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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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how's it going man

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"You have to be friendly and say something like, 'How's it going man?

News & Media

The New York Times

As Rodriguez casually chatted with a bystander hours before the Yankees' 8-1 loss to the White Sox, Derek Jeter walked past and said, "How's it going, man?" as if it were any other day.

Freddy responded to each of them with a wave or a "Yo!" or a genuine-sounding "How's it going, man?" He was smiling, a little preoccupied, as he walked along.

News & Media

The New Yorker

But then after a couple of the rehearsals, somebody must have told him, and by the time we got to the actual event on the opening night his flu had cleared up, and he was giving me high-fives and asking me, "How's it going, man?" So the ambient-grime crossover opus cannot be far off?

(Sorry!). Kelly also received a special message from Tonight Show guest Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "how's it going, man?" and a prompt to tweet her back.

News & Media

Los Angeles Times

The video depicted a man, whose clothes and voice matched Barrett's, walking toward an elderly black man and saying "How's it going, man?" After that, there was a "loud smack" and the victim fell to the ground.

News & Media

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It's kinda like that club you go to, get invited to once a year if you're lucky enough, you see those faces and you go, "Hey, man, how's it going?" It's different though, because it's a competition too.

News & Media

Los Angeles Times

"How's it going, boss?" said the man, who was Robin Williams.

News & Media

The New York Times

Yay, man! How's it going over there?

On our way out, he accosted his doorman, his concierge, and various people entering the building by cocking his head and calling out "Yo! My man! " "How's it going, Freddy?" his doorman asked.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Tom Odell: I'm good, man, how's it going?

News & Media

Huffington Post
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Include a comma before 'man' in formal writing contexts (e.g., 'How's it going, man?') to follow standard punctuation rules for vocative address

Common error

Using "how's it going man" when addressing a superior or in a formal business setting can be perceived as overly familiar or disrespectful. In these cases, opt for "how are you" or "how are things" to maintain a professional distance.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

93%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "how's it going man" is that of a phatic expression, a greeting intended to establish or maintain social rapport rather than to exchange specific information. As observed in Ludwig, it consists of an interrogative phrase followed by a vocative noun.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Informal Dialogue

20%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "how's it going man" is a staple of informal English, widely used to foster social connection. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and highly effective in casual settings. While it appears in authoritative sources like The New Yorker and The New York Times, its use is strictly confined to informal registers. Writers should be mindful of the vocative 'man', which adds a layer of familiarity that might be inappropriate in professional contexts. For a more versatile alternative, one might use "how is everything going". Ultimately, this phrase is a perfect choice for maintaining a friendly, unpretentious tone in dialogue and personal communication.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "how's it going man"?

Yes, it is a grammatically correct informal greeting. While the query is often written without a comma in casual texts, the standard punctuation is "how's it going, man".

Can I use "how's it going man" in an email?

You should only use it in very informal emails to people you know well. For more formal correspondence, consider using "how are you doing" or simply "hello".

What is the difference between "how's it going man" and "what's up"?

Both are informal greetings, but "how's it going man" is an inquiry into one's current state, whereas "what's up" is often used as a simple acknowledgement or a way to ask what is currently happening.

Is "how's it going man" only for men?

Traditionally, 'man' is a masculine vocative, but in modern colloquial English, it is often used as a gender-neutral filler. However, to be safe, you might use "how's it going" without the vocative when addressing a woman.

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Source & Trust

93%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: