How are you? is a greeting that asks how someone is. You ask it of people you know, and they usually don't expect a long story in reply. People answer briefly and usually positively (Fine, thanks / I'm good / Not bad) and ask the question back: And you? The phrase is neutral: you can say it to a friend or to your manager, and write it at the start of a friendly email.
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How are you? → Fine, thanks. And you? / I'm good, thanks / Not bad; How are you doing? (informal); How are you feeling? (health)
- 'Hi, Ben, how are you?' 'Not bad, thanks. Just a bit tired after the flight.'
- Hi Sarah, how are you? I hope the new job is going well.
- 'How are you?' 'I'm good, thanks. And you?' 'Fine, thanks.'
What changed
First version'How are you?' 'Normal, thanks. And you?'
Revision'How are you?' 'Fine, thanks. And you?'
Normal may seem like a natural short answer, but in English normal means “ordinary, typical”, so this reply sounds strange. Instead, people say Fine, OK or Not bad.
When you really want to know about someone's health, for example after an illness, add feeling: How are you feeling after the flu? Friends often say How's it going? or How are you doing? They ask the same thing, only more casually.
Your turn
At a party I saw Kate, my old friend from school, and asked, '___? Are you still working at the bank?'
Show the answer
How are you — Kate is your old school friend, and you're asking how she is, so How are you. How do you do is said only when you are formally introduced to someone new; you don't say it to an old friend.
Write a short dialogue with a colleague on Monday morning. They ask How are you, and you reply, mention one thing from your weekend and ask the question back.
'Hi, Olga! How are you?' 'Fine, thanks. I visited my parents at the weekend. How about you?'
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