How Cruel is a 12-inch one-sided EP by British singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading, which was released in November 1979 on A&M.

[2] The title track had previously appeared on Armatrading's live album Steppin' Out, which was not released in the US.

[6] The single from this EP was "Rosie"/"How Cruel" (1979/1980), which reached #49 in the UK and #52 in Australia.

[7][8][9] "Rosie" was included on Armatrading's first compilation album, 1983's Track Record,[10] as well as her 2004 live album Live: All the Way from America.

[11] All four tracks from this EP were placed at the start of the second CD of Armatrading's 2003 compilation album Love and Affection: Joan Armatrading Classics (1975–1983).