How're you?

[Doug_Tipple]

How're you? I am interested in buying something from your store, the email read, thankfully in my spam file. Is that contraction OK? I don't think so.

[Denny]

were fine...

no rush, but where did that come from?

[Nanohedron]

How're you? I am interested in buying something from your store, the email read, thankfully in my spam file. Is that contraction OK? I don't think so.

Not sure what you mean by "okay". I agree that the contraction is less than appropriate for business communication. I don't think it's a hands-down offense, especially these days, but really it's too familiar for semiformality, which to me is the tone business ought to carry, especially when making introductions.

If you mean "Is the contraction OK?" in a general sense, then I would say yes, it is okay, because it conveys a similar contraction in speech, and that is an old practice in English letters. But then too I would say that, because "how're" is just the sort of thing I would use sooner or later when going for a colloquial tone in my writing. In all fairness though and my notions of good business tone aside, I would more likely have written "How're you doing?", because in my speech the rhythms of "How're you?" are less likely than "How are you?" - I would put more stress on the "are" than on the "how", here.

If you mean were the spelling and punctuation correct for the contraction, then my vote is entirely "yes" in this case.

I suppose you're sorry you asked, now.

[dwest]

If you're hav'n contractions I'd dial 911.

[fearfaoin]

How're you? ... Is that contraction OK? I don't think so.

Technically, a perfectly good contraction.
The apostrophe has taken the place of the
space between words and one or more of
the letters in one of the words. Pretty much
a textbook contraction. A bit of a neologism,
perhaps, but I've pronounced it that way
before. I have more respect for that spelling
decision than, for example, "How R U?"

Nex' you're goin' to tell me "y'all" is all'rong.

[emmline]

I would more likely have written "How're you doing?", because in my speech the rhythms of "How're you?" are less likely than "How are you?" - I would put more stress on the "are" than on the "how", here.

That's 'cause you're from up north (don't ya know.)
I would write it exactly as the inquirer did, spoken emphasis on the "you."

I don't object to it at all, as emails tend not to be a medium of formal communication, and when one is proposing to purchase something from someone else, obsequiousness isn't necessary. OTOH, it wouldn't be my style to open an email that way.

[Nanohedron]

...when one is proposing to purchase something from someone else, obsequiousness isn't necessary.

Just for the record, I wasn't casting votes for standing on ceremony to the degree of bootlickery, archaisms, oiliness, or anything that weighty.

[mutepointe]

It's about time someone asked. For the last month or so, I've been dealing with pneumonia and what will probably be a torn meniscus of my left knee. I think I'll make it.

[s1m0n]

"OK" in what sense? It isn't formal english, but it wasn't ambiguous, either. You understood it perfectly and it's a normal part of many native speakers' everyday speech. You've said it yourself, many many times.

[Innocent Bystander]

They could have said "Howdy", "Howdyedo", or even the exemplary terse "How", preferred by the Native Speakers in the old Westerns. If Native Americans ever actually said that, even better!

I suppose around our way if they were trying to be colloquial, they might say "How's yerself?" or "How's you?", or "How's about ye?" or even "Are you rightly?". "How do?" sounds mean in comparison.

Doug, the emails I get address me as "Beloved" in some cases, and often make ill-considered assumptions about my religious beliefs. The cheekiest recent one claimed to have already contacted me and was waiting for a reply. Nice try, but no.

[mutepointe]

When I was at the hospital yesterday, one of the workers who passed me said, "Howdy." He didn't look like a cowboy, He looked like a Technician.

[s1m0n]

He didn't look like a cowboy, He looked like a Technician.

It's all Ross Perot's fault.

[weedie]

If it was from Straylyah,it would have said ... Owzitgoin'

[Denny]

verbose, ain't they...

owzit seems enough

[brewerpaul]

How're you? I am interested in buying something from your store, the email read, thankfully in my spam file. Is that contraction OK? I don't think so.

Hey, funny coincidence.. I got the same email today and sent 5 whistles to the sender. He promised he would send a check...