How do you respond to a greeting? If someone says (see below)?

Question

If someone greets you with "How are you?" What do you say in return? Many times people have a pat answer they give, like "Doin' good." or "As well as can be expected." or "Fine." A favorite I used to hear was, "Fair to middlin' on a partly cloudy day." That always makes me laugh. Anyway, I was recently asked, "How are you today?" and my normal response is "Good. And you?". He said "Good. ...Well, I mean, I'm well. But I'm glad you're doing good." Some other people were around and they sort of chuckled and said, "What's the difference?" He went on to give his opinion of the differences between the two. This spurred me to look up the definition of the two words - "well" and "good", and it seems that it is considered a mark of poor upbringing to say you are "good" (as we are discussing it here), and it is considered a mark of better upbringing to say you are "well".

So what do you think? Is it ok to say you are "Doin' good", or should you say something else? What do you say?

MD: Me too. I mean I didn't go to an Ivy League school, but I'm not crude and disgusting either.

This is more of a "humm, I never thought of that" question. But I would like to hear your answers.

I'm not trying to chat.

It does sound weird, doesn't it? I'm well. I don't know. It just doesn't sound ... like me. I understand it's grammatically correct, and I too try to be as grammatically correct as possible, but this just sounds too weird to use. I think I need to just find a new answer.

I know a few people who ask How are you and they really mean it, like socmum16 does. But most people I know are just exchanging pleasantries and really don't care -they're just being nice.

Thanks for all the answers. :)

Answer 1

Saying well- just sounds funny to me. It sounds kind of snooty. I am usually pretty good about using proper grammar. I don't think it sounds uneducated to say good. I know that the proper thing to say is well, but it just sounds weird.

Answer 2

On any given day, I try to keep it positive. Even on a day where I am stressed, my general health is still good so I respond, "fine thanks." In the morning, I always try to say "good morning" first, and then ask how they are doing on that day.

It has to be a really bad day for me to spoil someone else's day by saying, "Not too good" or even so far as "OK, I guess". My personal misery is not the fault of that positive person, so why should I blame them. If I am having a bad day, I will let them know WITHOUT bringing them down.

Nobody wants to be down, so why should I "throw weeds in their garden?"

You don't have to lie to sound good, but for God's sake...don't lie to sound worse.

Answer 3

I usually say, "I'm doing well. What have you been up to?"

I like asking questions that illicit a response. If you're going to say, "How are you?" I would expect an actual response besides, "Good." I guess it's because I actually want to know how that person is doing, what's going on in their life, etc. If I don't feel like having a conversation I would simply say, "Hello."

Answer 4

I have never thought about it. I always thought "I'm fine" was a southern response. I say "fine" and "good" all the time and I did not have a poor upbringing.

Answer 5

Say what ever comes to mind first. It might sound weird, but it is better then saying the same thing over and over.

Answer 6

I say any number of things ("I'm well. I'm fine. I'm OK." etc.) but rarely do I say "good." Well is gramatically correct, and I try to use it as often as possible. Sometimes I slip though. :)

Answer 7

well if i wasn't in the mood i'd just murmur "fine"
if i was in the mood i would say "pretty good, and you?"

Not much difference

However if i was having a really bad day, i'd just say nothing

Answer 8

How are you?
Fine, and you?

That is my response to older people or people i am not familiar with.

How are you?
I'm alright, how ya doin?

That is my response to friends.

Answer 9

I usually say "if I were any better I'd be twins".