“I’M Good, Thanks” Or “I’M Well, Thanks”

[Chuffa24]

Is it rammatically incorrect to reply to “How are you?” with “I’m good, thanks” rather than “I’m well, thanks”?

[Old_Geezer]

I don't think it's your morality or ethics that is being enquired about, but your health. I'd stick with "well" if I were you.

[fiction-factory]

"I'm good" is fashionable but i much prefer "I'm well or "i'm fine", I never say it- feels wrong to me - but my children say it sometimes. Language changes and people understand what it means

[Tilly2]

I usually say, 'I'm fine, thank you, how are you?'

I don't think that 'I'm good, thank you.' is grammatically incorrect. It's just an irritating, modern saying.

[Old_Geezer]

They understand someone (probably an American) has made an error; and inwardly cringe.

[237SJ]

Yes, it is grammatically incorrect

[Tilly2]

Why, HC?

[fiction-factory]

If I said it by accident I'd apologise and say "my bad"

[Tilly2]

Sorry, 237?

[jno]

nothing ungrammatical about either of them. In terms of meaning, "good" can mean much the same as "well" - something like "in good health" or "I haven't got any problems". It's probably more common in America, but there's no problem with saying it here, everyone will know what you mean.

[Old_Geezer]

Your health might be good, you aren't. You are well.

[jno]

how do you know whether I'm good or not, OG?

[Mamyalynne]

It would depend on the formality of the occasion.

In a job interview it would come across a bit unprofessional - fine in a chatty situation.

[237SJ]

I've noticed that when the newpapers report that someone has fallen onto the ground, they say they have fallen onto the floor. When did the ground become the floor?

[Jackdaw33]

When you are ill you are ill. When you recover you are well. Simples.

[Buenchico]

"Good", when describing a person, is normally used to refer to their character, rather than to their health. Hence "I'm good" would seem to be saying "I'm a good person", which isn't what's required in this context.

"Well" refers to health, rather than to character. Hence "I'm well" is the grammatically correct response here.

"Good" would only be appropriate if the questioner specifically mentioned the other person's health. (e.g. "How's your health these days?"). Then "Good, thank you" would be an appropriate response.

[237SJ]

"I'm good was an Australian term. I noticed it with customers about 10 years ago and now it has become mainstream

[Jackdaw33]

The problem is that 'bad' is used as a synonym for unwell. "He's bad in bed with the 'flu".

[Toorak]

237sj

That is a real gripe of mine - the floor is inside, the ground is outside

[237SJ]

Another one I have noticed (when you offer someone something) is "Can I get" instead of "Can I have"

[Toorak]

I could also go on and on about misplaced apostrophe’s (sic) - not referring to the OP, whose are fine