If you’ve heard the phrase “you as well” before, you may not have understood what it means or why people say it.
In this post, we will discuss the meaning of the phrase “you as well”, and provide examples of how to use it.
What Does “You As Well” Mean?
The phrase “you as well” is a way to reciprocate a sentiment that is directed towards you. For instance, if someone wished you good luck, you could say “to you as well” as a way to wish them good luck back. This is the main way the phrase is used.
Think of “you as well” as a blanket phrase that can be used to reciprocate pretty much any sentiment someone directs at you. Someone might wish you good luck. They may say that you’re a sight for sore eyes. Or maybe they say that they hope you step on a rusty nail.
In any of these situations, instead of having to say anything particular back to them, you could just say “and you as well” or “to you as well”. It covers any sentiment that someone wished upon you, and lets them know that you wish it back on them. It’s pretty much just another way of saying “you too”.
That said, it’s a bit more on the formal and archaic side. Nowadays, if you wanted to reciprocate someone’s sentiment back at them, you would likely say “you too” instead. This is much more casual and common in modern English and wouldn’t sound as odd.
For instance, take this example of “you as well” in a sentence:
- Dan: Good luck on your exam, Ken.
- Ken: Thanks, you as well, Dan.
There’s nothing wrong with this exchange, grammatically. But most people would agree that “you too, Dan” sounds much more natural and modern. Still, you can use “you as well” if you want. Just don’t be surprised if people look at you funny for it.
Is It Correct to Say “You As Well?”
Yes, “you as well” is a grammatically correct phrase. It’s just a formal one that doesn’t get used very often today. But, old-fashioned or not, it is grammatically correct. It’s just an older, less casual way to say “you too”. “You as well” is itself just another way to say “and the same to you”.
It is correct to say “you as well” anytime you wish to reciprocate a sentiment to someone, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be a positive sentiment (though admittedly, it would be odd to say “you as well” in response to ill wishes).
Simply think of any situation where you would say “you too” in a sentence. Because “you too” is another way to say “you as well”, the two are interchangeable. Any sentence in which you say “you too”, it would also be appropriate to say “you as well” in its place.
The only difference between these two synonymous phrases is their level of formality. “You as well” is much more old-fashioned and likely to get you a few weird looks if you use it. “You too” means the exact same thing, but is much more common in modern English, and no one would bat an eye.
Other Ways to Say “You As Well”
Other ways to say “you as well” are “you too, same to you”, and “and to you”. All of these phrases are ways to reciprocate any wishes or sentiments that are directed at you. It’s worth noting that most of these are considered old-fashioned, and most everyone would rely on a simple “you too”, today.
However, none of these other alternatives that we will be discussing are wrong. They are simply not the most common synonyms in modern English.
1. You Too
The simplest alternative to “you as well” is “you too”. This is also the most common synonym and what most people say when trying to reciprocate a sentiment offered by someone else. You can replace “you as well” with “you too” in practically any sentence and you’ll still get the same meaning.
- Grif: Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow. Have a good evening.
- Simmons: Yeah, you too.
- Tucker: I had a good day today. Be careful going home.
- Peter: You too. See you later.
2. Same to You
“Same to you” is another way to say “you as well”. It’s not really particularly formal or informal, so it can be used in almost any situation. However, it’s a bit outdated, and would probably be considered a little odd to use these days. Still, it’s proper and grammatically correct if you want to use it.
- Tristan: Good luck on your test, Vanessa.
- Vanessa: Thanks. Same to you.
- Wendy: It was good to see you again.
- Lisa: Same to you, Wendy.
3. And to You
“And to you” is definitely a bit archaic, and it would be considered very formal today. However, it is a straight synonym to “you as well”. You could use “and to you” in any of the same situations or sentences and get the same meaning.
- Joey: Good morning to you, Nate.
- Nate: And to you, Joey.
- Sam: Best of luck in our competition, Kelly.
- Kelly: And to you. Although, I have every intent to win.
4. Back at You
“Back at you” is very casual and shouldn’t be used in formal settings, but it is an easy synonym for “you as well”. You can say it to anyone who has directed a sentiment at you to imply that you direct the same sentiment at them. Most everyone will know what you mean.
- Oh, you don’t like me? Well, back at you, buddy!
- Someone told me “have a nice day” at the store, and all I said in return was “back at you”.
5. Likewise
“Likewise” is a very simple synonym that means “in the manner”. When you say this word, it is as a form of reciprocation. Basically, someone says something to you, and if you don’t want to say the entire thing back to them, you can just say “likewise” to get the same meaning.
It can fit in many contexts and sentence structures, making it one of the best synonyms for “you as well”.
- Vivian: It was a pleasure meeting you, Drake.
- Drake: Likewise, Vivian.
- Alex: I feel that we’re very good friends.
- Clyde: Likewise. I hope we always are.
6. The Feeling is Mutual
“The feeling is mutual” is a more extensive way to tell someone that you feel the same way they do. While not limited to this one use, this phrase can substitute for “you as well”, since it implies reciprocation of a sentiment. It might be seen as too formal or wordy for some.
- Charlotte: I hope this isn’t too awkward to hear, but I really like you a lot.
- Ryan: Don’t be nervous, the feeling is mutual.
- Cecilia: Is it just me, or does this movie stink?
- Caleb: No, the feeling is mutual.
7. I Wish You the Same
“I wish you the same” is a very formal and outdated way of saying “you as well”. It is still correct, but it’s very wordy and there are just much simpler ways to say the same thing. Still, if you want to use it, there’s no rule saying you can’t or that you would be wrong.
- Janice: I hope you have a good day, sir.
- Rupert: I wish you the same, ma’am.
- Raphael: I hope your art exhibit goes well, Leonardo.
- Leonardo: I wish you the same, my friend.
8. Ditto
“Ditto” is an extremely casual and informal way of saying “you as well”. “Ditto” literally just means “the same”. If someone says something to you, and you say “ditto”, you are saying, “the same thing you just said”. It should never be used in formal situations but is fine for informal ones.
- Grant: I feel like we haven’t talked I ages, Karen.
- Karen: Ditto, man.
- Hector: Have a good weekend, alright?
- Lyn: Ditto, Professor.