100+ “How Have You Been?” Responses (Best Replies)

If you’re searching for a how have you been response, you’re not alone. “How have you been?” is a common message people send when they want to reconnect, start a conversation, or check in after time apart check more here : 100+ Good Morning Prayer Messages to Start Your Day Right

In this guide, you’ll find casual and formal replies for text and email, plus responses for friends, coworkers, dating, and reconnecting. The best part is you’ll get short answers, longer replies, and simple follow-up lines so you can keep the conversation going naturally.

What Does “How Have You Been?” Mean?

“How have you been?” is usually a friendly way of asking what’s new in your life, especially if you haven’t talked in a while. It can be casual, caring, or sometimes a way to restart communication without sounding awkward.

How It’s Different From “How Are You?”

• “How are you?” is a general, present-moment question. People ask it daily.
• “How have you been?” suggests time has passed. It’s more about recent life updates and how things have been going overall.

That’s why your response to how have you been can be slightly more detailed than your response to “How are you?”

When People Usually Ask This Question

People often ask “How have you been?” when:

• They haven’t talked to you in weeks or months
• They’re reconnecting after a busy period
• They’re checking in after a life event
• They want to restart a friendship or conversation
• It’s someone you used to work with, date, or talk to often
• They’re trying to be polite but also curious

What the Person Might Really Be Asking

Depending on the relationship, they might mean:

• “What’s new with you?”
• “Have you been okay?”
• “Do you want to catch up?”
• “Are we still on good terms?”
• “I miss talking to you”

This is why the best response for how have you been depends on who is asking and how close you are.

Best Ways to Answer Without Overthinking

To reply naturally, keep it simple:

1. Give a brief update
2. Match the energy of their message
3. Ask them the same question back

A good how have you been reply doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to feel real.

How to Respond to “How Have You Been?” (Quick Guide)

If you’re unsure what to say, use this quick approach to choose the right reply.

Choose Your Tone (Casual vs Formal)

• Casual: friends, siblings, dating, people your age
• Formal: coworkers, clients, managers, professional contacts
• Neutral: someone you don’t know well or haven’t talked to in years

Decide How Honest You Want to Be

You can be:

• Short and polite: “I’ve been good, thanks.”
• Honest but light: “Busy, but doing okay.”
• More open: “It’s been a lot lately, but I’m getting through it.”

Keep It Short or Add Details

• Short replies work best for texts and quick chats
• Longer replies work best when reconnecting or catching up
• If you’re not in the mood to explain, you can keep it simple

Ask a Follow-Up Question to Continue the Chat

The easiest way to avoid awkward silence is to ask:

• “How have you been?”
• “What have you been up to lately?”
• “How’s everything going on your end?”

This keeps the conversation moving without effort.

Best Short Responses to “How Have You Been?”

These are quick, everyday replies that work in most situations.

25 Short and Sweet Replies

1. I’ve been good, thanks! How about you?
2. Pretty good! What about you?
3. I’ve been doing well. You?
4. Not bad at all. How have you been?
5. I’ve been fine, thanks for asking.
6. Good overall! How about you?
7. I’ve been okay. What’s new with you?
8. Busy, but good. How about you?
9. Doing alright. How have you been?
10. Great, actually! You?
11. I’ve been good lately. You?
12. All good here. What about you?
13. Can’t complain! How about you?
14. I’m doing well, thanks.
15. Things have been going well. You?
16. Same as usual, just busy.
17. I’ve been okay, thanks.
18. I’ve been good—hope you have too.
19. I’m doing better now. You?
20. I’ve been alright. What’s up with you?
21. Hanging in there. How about you?
22. I’ve been good, just staying busy.
23. Pretty decent, honestly. You?
24. I’ve been fine. How’s life?
25. I’m good! What have you been up to?

15 Polite Short Replies (Neutral)

These are ideal when you don’t want to share much but still want to be respectful.

1. I’ve been well, thank you. How about you?
2. Doing fine, thanks for asking.
3. I’ve been okay. Hope you’ve been well too.
4. I’m doing alright. How have you been?
5. I’ve been good, thank you.
6. Things have been fine on my end.
7. I’ve been managing, thank you.
8. I’m doing okay. How are things with you?
9. I’ve been well. What about you?
10. I’m doing fine, thanks.
11. I’ve been good. Hope everything’s good with you.
12. I’m doing alright, thank you.
13. I’ve been okay, thanks for checking in.
14. Not too bad. Hope you’re doing well.
15. I’ve been fine. How about yourself?

Casual and Friendly Responses (For Friends & Family)

These sound natural and relaxed, especially for close friends or people you know well.

20 Warm Replies That Sound Natural

1. I’ve been good! Just busy with life. How about you?
2. Pretty good—just trying to stay on top of things.
3. I’ve been doing well! What’s new with you?
4. I’ve been alright, just keeping busy. You?
5. Good overall—work’s been a bit hectic though.
6. I’ve been doing great, honestly. How have you been?
7. Doing okay! I’ve missed talking to you.
8. I’ve been fine, just a lot going on lately.
9. I’ve been good—how’s everything with you?
10. I’ve been alright. What have you been up to?
11. I’ve been good! Life’s been moving fast.
12. Not bad—just the usual. How about you?
13. I’ve been okay. What’s been going on with you lately?
14. Doing pretty well! Tell me what you’ve been up to.
15. I’ve been good—thanks for checking in.
16. Doing fine, just trying to keep things together.
17. I’ve been good! It’s been a while.
18. I’m doing well. I should’ve checked in sooner too.
19. I’ve been good, just staying focused. You?
20. I’ve been okay, but it’s nice hearing from you.

15 Replies When You Haven’t Talked in a While

1. I’ve been good! It’s been a long time—how have you been?
2. I’ve been doing well. I can’t believe it’s been so long.
3. I’ve been alright. What have you been up to these days?
4. I’ve been good—so nice to hear from you!
5. I’ve been fine, just busy. What about you?
6. Honestly, a lot has happened. How about you?
7. I’ve been good. We definitely need to catch up.
8. I’ve been okay—life’s been moving fast.
9. I’ve been doing well. How’s everything been with you?
10. I’ve been good, but I’ve missed talking to you.
11. I’ve been alright. What’s new in your life?
12. I’ve been good! Let’s catch up properly soon.
13. I’ve been well—how have things been on your end?
14. I’ve been good. I was just thinking about you.
15. I’ve been okay. It’s honestly nice hearing from you again.

10 Replies That Show You Miss Them (Not Too Much)

1. I’ve been good—missed talking to you. How have you been?
2. I’ve been alright. It’s really nice hearing from you.
3. I’ve been good. I’ve actually missed our chats.
4. Doing fine! It’s been too long.
5. I’ve been okay. I’m glad you reached out.
6. I’ve been good—how have you been? I’ve missed you.
7. I’ve been alright. We should catch up soon.
8. I’ve been good. I’ve missed your vibe, honestly.
9. I’m doing well. It’s been a while and I missed this.
10. I’ve been okay. It’s good to hear from you again.

Formal and Professional Responses (Work & Business)

Use these when replying to coworkers, managers, clients, or anyone in a professional setting.

20 Professional Responses (Email/Work Chat)

1. I’ve been well, thank you. How have you been?
2. Doing well—thank you for checking in.
3. I’ve been good, and I hope you’ve been well too.
4. I’m doing well, thank you. How are things on your end?
5. I’ve been well. I appreciate you reaching out.
6. Doing well, thank you. I hope all is going well with you.
7. I’ve been good. Thank you—how have you been?
8. I’m doing well overall. How have you been?
9. I’ve been well, thank you. It’s good to hear from you.
10. Doing well, thanks. How have you been lately?
11. I’ve been doing well. I appreciate you asking.
12. I’m doing fine, thank you. How are you?
13. I’ve been well, thanks. Hope you’re doing well too.
14. Doing well—thanks for reaching out.
15. I’m doing well. What’s new with you?
16. I’ve been good, thank you. How have things been going?
17. I’ve been well and staying busy. How about you?
18. Doing well. Thank you for checking in.
19. I’ve been fine, thanks. How are things going for you?
20. I’ve been well, thank you. I hope everything is going smoothly.

10 Replies for Clients or Customers

1. I’ve been well, thank you. I hope you’re doing well too.
2. Doing well—thank you for asking. How can I help today?
3. I’m doing well. I appreciate you checking in.
4. I’ve been well, thank you. How have things been on your end?
5. Doing well, thanks. Looking forward to supporting you.
6. I’m doing well, thank you. Hope everything is going smoothly.
7. I’ve been well. Thank you—how can I assist you?
8. Doing well—thank you. I hope business has been going well.
9. I’m doing well, thanks for asking. What can I help you with today?
10. I’ve been well, thank you. I appreciate your message.

