how you doin

USAGE SUMMARY

'how you doin' is not correct or usable in written English.
It is an informal phrase more commonly used in spoken English. An example of when you might hear 'how you doin' in spoken English is when two friends meet and one asks the other, "Hey, how you doin?".

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

How you doin?' " are his first words.

The New York Times

To borrow Wendy Williams's trademark greeting: "Wendy, how you doin?' " If it's a Sunday, the answer is: fantastic.

The New York Times

Nathanrff writes, It's worth nothing that "How you doin?" is not a new catchphrase — it was well-worn by the end of the tenth season of Friends, where Matt LeBlanc's Joey Tribbiani used it every chance he could get.

The New Yorker

That Goodman has a catchphrase already – "Better Call Saul!" – is promising, but so did Joey Tribbiani, and the answer to his "How you doin?" was "not very well actually" when his Friends offshoot got pulled after two lacklustre seasons.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It does away with the very worst parts of online dating: for the people sending messages, the pain of knowing that every unanswered "How you doin?" is a flat-out rejection; for the highly pursued hotties, the tedium of wading through a thousand sleazy "How you doin?" messages to find the one who's asking "What's your favourite Toto song?" So what kind of people are on there?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Netflix purportedly said "How YOU doin?" to Sony about the show last year, but a deal never came through.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

How you doin'?...

The New Yorker

LeBlanc went down well with the audience, with a number of quips and even patiently repeating Joey Tribbiani's "how you doin'" catchphrase during a filming break.

The Guardian

Louise, a miniature mimic, does both Norbit ("That isn't science") and Rasputia ("How you doin'"), but she was a little shy about cutting loose, Murphy-style, in front of her friend.

The New Yorker

That's why in America you see some comedians who are really loved, and they're not very good comedians, they're just, 'How you doin'?! I'm gonna come up with really pedestrian material!' And people love it!" I ask him how it feels when he is asked to be a representative of so many tribes to which he does not belong.

Independent

How ya doin, Nokia?

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "how you doin'" sparingly and primarily in informal contexts, aiming for specific humorous or character-driven effects.

Common error

Don't use "how you doin'" in formal emails, reports, or academic papers. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "how are you doing?" to maintain professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how you doin'" primarily functions as an informal greeting or a rhetorical question. It is often used as a casual way to acknowledge someone or initiate a conversation. However, it should be noted, according to Ludwig, that this expression is grammatically incorrect in formal written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Wiki

14%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "how you doin'" is an informal and grammatically incorrect phrase primarily functioning as a casual greeting. Popularized by the character Joey Tribbiani from Friends, it's best used in informal contexts. Ludwig AI underlines its inappropriateness for formal written English. While it is commonly used in News & Media and Wiki sources, grammatically correct alternatives like "how are you doing?" are more suitable for professional and academic settings. While the phrase may be good for a quick chuckle, remember to wield it judiciously!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

How are you doing?

A more grammatically correct and standard way of asking about someone's well-being.

How's it going?

A common, informal greeting used to ask about someone's well-being.

What's up?

An informal greeting, often used among friends.

How are things?

Another general way to inquire about someone's well-being and current situation.

How have you been?

Focuses on the person's well-being over a period of time.

What's happening?

An informal way to ask what someone is currently doing or what's going on.

How do you do?

A formal greeting, typically used when meeting someone for the first time.

How's life?

A broad question about the person's overall well-being and experiences.

What's new?

Asks if anything interesting or significant has happened in the person's life recently.

How goes it?

A slightly old-fashioned but still used informal greeting.

FAQs

How can I use "how you doin'" in a sentence?

You can use "how you doin'" informally, especially if referencing the catchphrase from the TV show Friends. For example, "He walked up to her and, with a playful smirk, said, "how you doin'?"" However, remember to reserve this for informal contexts.

What's a more formal alternative to "how you doin'?"

A more formal alternative is "how are you doing?". This is appropriate for professional or academic settings.

Is "how you doin'" grammatically correct?

No, "how you doin'" is not grammatically correct. The proper phrasing is "how are you doing?". The former is a colloquialism.

What is the origin of the phrase "how you doin'?"

The phrase "how you doin'?" gained popularity from the character Joey Tribbiani on the TV show Friends, where it was used as a playful and flirtatious greeting. It is now often used humorously or as a pop culture reference.