“How do you do?” is an interesting phrase. Knowing how to answer “how do you do” comes with nuances that you should think about. In some cases (more commonly), it’s a question. In other cases (more traditionally), it’s a greeting. This article will explore the best things to reply:
- I’m doing well
- I’m alright
- I’m fine, and you?
- No response
- How do you do?
- Good morning!
- Good day!
- What’s up?
- Are you alright?
- Hello!
The best answers to “how do you do” are “I’m doing well,” “I’m alright,” and “I’m fine, and you?” When answering “how do you do?” respectfully, you should say how you’re doing (as if it is a question). This is the modern way to reply to “how do you do?”
1. I’m Doing Well
“I’m doing well” is a great response to “how do you do?” It shows that you’re taking the question literally and responding genuinely to how you are doing right now.
It’s common to see this response used in formal emails. It shows that you appreciate someone checking in on you and want to answer their question.
- How do you do?
- I’m doing well! I hear things are looking good for you! How do you do yourself?
- How do you do?
- I’m doing well, thank you for asking! It feels like it’s been quite a while since we’ve had a chance to speak!
2. I’m Alright
“I’m alright” is another great response, though it’s slightly more informal than “I’m doing well.” You may find this one works best in a text rather than an email.
It’s great to use this when discussing how well you’re doing. “I’m alright” is a comment made in passing when you don’t want to go into detail about how you’re doing.
- How do you do?
- I’m alright, and you? It feels like it’s been too long since we’ve had a chance to chat about stuff.
- How do you do?
- I’m alright, thanks. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do with this information. Do you have any ideas?
3. I’m Fine, and You?
“I’m fine, and you?” is another simple response that shows you’re doing well and would like to ask someone else how they’re doing. It’s a great one to use when you feel good and would like to appear friendly to someone.
- How do you do?
- I’m fine, and you? I hear that you’ve been moving up in the world lately.
- How do you do?
- I’m fine, and you? I’m glad that you came to me with a few of these questions. It’s nice to chat.
4. No Response
Yes, it’s possible not to respond to this phrase sometimes. Technically speaking, it’s not a question at all.
Traditionally, it is a statement. “How do you do?” is used to greet someone. It’s similar to the informal “what’s up” or “how’s it going?” The people using these phrases don’t always expect a response.
For example, in British English, a phrase like “How do you do?” is said in passing. Most of the time, the person who said it to you would have walked out of earshot before you could even reply. That’s why it works better as a greeting and sometimes means no response is necessary.
5. How Do You Do?
This is an old-fashioned response for “how do you do?” You won’t often find people using the same phrase to reply to itself today.
Replying with “how do you do?” shows that you are interested in greeting someone but might not be willing to go into further detail. It’s good to use to remain polite and friendly.
- How do you do?
- How do you do? It’s a lovely day today, isn’t it?
- How do you do?
- How do you do? I feel like I haven’t seen you around these parts in a lifetime!
6. Good Morning!
We will now follow the trend of “how do you do?” being a statement rather than a question. This opens up the potential responses you can use. It now becomes a greeting, giving you plenty of chances to explore alternative greetings like “good morning!”
This is a simple response you can use when being polite. Naturally, it only works when talking to someone in the morning. However, you may use “afternoon” or “night” to address them at different times during the day if needed.
- How do you do?
- Good morning! I’m in a really good mood this morning, to be fair! How are you doing today?
- How do you do?
- Good morning to you, sir! It’s nice to see you walking around with a legitimate smile on your face!
7. Good Day!
“Good day!” is a more general greeting that works regardless of the time of day. You should use it when you want to show that you’re happy and want to greet someone positively.
It’s a simple phrase, but it’s great to respond to someone. It works as its own greeting, too, meaning you don’t have to answer “how do you do?” with it. You can simply say “good day!”
- How do you do?
- Good day! I know things have been a bit tough lately, but I’m hoping things will start to look up now!
- How do you do?
- Good day to you! It’s so nice being able to talk through these things with you and see how it’s going.
8. What’s Up?
“What’s up?” is an informal greeting that follows the same question idea without expecting a reply. It might finish with a question mark, but it’s still regarded as a statement.
To many English speakers (mostly British English speakers), replying to “what’s up?” is unheard of. If you do reply to someone saying this, you might throw them off because they were using it synonymously with “hello” rather than asking how you are.
- How do you do?
- What’s up, man? I feel like we haven’t had a proper chance to catch up in so long! I miss you being here!
- How do you do?
- What’s up? It’s nice to see you again. I’d love to talk more if you’re available.
9. Are You Alright?
“Are you alright?” is another great question synonym that doesn’t need an answer. You should use this one when greeting someone or replying to a simple “how do you do?”
Like “how do you do,” “are you alright?” doesn’t require an answer. It’s possible to give one, but most native speakers will be confused if you try to give them an answer to the question.
- How do you do?
- It’s nice to see your face around here. The office has been so dull without you. Are you alright?
- How do you do?
- Are you alright, mate? I thought I heard some bad news about something in your life!
10. Hello!
“Hello!” is a simple alternative that works well to show you’re happy to greet someone or talk to them. The exclamation point adds a lot of excitement or happiness to the phrase, making it an excellent choice when you want to greet someone positively.
You should use this when talking to friends or people you like speaking to. You may also find “hello!” with an exclamation mark effective when you’re surprised that someone has started speaking to you.
- How do you do?
- Hello! What a pleasant surprise it is to have you here today! What are you up to?
- How do you do?
- Hello! I love that you came along to talk to us about some of this stuff! That’s wonderful!
Is It Correct to Say “How Do You Do?”
“How do you do?” is a correct phrase. You can use it when you want to find out how somebody’s doing and whether they’re having a good time with something.
It’s commonly used when first meeting someone. When it first came about, it wasn’t used as a question, either.
It was more common to see “how do you do?” used as a statement, and the only expected response would be an equally upbeat “how do you do?”
Nowadays, that variation of “how do you do?” has all but died out. It’s much more common for people to respond to “how do you do?” with an answer about how they’re getting on in life.
Is “How Do You Do Too” a Valid Answer?
“How do you do too” in itself is not a valid answer. Including “too” does not make sense when trying to turn the question or greeting around on someone.
The following example will demonstrate why it doesn’t work:
- How do you do?
- How do you do too?
As you can see, you answer a question with another question, but the “too” sounds jarring and makes little sense. It will make you seem socially inept or awkward.
You may use “How do you do” as long as you answer their question first. You can always return polite questions like this once you’ve already given your answer.
However, you should remove “too” from the end. It does not make sense to say “how do you do too” in any context.
For example:
- How do you do?
- I’m doing well. How do you do?
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
