How's it going?

USAGE SUMMARY

"How's it going?" is correct and usable in written English
It is a common informal greeting used in informal written English to ask someone how they are doing. For example, you might write in an email to a friend: "Hi Jen, How's it going? I hope all is well."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

How's it going, Roger?

The Guardian - Sport

"How's it going everybody?

The Guardian - Music

How's it going to happen?

Independent

How's it going, Mr. Williams?

The New York Times - Tech

How's it going, Mr. Blaine?

The New York Times

How's it going with your folks?

The New York Times

How's it going to work?

The Guardian

How's it going?

Duke University

How's it going you ask?

Duke University

How's it going today?

TechCrunch

How's it going so far?

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Recognize that this is often a phatic expression where a detailed answer is not expected unless followed by a specific follow-up question.

Common error

Avoid using this phrase in highly formal documents or academic papers where 'it' lacks a clear antecedent. In casual speech, 'it' refers to life in general, but in precise writing, it can be confusing if a specific project was just mentioned.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "How's it going?" serves as a phatic expression or an interrogative greeting. According to Ludwig AI, it is a common informal way to ask someone how they are doing. Grammatically, it uses a contraction of 'how is' and a dummy 'it' to represent the general state of affairs.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Informal & Wiki

15%

Academia (Blogs)

10%

Less common in

Science & Research

4%

Legal & Official

1%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "How's it going?" is a highly versatile and grammatically correct greeting that bridges the gap between casual speech and professional rapport building. Data from Ludwig shows it is ubiquitous in media and journalism, particularly in interviews and interactive columns. While it should be avoided in the most rigid formal contexts (like legal contracts or scientific abstracts), it remains a safe and friendly choice for almost all other forms of communication. It is less about a specific inquiry and more about maintaining social connections, making it a reliable tool for any English writer.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

How is it going?

The uncontracted version which is slightly more emphatic or formal

How are you?

Provides a more standard and universally appropriate level of formality

How are you doing?

A slightly more engaged version of the standard check-in

How goes it?

Offers a slightly more playful or casual rhythmic variation

How are things?

Focuses more on the general state of the person's life or environment

How's everything?

Functions as a broader check-in covering multiple aspects of life

How's life?

Moves the focus to a more personal and long-term context

What's up?

Significantly more casual and often functions as a simple 'hello'

How are you getting on?

Common in British English to ask about progress with a specific task

How's it hanging?

A very informal and colloquial slang variation used among close friends

FAQs

What can I say instead of "How's it going?"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "how are things", "how are you doing" or the more casual "what's up".

Is "How's it going?" considered formal?

No, it is generally considered informal or neutral. For a truly professional setting or a first-time introduction, "how are you" is the safer choice.

What is the difference between "How's it going?" and "How are you?"?

While "how are you" focuses directly on the person's state, How's it going? is broader, inquiring about the overall flow of their life or current situation.

How should I reply to "How's it going?"?

Standard polite responses include "it's going well", "not too bad" or simply "good thanks".