities are included in the tour? (Standard international alternative)
Etymology of the Phrase Which All
Which comes from Old English hwilc, meaning “which one” or “of what kind.” The addition of all emphasizes that the speaker wants multiple selections rather than a single choice. This extended construction is established in Indian English and other regional forms, although it is not preferred in most formal varieties of English.
Related Concepts
Understanding interrogative words, quantifiers, and regional varieties of English makes the distinction between these phrases easier to recognize.
- Interrogative words: Words such as what, which, who, where, and how introduce questions. “What” generally asks about an open set, while “which” usually asks someone to choose from a known or limited set.
- Quantifiers: Words such as all, many, some, and every describe quantity. In “what all,” all expands the question to cover the complete set.
- Regional English: English varies by country and community. A phrase may be perfectly clear and common in one variety while sounding unusual or informal in another.
- Formal and informal register: Conversational expressions are not always ideal for academic, business, or international writing. Choosing a more widely recognized alternative improves clarity.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples show how the phrases may appear in everyday media, regional writing, and edited English. “Which all” examples reflect regional usage rather than the preferred style of most international publications.
- Travel media: A conversational travel host might ask, “What all should we see during our weekend in the city?” A more widely edited version would be, “What should we see during our weekend in the city?”
- News interviews: A reporter may ask, “What all changes will the new policy introduce?” The question requests a complete list of changes.
- Regional workplace writing: An email may say, “Which all employees need to attend the training?” In standard international English, this is better written as, “Which employees need to attend the training?”
- Instructional writing: “What all materials are required?” can be revised to “What materials are required?” or “Which materials are required?”
- Dialogue in fiction: A writer may use “What all did you hear?” to reflect a character’s regional speech, even when the surrounding narrative uses more formal English.
Practice Exercises
Choose the more natural expression for the intended meaning. Use what all, which all, or a standard alternative such as which ones or which of these.
- _____ did you do during your vacation? (Ask for a complete list.)
- _____ of these files should I send to the editor? (Choose from a known group.)
- _____ topics are included in the examination? (Formal international English.)
- Tell me _____ you need from the store. (Ask for every required item.)
- _____ books on this shelf belong to the library? (Choose several from a specific shelf.)
Answer Key
- What all did you do during your vacation? In formal writing, use What did you do or What activities did you do.
- Which ones of these files should I send to the editor?
- Which topics are included in the examination?
- Tell me what all you need from the store. In formal writing, use everything you need.
- Which books on this shelf belong to the library?
What All Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| What | Asks about an unspecified thing, fact, or set of things. |
| What things | Clearly asks for multiple items or actions. |
| Everything that | Refers to the complete set of relevant things. |
| All the things that | A fully explicit alternative to “what all.” |
Which All Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Which | Asks someone to identify one or more choices from a known group. |
| Which ones | Refers to several identifiable choices. |
| Which of these | Asks for selections from a specifically indicated group. |
| Which items | A clear and formal alternative when several objects are involved. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “what all” grammatically correct?
“What all” is understandable and common in some regional varieties of English, including Indian English and certain American dialects. However, it is informal or regional, so “what,” “what things,” or “everything that” may be better in formal international writing.
Question 2: Is “which all” correct English?
“Which all” is established in Indian English and may be completely natural for speakers of that variety. In standard American and British English, use “which,” “which ones,” or “which of these” instead.
Question 3: Should I use “what all” or “which all” in a formal email?
Usually, use neither without considering the audience. Write “What information is required?” when the answer is open-ended, or “Which documents are required?” when choosing from a known group.
Question 4: What is the difference between “what” and “which”?
“What” generally asks about an open or unspecified range of possibilities. “Which” usually asks someone to select from a limited or previously identified group.
Question 5: Is “what all” the same as “what”?
They can have the same general meaning, but “what all” emphasizes a complete list. “What did you bring?” may request an answer about one or more items, while “What all did you bring?” strongly suggests that the speaker wants every item listed.
Conclusion
“What all” means all the things or details involved and is mainly informal or regional. “Which all” is especially associated with Indian English and should usually be replaced by “which,” “which ones,” or “which of these” in standard international writing. Pro tip: using widely recognized alternatives in professional communication helps prevent regional expressions from distracting readers or weakening your credibility.
