Speak good English: How do you do?
Every now and then, we hear people use the expression HOW DO YOU DO?
Unfortunately, in almost all instances when HOW DO YOU DO? is used, it is used rather incorrectly. It is used incorrectly because it is used to enquire about people's health and other conditions.
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In other words, it is used in place of the traditional, everyday HOW ARE YOU?
Let's understand that WHAT DO YOU DO? is never the same as HOW ARE YOU?
Therefore, we shouldn't attempt to use the two expressions interchangeably at all.
Those of us who keep receiving HOW DO YOU DO? on a regular basis should tell the senders that it is not equivalent to HOW ARE YOU?, and that the expression HOW DO YOU DO? is not, as a form of greeting, even exchanged between people who have met each other before.
Now, while HOW ARE YOU? straightaway enquires about a person's health and other conditions, HOW DO YOU DO? makes no such enquiries at all.
HOW DO YOU DO?, on the other hand, is a formal greeting used in the same way as IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU or (I'M) PLEASED TO MEET YOU.
So you can see that HOW DO YOU DO? comes nowhere near HOW ARE YOU?
The way we respond to HOW DO YOU DO? itself should tell us that the expression is not making enquiries about one's health.
We respond to HOW DO YOU DO? with the same HOW DO YOU DO?, maybe with a changed intonation or an added SIR or MADAM.
Eg:
HOW DO YOU DO? HOW DO YOU DO, MADAM?
Note that the expression HOW DO YOU DO? is used as a formal greeting when two people meet each other or are introduced to each other for the VERY FIRST TIME.
In subsequent meetings between the two, it is improper to exchange HOW DO YOU DO?
This means that it is never correct for people who are FRIENDS to use HOW DO YOU DO? as a form of greeting.
So if you have to enquire about someone's health status, just simply ask that person: HOW ARE YOU?
Don't try to sound exotic or polished by using the expression: HOW DO YOU DO? which will make you look and sound unlettered, since -- is not exchanged among friends, family members, schoolmates, classmates, partners (business or otherwise), etc.
