how do you do

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "How do you do?" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a common greeting used to express polite goodwill. For example, you might write in an email, "It is a pleasure to meet you. How do you do?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But how do you do?

The New Yorker

"Well, how do you do.

The New Yorker

How do you do, Nachman?

The New Yorker

'Hi, how do you do?

The Guardian - Books

How do you do something absolutely unique?

The New Yorker

MS. RADDATZ: How do you do that?

The New York Times

"How do you do?" MacDonald cheerily replied.

The Economist

"How do you do", said the visitor.

The New Yorker

How do you do that well?

The New York Times

So how do you do that?

The New York Times

How do you do that?" Q.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When someone greets you with "How do you do?", the appropriate response is usually to repeat the phrase: "How do you do?"

Common error

Avoid answering "How do you do?" with details about your well-being, as it is not a question about your health but rather a formal greeting. If someone really wants to know how you are, they'll ask "How are you?" or something similar. Therefore, answering to "How do you do?" with "I'm fine" is not grammatically wrong but unusual.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "How do you do?" functions primarily as a greeting. It's used when meeting someone for the first time or in formal situations. As Ludwig AI confirms, it expresses polite goodwill and doesn't require a detailed response regarding one's well-being.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "How do you do?" is a formal greeting, primarily used when meeting someone for the first time. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage as a polite expression of goodwill, as reinforced by numerous examples from news articles, and media, it's essential to note that the appropriate response is to repeat the phrase, rather than providing an answer about your well-being. While widely recognized, this greeting is most suitable for formal contexts. If you are looking for alternatives more proper for informal conversation, consider using phrases like "How are you?" or "What's up?". Keep in mind that using "How do you do?" in casual settings can come across as overly formal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

How are you?

A more common and less formal way of asking about someone's well-being.

How's it going?

A casual greeting, similar in meaning to "How are you?" but more informal.

How have you been?

Asks about someone's well-being over a period of time since the last meeting.

What's up?

A very informal greeting, often used among friends.

Nice to meet you

Similar to "Pleased to meet you", but slightly less formal.

Pleased to meet you

An alternative to "How do you do?" when being introduced to someone.

What's new?

Inquires about recent happenings in someone's life.

Good to see you

Used when greeting someone you already know.

How do you fare?

A more formal and archaic way of asking how someone is doing.

Greetings

A simple and formal way to acknowledge someone's presence.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use "How do you do?"?

Use "How do you do?" in formal settings, when meeting someone for the first time, or when you want to convey a sense of traditional politeness. It's more common in British English and older forms of American English.

What is the appropriate response to "How do you do?"?

The traditional response to "How do you do?" is to repeat the phrase: "How do you do?" It's a reciprocal greeting rather than a question requiring an answer about your well-being.

What can I say instead of "How do you do?" in informal situations?

In informal situations, you can use alternatives like "how are you", "how's it going", or "what's up".

Is "How do you do?" the same as "How are you doing?"?

No, "How do you do?" is a formal greeting, while "How are you doing?" is a question about someone's well-being. The former is typically met with a reciprocal "How do you do?", while the latter requires an answer about your state of being.