10 Replies for a Former Manager or Coworker

1. I’ve been well, thank you. It’s great to hear from you.
2. Doing well—hope you’ve been doing well too.
3. I’ve been good. I appreciate you reaching out.
4. I’m doing well. How have you been?
5. I’ve been well. How have things been going for you?
6. Doing well, thank you. I hope everything is going great at work.
7. I’ve been good. I’ve learned a lot since we last spoke.
8. I’m doing well. It’s nice reconnecting.
9. I’ve been well. Thank you for checking in.
10. Doing well—thank you. I hope we can catch up soon.

Honest Responses (When You Want to Keep It Real)

If you want a more genuine how have you been response without oversharing, use these balanced replies.

15 Honest but Positive Responses

1. I’ve been doing okay—things are getting better.
2. I’ve been good overall, just busy.
3. I’ve been alright. Life’s been a bit hectic lately.
4. I’ve been doing well, just focused on a lot right now.
5. I’ve been okay—some ups and downs, but I’m good.
6. I’ve been doing better lately. How about you?
7. I’ve been fine—just taking things one step at a time.
8. I’ve been doing alright. Trying to stay positive.
9. I’ve been okay, honestly. How have you been?
10. I’ve been good, just a little tired lately.
11. I’ve been alright, but keeping myself busy.
12. I’ve been okay—working on a few things.
13. I’ve been doing good, just a lot going on.
14. I’ve been fine, just figuring things out.
15. I’ve been okay, and I appreciate you asking.

10 Honest Responses With Boundaries

1. It’s been a lot, but I’m managing. How about you?
2. I’ve been okay—just dealing with a few things.
3. I’ve been alright. I’m taking it day by day.
4. Not the best, but I’m getting through it.
5. I’ve been okay, but I’d rather not get into details.
6. It’s been a busy season, but I’m okay.
7. I’ve been alright—just focusing on what I can control.
8. I’ve been okay. I’ve had a lot on my plate lately.
9. It’s been a bit stressful, but I’m doing my best.
10. I’ve been okay, just trying to stay grounded.

10 Honest Responses That Invite Support

1. Honestly, it’s been tough lately. I’m trying though.
2. I’ve been struggling a bit, but I’m getting through it.
3. Not amazing, to be honest. It’s been a rough time.
4. I’ve had a lot going on, and it’s been heavy.
5. I’m doing okay, but I could really use a good conversation.
6. I’ve been stressed lately. It’s been a lot.
7. Not great, but talking might help.
8. I’ve been dealing with some stuff. I’m trying to stay positive.
9. I’ve been okay, but I’ve been feeling overwhelmed.
10. I’ve been having a hard time recently, but I appreciate you asking.

Responses When You’re Not Doing Well

This is where many people get stuck. You can respond honestly without making the conversation uncomfortable.

10 Short Responses When You’re Struggling

1. I’ve been okay, just tired lately.
2. I’ve been managing.
3. Not the best, but I’m trying.
4. Honestly, it’s been a lot.
5. I’ve been okay—just getting through things.
6. I’ve been a little stressed.
7. I’ve been doing my best.
8. It’s been a rough time, but I’m here.
9. I’ve been struggling a bit.
10. I’ve been okay, just not at my best.

10 Responses When You Want to Talk About It

1. Honestly, it’s been hard. A lot has been going on.
2. I’ve been dealing with some things and it’s been stressful.
3. Not great lately. I’ve been feeling overwhelmed.
4. I’ve been struggling, but I’m trying to stay strong.
5. It’s been a tough few weeks. I could use someone to talk to.
6. I haven’t been doing great, to be honest.
7. I’ve been going through a lot recently.
8. I’ve been down lately, but I’m trying to improve.
9. It’s been rough, but I appreciate you asking.
10. I’ve been dealing with a lot. Want to hear the full story?

