How Are You vs How Do You Do
Is there a difference between how are you and how do you do? In fact, ‘How are you?’ and ‘How do you do?’ are two interrogative sentences that are often used as interchangeable sentences. Sure, they mean the same, but it is not correct to do so. In fact, there is some difference between the usages of the two sentences. ‘How are you?’ is the interrogative sentence used in the formal and informal way. On the other hand, ‘how do you do?’ is the interrogative sentence used in a very formal way. This is the main difference between the two interrogative sentences.
What does How Are You mean?
The interrogative sentence ‘how are you?’ is used as a greeting when people meet. It should be noted that this inquiry is not done in order to actually have a search about a person’s health or how they are feeling. It is purely used as a conversation starter. By now, this is the informal as well as more formal way of greeting someone. In a formal context, note that you should use hello before how are you. The greeting would be then ‘hello! how are you?’ The standard reply is ‘fine, thanks’ or ‘very well, thank you.’ After that, the party that replies first should ask the same question from the first party as ‘how are you?’ That will be answered by the standard reply too. In an informal context, hi is added instead of hello. This is used among friends and family. So the full greeting is ‘hi! how are you?’
What does How Do You Do mean?
On the other hand, the interrogative sentence ‘how do you do?’ is used as a greeting when people meet. It should be noted that this inquiry is not done in order to actually have a search about a person’s health or how they are feeling. It is purely used as a conversation starter. How do you do falls under the category of formal greetings. However, the BBC introduces it as a very formal way of greeting someone. So, it is something that is never used in general conversations. It rather belongs to serious contexts such as business meetings and such. Even then, this can be used when two people meet for the first time. They can greet each other with this. Then, the greeting will be followed by a formal handshake. Note that the reply for how do you do is also how do you do. Once, both parties have said how do you do, then the conversation turns straight towards the main business of the meeting. This is one important difference between how are you and how do you do.
What is the difference between How Are You and How Do You Do?
• ‘How are you?’ is the interrogative sentence used in the formal and informal way.
• On the other hand, ‘how do you do?’ is the interrogative sentence used in a very formal way.
• How are you and how do you do are used as conversation starters. They are not actually asked to inquire about a person’s health.
• How do you do is replied with how do you do.
• How do you do is followed by a formal handshake and then straight to business.
• How are you is answered by fine, thanks or very well, thank you and the same question, how are you, is asked from the first party.
• How are you is preceded by hello (formal context) hi (informal context).