"How do you do."

[Julierose]

Do native English speakers still greet each other " How do you do". Is it used in formal introductions/greeting ?

Thanks.
Julie.

[5jj]

My generation (I'm 65) still use it in formal introductions, but it is dying out.

[emsr2d2]

Do native English speakers still greet each other " How do you do". Is it used in formal introductions/greeting ?

Thanks.
Julie.

I imagine it's still used in formal/business greetings but I certainly haven't said it for about 20 years (since my first proper job interview) and I haven't heard it in any more informal situation.

Last night, for example, I met someone for the first time over drinks at my aunt's house. We (rather formally, I thought) shook hands across the table but I said "Hiya" and he said "Hello, I'm Kev".

[Julierose]

Thankyou for the detailed reply.

Julie.

[TheParser]

Do native English speakers still greet each other " How do you do". Is it used in formal introductions/greeting ?

Thanks.
Julie.

*** NOT A TEACHER ***


(1) I think that younger people would laugh if you greeted them like that.

(2) But I also think that some younger people would certainly know that they

had better use that greeting when meeting older people at a job interview.

(3) In other words, like all languages, native speakers use certain expressions

that are appropriate to the situation. For example, if you were introduced to

the president, you would not say "What's up, dude?" On the other hand, if you were

introduced to a big, tough, scary-looking (American) football player, you probably

would not say "How do you do, sir?"

[Ouisch]

It is still common in formal settings/situations (business meetings, receiving lines at funerals, etc). It is also often used when you are introduced to someone very briefly whom you probably will never see again...for example, you happen to see someone you vaguely know - a friend of a friend - at a gathering and he greets you by name: "Hello, Ouisch! I'm Fred's cousin, we met at his wedding last month." "Oh yes, how are you?" "Fine, thank you. And - " gesturing to the lady with him - "this is my good friend Mary." I extend my hand to Mary and say "how do you do?"