3 ms·

You should never ask to ask for a question. And you shouldn't announce your question. Just ask.

• Aoyagi 12y ago
  Similarly, I believe you shouldn't ask strangers how are they or even use it as a greeting.
  • deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
  • jamestnz 12y ago
    It helps to understand that asking how someone is at the start of a conversation should generally be interpreted as a social convention rather than a literal question. The socially correct response is either something like "fine", or to repeat the question. Note that if you're going to answer it as a question, the correct answer is always "fine" regardless of whether one really is fine; if you said something like "terrible" you'd be obliging a stranger to pry into your personal business. The fabric of society is very complex, as someone once said. These are all valid in various dialects/registers of native English: Greeting: How are you? Response: Fine, thank you - Greeting: How are you? Response: How are you? - Greeting: How do you do Response: How do you do - Greeting: Sup Response: Sup