10 Responses When You Don’t Want to Explain

1. Not great, but I’d rather not get into it.
2. I’ve been okay, just keeping things private right now.
3. It’s been a lot lately, but I’m handling it.
4. I’ve been fine, just keeping to myself.
5. I’m alright, but I don’t really want to talk about it.
6. I’ve been okay—just focusing on myself right now.
7. Not the best, but I’m okay.
8. I’ve been dealing with things quietly.
9. I’m doing alright, just keeping it low-key.
10. I’ve been okay—thanks for checking in.

Funny and Playful Responses

If you want a fun how have you been response, humor is a great choice—especially with friends, close coworkers, or someone you’re dating. These replies keep things light while still moving the conversation forward.

15 Funny Responses (Light Humor)

1. Surviving… barely. How about you?
2. I’ve been good, just living the same drama in different episodes.
3. I’ve been okay—my life is basically a to-do list.
4. I’ve been great… when I’m asleep.
5. I’ve been good, just fighting for my peace daily.
6. Honestly? I’ve been vibing and avoiding responsibilities.
7. I’ve been okay—still waiting for life to get easy.
8. I’ve been good. My stress is also doing well.
9. I’ve been alright—just trying not to lose my mind.
10. I’ve been fine. Mentally I’m on airplane mode though.
11. I’ve been good, just one coffee away from happiness.
12. I’ve been okay—life keeps testing me like a pop quiz.
13. I’ve been good, but I’m still confused about adulthood.
14. I’ve been alright. My mood changes faster than the weather.
15. I’ve been great—thanks for checking in, therapist.

10 Cheeky Responses (Flirty or Confident)

1. I’ve been good, but better now that you texted.
2. I’ve been great—clearly thriving. What about you?
3. I’ve been good. You missed me, didn’t you?
4. I’ve been okay, but I was hoping you’d ask.
5. I’ve been good… you trying to catch up or what?
6. I’ve been fine. What about you, trouble?
7. I’ve been good. I might even be a little better than before.
8. I’ve been great—tell me you missed my vibe.
9. I’ve been good. Now tell me what you’ve been doing.
10. I’ve been good. So when are we catching up?

10 Funny Responses for Close Friends Only

1. I’ve been good, but still not rich—sadly.
2. I’ve been fine. My patience is not.
3. I’ve been okay. I’m still emotionally sponsored by snacks.
4. I’ve been good. My bank account disagrees.
5. I’ve been fine. My mental health is buffering though.
6. I’ve been okay—just collecting more trauma for character development.
7. I’ve been good, but I’m tired of being an adult.
8. I’ve been fine. My life is still a mess, but a cute one.
9. I’ve been okay. I’m basically running on vibes.
10. I’ve been good. I also miss complaining with you.

Positive and Optimistic Responses

These are upbeat responses to “How have you been?” that sound confident and good-energy. Great for reconnecting, professional replies, and dating conversations.

15 Positive Responses (High Energy)

1. I’ve been great! Life’s been good lately. How about you?
2. I’ve been doing really well, thanks!
3. I’ve been good—lots of good things happening.
4. I’ve been doing amazing recently. What about you?
5. I’ve been really good, honestly.
6. I’ve been doing well and staying busy in a good way.
7. I’ve been great—just focused and productive.
8. I’ve been doing better than ever. How have you been?
9. I’ve been feeling really positive lately.
10. I’ve been good—things have been moving forward.
11. I’ve been great. I can’t complain at all.
12. I’ve been doing well, and I’m grateful for it.
13. I’ve been good—excited about what’s next.
14. I’ve been doing great. I hope you have too.
15. I’ve been good—just enjoying life lately.

10 Grateful Responses (Thankful Tone)

1. I’ve been good, thankfully. How about you?
2. I’ve been doing well and feeling grateful.
3. I’ve been okay—thankful for the good days.
4. I’ve been good. I’ve been appreciating the small wins.
5. I’ve been well—thank you for checking in.
6. I’ve been doing fine, and I’m grateful for that.
7. I’ve been good. Life’s been teaching me a lot lately.
8. I’ve been well, and I’m thankful for the support around me.
9. I’ve been doing good—just staying grounded.
10. I’ve been fine, and I appreciate you asking.

10 Motivational Responses (Growth + Progress)

1. I’ve been good—working on myself lately.
2. I’ve been doing well and staying focused on growth.
3. I’ve been okay—taking life step by step.
4. I’ve been good—learning and improving every day.
5. I’ve been doing better—progress is happening.
6. I’ve been good—just building and staying consistent.
7. I’ve been alright—trying to stay strong and positive.
8. I’ve been good—working toward some goals.
9. I’ve been doing well—just staying disciplined.
10. I’ve been okay—growing through everything.

