Context of the conversation (how long it’s been since you saw them, what you last spoke about, etc.) To be particularly respectful, you can also include the person’s last name, for example: “ Good morning, Ms Jones .” If you know someone well, you can also use their first name. Because I’m an American and I currently live in the U.S., I’ll focus on greetings used in the United States. Good to see you. / It’s been ages! (since I’ve seen you.) / Where have you been hiding? / What have you been up to? Imagine you unexpectedly see a coworker at the grocery store. Here’s what that conversation might sound like:

This is a subtle way to recognize that the recipient may have things going on in life or at work that could affect them. Because it’s phrased as a statement rather than a question, it allows the other person to skip the specifics if they don’t want to share personal details. 5 Follow-ups like this are a great way to start conversations. Unlike a typical “How are you?” they show that you’ve been paying attention to the other person’s activities. And, more than likely, the person will be happy to start a conversation about their work or opinions once you’ve expressed interest. 4The question “ where have you been hiding ” invites conversation. It is a way of saying, “ How have you been? ” Here is an example dialogue: A rhetorical question, generally in the form of an insulting chant, accompanied by finger-pointing; meant as abuse to a single person or team performing in front of a crowd, by indicating that they are unknown and insignificant. Perhaps it was a stranger you walked past in your neighborhood. Or someone you’ve seen at work once or twice but you don’t really know. In an effort to be friendly and polite, it’s not uncommon for an English speaker to casually greet a friend, a neighbor, an acquaintance, or even a stranger with a greeting such as Paradoxically, a well-known competitor whose high credibility and status is undermined in an act of defiance by pretending to regard the competitor as unknown or insignificant.

Similar to asking “how’s it going,” these questions will often be used after a hi or hello as a polite greeting. What’s new with you? You want to know what changes have occurred in a person’s life, typically focusing on the positives. It’s often confused with the question “How are you?” but it isn’t a question at all. How do you do is a statement. A greeting. It’s an alternative to “I’m pleased to meet you.”Each of these conveys a different tone, and the results can vary. And using the wrong phrase could come off as awkward—or even insensitive in extreme circumstances. So it pays to know when they work, but especially when they don’t. When is it appropriate to use variations of “How are you?”