How is it going?
What is the semantic meaning of the greeting "how is it going?"
I am a male living in a highly metropolitan area of the US. I have noticed that when I use the greeting "How is it going?" with another male, particularly one that I don't know very well, or strangers (male or female) they seem to become confused by my asking "How is it going?" Sometimes, they don't even reply.
1. Is that greeting too casual or informal to be used with strangers or people that you do not know very well? I was told that it is the same thing as "How are you?"
2. Am I coming across as too cavalier by using that greeting in the above situations?
3. Pragmatically speaking, when is it ok to use that greeting and with whom?
Please let me know.
Top answer
It may be that you are overdoing your greetings. If you're talking about greeting random strangers as you pass them on a busy metropolitan street, then you should not be doing that at all. Even the most formal greeting would be unwelcome.
- It may be that you are overdoing your greetings.
- If you're talking about greeting random strangers as you pass them on a busy metropolitan street, then you should not be doing that at all.
- Even the most formal greeting would be unwelcome.
- If you don't know a person you see in a public place, don't greet them.
- They probably will not reply anyway.
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It may be that you are overdoing your greetings. If you're talking about greeting random strangers as you pass them on a busy metropolitan street, then you should not be doing that at all. Even the most formal greeting would be unwelcome.
If you don't know a person you see in a public place, don't greet them. They probably will not reply anyway.
Use "How's it going?" or "How are
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