Best “How Have You Been?” Responses for Texting

Text replies should feel natural, short, and easy. These work for quick chats, reconnecting, dating, and coworkers.

15 Text Responses (Short + Natural)

1. I’ve been good! How about you?
2. Pretty good—what about you?
3. I’ve been okay. You?
4. Busy but good. What’s up with you?
5. Doing well lately! How have you been?
6. I’ve been alright. What have you been up to?
7. I’m good—thanks for checking in.
8. I’ve been fine. How’s life?
9. I’ve been doing great. You?
10. I’ve been okay—just staying busy.
11. Not bad. What’s new with you?
12. I’ve been good. It’s been a while!
13. Doing fine! How about yourself?
14. I’ve been okay. Glad you reached out.
15. I’ve been good. What about you?

10 Text Responses for Someone You Like

1. I’ve been good, but it’s better hearing from you.
2. I’ve been great. What about you, cutie?
3. I’ve been good. I was hoping you’d message.
4. I’m doing good—how have you been lately?
5. I’ve been okay. I missed talking to you though.
6. I’ve been good. When are we catching up?
7. I’ve been fine. Tell me what you’ve been up to.
8. I’ve been good—what about you? I missed you.
9. I’ve been okay. Your text made my day.
10. I’ve been good. Now it’s your turn.

10 Text Responses for an Old Friend

1. I’ve been good! It’s been so long—how are you?
2. I’ve been alright. I’ve missed you!
3. I’ve been good—what have you been up to lately?
4. I’ve been okay. It’s so nice hearing from you.
5. I’ve been well. We need to catch up soon.
6. I’ve been good—how’s everything with you?
7. I’ve been fine. What’s new with you these days?
8. I’ve been good. Let’s talk properly soon.
9. I’ve been okay. I was just thinking about you.
10. I’ve been good. So what’s been going on?

10 Text Responses for a Coworker

1. I’ve been well, thanks. How about you?
2. Doing well—hope you are too.
3. I’ve been good. How have things been at work?
4. I’ve been well. Thanks for checking in.
5. Doing fine—staying busy.
6. I’ve been good. Hope everything is going smoothly.
7. I’m doing well—thank you.
8. I’ve been alright. What about you?
9. Doing well. How’s everything going?
10. I’ve been well. Appreciate you reaching out.

Best “How Have You Been?” Responses for Email

Email responses should be polite, clear, and professional. These work well for reconnecting with a colleague, former manager, client, or someone you haven’t spoken to in a while.

10 Email Responses (Professional)

1. I’ve been well, thank you. I hope you’ve been doing well too.
2. I’m doing well, thank you for asking. How have you been?
3. I’ve been well and staying busy. I appreciate you reaching out.
4. Doing well, thank you. I hope everything is going smoothly on your end.
5. I’ve been good, thank you. How are things with you?
6. I’m doing well, and I hope you are as well.
7. I’ve been well—thank you for checking in.
8. Doing well, thank you. It’s great to hear from you.
9. I’ve been good, thank you. I appreciate your message.
10. I’m doing well, thank you. I hope all is well with you too.

10 Email Responses (Warm + Polite)

1. I’ve been doing well, thank you. It’s nice to hear from you.
2. I’ve been good, thank you for asking. I hope you’ve been well too.
3. I’m doing well—thank you. I appreciate you checking in.
4. I’ve been well, thanks. I’d love to hear how you’ve been.
5. I’ve been good. I’m glad you reached out.
6. I’ve been doing fine, thank you. It’s been a while.
7. I’m doing well, and it’s nice reconnecting.
8. I’ve been good. Thank you for checking in.
9. I’ve been okay, and I hope you’ve been doing well too.
10. I’ve been doing well. Thanks for thinking of me.

