How to reply to
Good day, sir
in the beginning of the conversation as a greeting?
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It depends on whether "Good day, sir" is said as a greeting, as a parting comment, or as an abrupt dismissal.– TimRCommented Oct 14, 2015 at 12:54
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@TRomano I asked as a greeting– MrtCommented Oct 14, 2015 at 12:56
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1You could respond with "Good morning" or "Good afternoon".– TimRCommented Oct 14, 2015 at 12:58
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2It would be anachronistic in many parts of the English-speaking world.– TimRCommented Oct 14, 2015 at 13:03
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2I'd reply with ANY beginning-of-a-conversation greeting as well. (i.e., 'Hi', 'Hello', etc.) Why? It is the beginning of the conversation after all.– shinCommented Oct 14, 2015 at 23:31
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1 Answer
This is more a question of etiquette and personal style than language. It's polite to acknowledge the greeting somehow. A simple "Hello" is sufficient. If you do wish to engage in conversation, then add a question or a bit of small talk. Examples:
Hello, how are you?
Good morning. Lovely day, isn't it?
Hi, Bob, how's the wife and kids?
answered Oct 15, 2015 at 20:49
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The answer has run-on sentences and mismatching subjects and verbs. "Hello! How are you?" "Hi, Bob! How are the wife and kids?"– urnonavCommented May 30, 2018 at 21:33
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It's perfectly cromulent idiomatic American English. Answered 2 years, 7 months ago. Have a nice day. Commented Jun 1, 2018 at 3:31
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Idiomatic would mean the construct is considered acceptable for formal writing. However, this construct is not. LA Times This falls under colloquial misuse and shouldn't be prescribed, in the same way that the following sentence, while totally intelligible to a most native speakers, shouldn't be prescribed on a forum about English language: Cz its tots cray!"– urnonavCommented Jun 1, 2018 at 14:32
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I understood the question to be about conversational English, not formal writing. Commented Jun 4, 2018 at 5:21