- A common, slightly more informal variation of How are you?.
- Asks about someone's general well-being or current state.
Explanation
Origin
- A natural grammatical extension of How are you?, emphasizing the ongoing state (doing).
- Became common as a slightly warmer or more conversational alternative to the potentially more formulaic How are you?.
- Popularized in American English.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- How you livin'? (Urban/AAVE)
- How's it hanging? (Casual, dated)
Milder/Standard:
- How are you?
- How is everything going?
Situational Appropriateness
- Broadly appropriate, from informal to semi-formal settings.
- Slightly warmer/more conversational than How are you?.
- Suitable for interactions with colleagues, acquaintances, customers, and friends. Safe choice in most contexts.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Same potential misunderstanding as How are you?. Non-native speakers might give too much detail when a short, conventional reply is expected. Emphasize its function as a polite social ritual.
Examples
- Hi Sarah, how are you doing today?
- Hey Paul! Good to see you. How are you doing?
Dialogue
Cashier: Hi there, how are you doing today?
Customer: I'm doing well, thank you. How are you?
Cashier: Doing great, thanks! Did you find everything okay?
Social Media Examples
- Facebook Post: Haven't posted in a while! How are you all doing?
- Instagram Live start: Hey everyone joining! How are you doing tonight?
- Email check-in: Hi [Name], Hope you had a good weekend. How are you doing?
Response Patterns
- Doing well, thanks. How about you?
- Good, thanks.
- Alright.
- Not too bad.
- Similar range of responses as How are you?. Brief and positive is standard.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After asking How are you doing?:
- Listen to the response.
- Acknowledge it (Glad to hear it, Hope things get better).
- Answer the reciprocal question (I'm doing great, thanks!).
After responding (Doing well, thanks. How about you?):
- Listen to their answer.
- Move on to the main topic of conversation.
Conversation Starter
- Yes.
- A very common and friendly way to initiate or continue a greeting.
Intonation
- Friendly and conversational.
- Rising intonation at the end. How are you DO-ing?
- Stress usually falls on DO-ing.
Generation Differences
- Used and understood by all generations.
Regional Variations
- Common in most English-speaking regions, particularly North America.