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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Sep 2008
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when u meet a person we
a) casually enquire about someone's well being
by asking 'how do u do?' 'how is ur health lately?'
b)or might complement by saying 'u look lovely..' 'u have a wonderful home..'
what are the different words(one for casual enquiry and other for complement) that can be used to fill the blank in the context below
the guests after exchanging initial..........,moved on to talk about more serious matters.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 390
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 390 |
One of the words most commonly used to fill in that blank is "pleasantries"
the guests after exchanging initial pleasantries,moved on to talk about more serious matters.
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3 |
ah yes...pleasantries is a good word
any more words that deals with more genuine concern like:
1. Are u alright?
2. how is ur health doing?
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 35
newbie
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newbie
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 35 |
the guests after exchanging initial niceties, remarks, banter, inquiries, moved on to talk about more serious matters.
Or
after some polite conversation, casual conversation, general conversation, the guest move on to talk about more serious matters.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Ah, but suppose you run into an old friend who you know has been undergoing some severe circumstances, say a beloved sister has just died. You may well say, as an opening line, "How are you doing?" with a tone of voice that makes it clear that this isn't just a pleasantry. Dunno if there is a single word for this but I would say it is an example of showing concern.
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Joined: Oct 2008
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stranger
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stranger
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3 |
reference:www.grevocabulary.org
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
In school we learned that when someone says "you how do?" your not supposed to really get into the matter.
When someone asks "how are you doing?", then it is a real question and you should give a reaction.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
While "How do you do?" will pretty much always be understood as a verbal pleasantry, "How are you doing?" would be very dependent on how you say it. "Ha ya doon?" would be a verbal pleasantry. "How are you doing?" said with somewhat exaggerated intonations and given that there is the knowledge that something has been amiss would be considered a real question looking for an answer other than "Just fine."
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 5,295 |
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154 |
Hey Brannie If you were taught to say "you how do?" you might want to consider different English teacher. 
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
Hello Zed If I had teacher teach me "you how do" I would say "you how do". So, "do how you?" 
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Joined: Mar 2000
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Mar 2000
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I suppose formalities would also fit the bill.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2002
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
>I suppose formalities would also fit the bill.
If formalities would fit bills, what a wonderful world it would be.
Or opposite: If too many bills had not been accounted for by just formalities we would not have had the present WW complications.
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