5 Email Templates You Can Copy

1. Short professional
   Hi [Name],
   I’ve been well, thank you. How have you been?
   Best,
   [Your Name]
2. Warm reconnecting
   Hi [Name],
   I’ve been doing well—thank you for asking. It’s really nice to hear from you. How have you been?
   Best regards,
   [Your Name]
3. Work-focused
   Hi [Name],
   I’ve been well, thank you. How have things been going on your end? Would love to hear what you’ve been working on lately.
   Best,
   [Your Name]
4. Friendly but professional
   Hi [Name],
   I’ve been good—thank you for checking in. It’s been a while. How have you been?
   Warm regards,
   [Your Name]
5. Catch-up invitation
   Hi [Name],
   I’ve been doing well, thank you. How have you been? If you’re open to it, I’d love to catch up sometime soon.
   Best,
   [Your Name]

How to Keep the Conversation Going After Your Response

A strong response is helpful, but a follow-up question is what keeps the conversation flowing.

Best Follow-Up Questions to Ask

• How have you been lately?
• What have you been up to recently?
• How’s work/school been going?
• Anything new with you?
• What’s been keeping you busy?
• How’s life treating you?
• What’s the biggest update since we last talked?
• How’s your family doing?
• What are you doing these days?
• Want to catch up sometime?

Easy Conversation Starters (No Awkwardness)

• I was just thinking about you the other day.
• It’s been so long—what’s new?
• I saw something that reminded me of you.
• I’ve been meaning to reach out.
• How’s everything been going for you lately?

How to Reply If They Ask “What Have You Been Up To?”

You can keep it simple and still give a clear update:

• “Mostly work and trying to stay consistent.”
• “Just staying busy with life and a few goals.”
• “A lot of work, a little rest, and trying to balance everything.”
• “Not much new, just focusing on myself and my routine.”
• “I’ve been busy but good—what about you?”

How to Transition Into Meeting Up

If you want to meet, keep it casual:

• “We should catch up soon if you’re free.”
• “Want to grab coffee sometime this week?”
• “Let’s meet up and talk properly.”
• “If you’re around, we should hang out.”
• “It’s been too long. Want to catch up this weekend?”

What Not to Say (Responses That Kill the Conversation)

Some replies feel cold, awkward, or too intense. Avoid these if you want the conversation to continue.

Too Short (Cold) Replies

• “Fine.”
• “Good.”
• “Okay.”

These can sound dismissive, even if you didn’t mean it.

Too Negative (Oversharing) Replies

• “Terrible. Everything is going wrong.”
• “Honestly, my life is a mess.”

If you’re not close, this can overwhelm the conversation.

One-Word Replies That Look Rude

• “K.”
• “Whatever.”
• “Same.”

These often stop the conversation completely.

Replies That Sound Fake or Generic

• “I’m doing amazing!” (when it doesn’t match your tone)
• “Everything is perfect!” (too dramatic)
• “Living the dream” (can feel sarcastic)

Real Examples (Best Responses by Situation)

Here are realistic examples you can copy based on who is messaging you.

When You’re Reconnecting With Someone

“I’ve been good! It’s been a while. How have you been lately?”

When It’s an Ex or Old Crush

“I’ve been doing okay. Hope you’ve been well too. What’s been new with you?”

When It’s a New Friend or Acquaintance

“I’ve been good, thanks! How have you been?”

When It’s a Coworker or Boss

“I’ve been well, thank you. How have you been?”

When You’re Busy and Want to End the Chat Politely

“I’ve been good, thanks for asking. Hope you’ve been well too. I’ve got to run, but it was great hearing from you!”

Conclusion

A good how have you been response depends on your relationship, tone, and mood. You can keep it short, polite, and friendly—or give a longer update if you want to reconnect.

To keep the conversation going, add a simple follow-up question like “How about you?” or “What have you been up to lately?” Save a few of these responses so you always have the right words ready whenever someone asks, “How have you been?”

FAQs

How do you reply to “How have you been?”

You can reply with a short update and ask it back, like: “I’ve been good, thanks. How about you?” or “Busy but doing well—what about you?”

How to answer “How have you been feeling?”

You can be honest but simple: “I’ve been feeling better lately,” “I’ve been a bit stressed but okay,” or “I’m doing alright—thanks for asking.”

How to respond to “How have you been” text from a guy (flirty)?

Reply warm and playful: “I’ve been good, but better now that you texted,” “I’ve been good—missed hearing from you,” or “I’ve been great. When are we catching up?”

How have you been or how have you being?

The correct phrase is “How have you been?”
“How have you being?” is grammatically incorrect.