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If I wanted to know the opinions of people about the quality of service in the context of hotels/banks/restaurants, what should I use: "think of" or "think about"?

According to my Google search:

What do you think about the service?

is more common than:

What do you think of the service?

At first I thought "think of" is more fitting because that is how I used to ask about people's opinions, but now I am not sure anymore!

Does it matter when you ask people about the service in general, and when you ask them about an instance of the service, I mean, a particular occasion?

Have a look at "think of sth/sb" from Cambridge's Dictionary

to have a good opinion of someone or something:

She thinks very highly of her boss.

This one is related too think of/about sb/sth

learner
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  • It could be a duplicate, but I have already checked J.R.'s answer and could relate the point here. I have read a couple of posts on the Web, and then said it is better to get a specific answer. – learner Nov 09 '14 at 23:55
  • Tough break; I missed "not" in "and could not relate the point here" in my comment above. – learner Nov 15 '14 at 13:59

1 Answers1

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Either are acceptable. I am not familiar with any difference between think of and think about, either in their formal meanings, or in their contextual or regional usage.

I would use think of, but that's merely personal preference.

Does it matter when you ask people about the service in general, and when you ask them about an instance of the service, I mean, a particular occasion?

If you want to get in the nuances of this, you should be more specific in your question, e.g.:

What do you think of the service you have received the last time you stayed at The Glitz-Glamorton Hotel?

vs.

What do you think of the service you have received during your stays at The Glitz-Glamorton Hotel?

Be aware that survey responses (whether you are conducting a formal survey or just asking someone informally of their opinion) are highly influenced by the form of the question. If you want the response to be open-ended, think of or think about are probably good phrases to use. If you are looking for a specific aspect, mention that in your question, and use another phrase besides think of or think about:

How would you rate the service you have received the last time you stayed at The Glitz-Glamorton Hotel?

Were you satisfied with your recent stay at The Glitz-Glamorton Hotel?

Did the staff at The Glitz-Glamorton Hotel meet your needs during your recent stay?

Was the staff at The Glitz-Glamorton Hotel courteous and friendly during your recent stay?

Based on your recent stay at The Glitz-Glamorton Hotel, is there anything you would recommend we try to improve?

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