how things are going

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "how things are going" is correct and usable in written English, and it can be used in a variety of contexts.
For example, "I just wanted to check in and see how things are going with the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Ask new users how things are going?

University of California, Berkeley

You never know how things are going.

The New York Times - Sports

He's happy with how things are going.

The Guardian - Sport

So you never know how things are going to go".

Independent

He's thoughtful to ask how things are going".

The New York Times

"I'm enjoying how things are going at the minute.

Independent

You don't know how things are going to come out.

Independent

You never know how things are going to turn out.

Princeton University

We LOVE hearing how things are going in your classrooms.

Stanford University

Tell us how things are going at your institution.

The Guardian

You can't worry about how things are going to do".

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "how things are going" in written communication, tailor your tone to suit the context. For informal settings, a casual tone is appropriate. In professional environments, maintain a respectful tone.

Common error

Avoid using "how things are going" repeatedly in formal reports or presentations. Opt for more precise and professional alternatives like "current status" or "progress update" to maintain a polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how things are going" functions as an interrogative clause used to inquire about the state, progress, or well-being of a person, project, or situation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "how things are going" is a versatile and widely used interrogative for inquiring about progress, status, or well-being. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and frequently appears in diverse contexts, ranging from news media to academic discussions. While appropriate in neutral and informal settings, it may require more formal alternatives in professional communications. To enhance clarity and precision, consider related phrases such as "what's the status" or "how is it progressing" depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how's it progressing

Focuses more on the advancement or development aspect.

how's everything shaping up

Asks about the final form or result taking shape.

what's the current situation

More formal, inquiring about a specific state of affairs.

how's everything panning out

Implies waiting for a final outcome or resolution.

what's the status

More direct and business-oriented, suitable for project updates.

what's the progress report

Specifically requests a summary of advancements made.

how are things unfolding

Focuses on the way events are revealing themselves over time.

how are you managing

Shifts focus to the person's ability to cope with current circumstances.

how are you holding up

Emphasizes emotional resilience and personal well-being.

what's been happening

Broadly asks for recent events or developments.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "how things are going"?

You can use alternatives like "how is it progressing", "what is the status", or "how are you managing" depending on the context.

Is "how things are going" formal or informal?

The phrase "how things are going" is generally considered informal to neutral. In formal settings, it's often better to use more specific language like "what is the current status" or "can you provide a progress update".

How to use "how things are going" in a sentence?

You can use "how things are going" to inquire about a general situation or progress, such as, "I wanted to check in and see "how things are going" with the project" or "So, tell me, "how things are going" in your new role".

What's the difference between "how things are going" and "how are things going"?

There is no significant difference in meaning between "how things are going" and "how are things going". Both phrases are used to ask about the current state of affairs or someone's well-being. The latter is a more grammatically standard question form.