How are you?

Sir, – Róisín Ingle in her piece "How are you? Three words that hold a lot of weight" (Life, December 2nd) prompts a thought.

These words have become almost second nature in greetings today, after the initial “Hello”. An economical variation of this is common in Kilkenny, where I used to live.

An opening “Well” elicits the response “Well”. After that, all is well (sorry) and the conversation may continue. – Yours, etc,

DAVID MILNE,

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Walkinstown,

Dublin 12.