Generally speaking, how do I know if a woman is actually enjoying the conversation or just being polite
1. If she's looking around a lot, looking irritated, leaning away, or not really responding or coming up with new topics, she might not be enjoying the conversation (
n.b., perspective is a woman who is good at conversation and extroverted once I pry my ass out of the house...many women, like many men, don't have or care to have a million ways to prod a convo along and keep it entertaining, so silence or seriousness or lack of animation doesn't necessarily mean they hate it)...
but
2.
Stop worrying Try not to worry about it. It's just a conversation. Be interested, ask her about herself (but keep it light), listen, respond, build on what she said. ...and remember it's just a conversation....
Worst case is you are enjoying it, you ask her out, and she says no.
If that's the case, just keep it moving - don't get discouraged.
And fwiw, someone might enjoy the convo and still not want another one with you...or it might be an awkward one but they still want to talk/meet again. So don't put the weight of the world on either one of you.
*I'm assuming from the Q you're potentially interested and don't know them (one person or in general) that well. If it's a general interaction in a public place, again,
keep it light. Smile. Pay attention. Don't do monologues. Self-edit if you're an over-sharer. Don't assume every word you say is understood how you mean it. And for the love of God, don't rant or be a downer.
Curious, though, since I've just assumed a bunch of scenarios - what is/are the context(s)?