How (What) is he like?

Use "What is [person/thing] like?" for descriptions (personality, appearance, format). Use "How is [person/thing]?" for condition, progress, or the way something happens.

Below: a one-line memory trick, a tight rule, many paired wrong/right examples, and ready-to-use rewrites so you can fix mixed-up questions fast.

Quick answer

Ask "What is X like?" for a portrait or description. Ask "How is X?" for status, health, progress, or method.

"What is he like?" → description: friendly, quiet, detail-oriented.
"How is he?" or "How is he doing?" → state: recovering, upset, on schedule.
When you mean "in what way" or "by what method," use "How": "How do you solve this?"

Core explanation - one clear rule

If the natural reply would start with an adjective or example, use "What ... like?" If the reply begins with a verb, adverb, or clause (reporting status or process), use "How ...?"

"What is X like?" = asks for a picture: personality, looks, format, tastes.
"How is X?" = asks for a report: health, mood, progress, difficulty, or method.

Wrong: How is he like?
Right: What is he like?
Wrong: How is the exam like? (meant difficulty)
Right: How was the exam? (difficulty) / What is the exam format like? (format)

Memory trick - one line to recall fast

"What paints; How reports." If you want a picture, choose "What ... like?" If you want a report or process, choose "How ...?"

Picture → What = description (What is she like?).
Report/Process → How = status or method (How is she doing? How did you do it?).

Examples: paired wrong/right sentences (work, school, casual)

Each wrong sentence is followed by the natural correction and a brief note when needed.

Work - Wrong: How is the new manager like?
Work - Right: What is the new manager like?
Work - Wrong: How is the client like?
Work - Right: What is the client like?
Work - Wrong: How is the report?
Work - Right: How is the report coming along? / What does the report cover?
School - Wrong: How is your chemistry teacher like?
School - Right: What is your chemistry teacher like?
School - Wrong: How is your class like?
School - Right: What is your class like?
School - Wrong: How is the exam like?
School - Right: What is the exam like? (format) / How was the exam? (difficulty)
Casual - Wrong: How is he like as a friend?
Casual - Right: What is he like as a friend?
Casual - Wrong: How was your roommate like?
Casual - Right: What was your roommate like?
Casual - Wrong: How is she like-does she like dogs?
Casual - Right: What is she like-does she like dogs?
Extra - Wrong: How is the job like? (asking for duties)
Extra - Right: What is the job like? / How is the job going?
Extra - Wrong: How is the movie like? (asking for a review)
Extra - Right: What is the movie like? / How was the movie?

Rewrite help - templates and ready-to-use rewrites

Pick the template that matches the info you want. Paste these rewrites into chat, email, or speech.

Templates: "What is [X] like?" (description). "How is [X] doing?" (status). "How do you [verb]?" (method).

Wrong: How is the new teammate like? I need to know if they fit the team.
Rewrite: What is the new teammate like? I'd like to know whether they'll fit the team.
Wrong: What is she doing? How is she like as a teacher?
Rewrite: How is she doing? And what is she like as a teacher?
Wrong: How is the candidate like? Tell me the personality.
Rewrite: What is the candidate like? Tell me about their personality.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence, not just the phrase. Context usually makes the correct choice obvious.

Real usage and tone - formal, neutral, casual choices

"What is he like?" is neutral and open-good for interviews and introductions. "How is he?" is more intimate and focuses on well-being; in formal settings prefer "How is he doing?" or "How is his progress?"

Formal/work: "What is she like as a manager?" or "How is the project progressing?"
Casual: "What's he like?" for personality; "How is he?" for quick status.
Sensitive situations: prefer "How is he doing?" rather than the clipped "How is he?"

Grammar checklist - 5 quick edits to fix your question

Run these five edits in order. Each step points to a concrete fix.

1) Identify the information you want: description (adjectives) or status/method (verb/adverb/clause)?
2) If description → use "What is [X] like?"
3) If status/progress/health → use "How is [X]?" or "How is [X] doing?"
4) If you mean method → use "How do/does [subject] [verb]?"
5) Check the expected answer form: adjective → "What"; verb/adverb/clause → "How".

Example: Original: How is John like? → Do you want adjectives? Yes → Fix: What is John like?
Example: Original: What is the assignment like? → If you mean format/content, keep it; if you mean progress, ask "How is the assignment going?"

Spacing, punctuation and hyphenation (small but important)

Small formatting details keep questions clear in writing.

End direct questions with a question mark: "What is he like?"
Use a comma before short follow-ups: "What is he like, and would he fit our team?"
Contractions are fine in casual writing: "What's he like?" Hyphenation isn't used in these questions-don't write "what-is-he-like".

Wrong: What is he like
Right: What is he like?
Wrong: How is he like, would he fit?
Right: What is he like, and would he fit?

Similar mistakes to watch for

Match the question word to the answer type: quantity = how many, choice = which, type = what kind of.

"How many" = quantity (How many students are in the class?).
"Which" = choose among options (Which candidate do you prefer?).
"What kind of" = category/type (What kind of music do you like?).

Wrong: How many is he like?
Right: What is he like?
Wrong: Which book is he like?
Right: Which book is he reading? / What is the book like?

FAQ

Can I ever say "How is he like?"

No. "How is he like?" is nonstandard. Use "What is he like?" for descriptions and "How is he?" or "How is he doing?" for status.

When should I use "How is he doing?" instead of "How is he?"

"How is he doing?" is softer and a bit more conversational-good for general well-being or progress. "How is he?" is shorter and often used in immediate concern or informal speech.

Is "What is he like" only for people?

No. Use "What is it like?" or "What is the [thing] like?" for places, jobs, events, or objects (e.g., "What is Paris like in spring?").

How do I ask about difficulty vs format for exams?

Ask "What is the exam like?" for format or content. Ask "How was the exam?" or "How difficult was the exam?" for reactions and difficulty.

I already sent an email with "How is he like" - how should I correct it?

Send a short correction: "Sorry - I meant: What is he like?" if you meant description, or "Sorry - I meant: How is he doing?" if you meant status. No long apology needed.

Still unsure? Check one sentence quickly

Use the memory trick ("What paints; How reports") and test the whole sentence with the widget above. Fixing the question before you send it avoids confusion and awkward follow-ups.