Clear Answers for Common Questions

Learning to raise a polite child is a matter of consistency, teaching by example, and helping children understand what constitutes polite behavior. It is almost always the case that the impolite parent won’t have a polite child, as you are the example for your child. It’s important to ...

While writing thank you notes was once a common practice, this custom appears to have fallen out of favor in recent years. However, there are many excellent reasons why you should consider teaching your children to write thank you notes. In a society where e-mail and instant messaging are ...

Teaching children about politely receiving gifts is important during the first few years of life. It is especially valuable to practice politely receiving gifts, so that children are well rehearsed prior to the hustle and bustle of a holiday or birthday. Very young children often shout out things like “I ...

Teaching a child to be a good sport and exhibit good sportsmanship can begin early. Even before children are old enough to play games, they may observe their parents watching and/or participating in sports. Parents are thus given the opportunity to be a good sport themselves, and model for ...

It would be difficult to say precisely when the response "No problem" first entered the public vernacular, but its use (or more precisely, overuse) has been a point of contention among etiquette and grammar experts for decades. Some have no problem with a "no problem" response during an informal exchange ...

Etiquette is a set of practices and forms which are followed in a wide variety of situations; many people consider it to be a branch of decorum, or general social behavior. Each society has its own distinct etiquette, and various cultures within a society also have their own rules and ...

Cubicle etiquette is a set of unwritten rules that exist in the workplace and help govern how people behave when they work in close quarters. Etiquette guidelines should be adhered to by both workers in the cubicle and people in adjoining work spaces, and many employees get very upset if ...

Hospital etiquette is a form of behavior that affects both patients and visitors. It requires some common sense but also some research to do it right. Hospital etiquette didn't have a proper name until just a few years ago, although the norms of what is acceptable in a hospital ...

An elevator can be an uncomfortable environment when the riders do not observe the basic rules of common courtesy. Good elevator etiquette is mostly common sense, but being aware of it will make your elevator rides more comfortable, especially if you encourage others in the building to remember to be ...

Fondue etiquette is important to know if you plan to attend a fondue party, which since the early 2000s have become pretty popular again. Hosts can help their guests by providing them with a few things that will have their guests politely eating fondue, instead of offending each other with ...

Massage and body treatments are a lot more enjoyable if you are properly prepared. Massage etiquette applies to any type of spa services, from facials to pedicures, and it will ensure that you get quality service while remaining comfortable and relaxed. Most spa etiquette tips are common sense, but some ...

When couples are unmarried but cohabitate, debate or controversy may be stirred when invitations are issued to visit parents or other relatives. Couples may wish to share a bedroom on family visits, but may find their desire at odds with that of their family’s. From the standpoint of etiquette ...

Common areas belonging to homeowner’s associations or to condominium or apartment complexes deserve some attention to etiquette. While one can generally conduct oneself in any manner on one’s own property, common areas imply that one is sharing with people of different backgrounds and different interests. Often common areas ...

A vegetarian may feel challenged when inviting guests who normally eat meat to a dinner party. The average vegetarian, who consumes dairy and eggs, is able to construct dinners that are perfectly friendly to the meat eater without serving meat. Most traditional marinara sauces are meatless, as are a number ...

Noisy neighbors are a common problem in a society where many people live closely together. Obviously, this issue can be most significant when you share walls or a floor/ceiling with a neighbor in an apartment, duplex or condo. But even in freestanding homes, a noisy neighbor can make life ...

Somewhere during the 1980’s Americans were told “there’s no wrong way to eat a Reese’s.” True as this may be there is one caveat: unless you’re eating with chopsticks. Chopsticks, like a fork and knife, come with their own set of rules and proper decorum. There ...

Generally, you should not tip your waiter only when your are extremely unhappy with the service. Though the standard is to tip 15% of the total bill for good service at lunch and 20% of the total bill for good service at dinner, these are highly subjective. In other words ...

In most countries, the practice of tipping remains more of a custom than a mandate. In fact, there are entire organizations dedicated to the complete eradication of this practice, which they say compels the public to compensate for the low wages paid by greedy or stingy employers. Nevertheless, it has ...

How much to tip at a restaurant depends on the class of the restaurant, your server, the size of your party, and the quality of the service. Different cultures have different expectations, so exact percentages vary depending on where you are in the world. Generally, however, tips range from 10 ...

Deciding whom to tip can be challenging. In the US, many in service industries base part of their income on tips. Further, some people, who are not tipped regularly, may expect a small yearly gift, particularly when you can afford it. Knowing whom to tip in other countries can be ...

Determining the appropriate tip at a restaurant is a difficult matter. Rules for tips vary from country to country. In some countries, tipping is an insult, but in the US, the appropriate tip rate for a waiter or waitress is 15%. Most people tend to feel that 20% is an ...

An appropriate tip for a hairstylist depends on several factors. Did someone other than the hairstylist shampoo your hair for example? Did the work take several hours? Did you have a manicure or wax at the same time, by other workers in the salon? In general, a simple haircut by ...

A hostess gift is a gift which is given to the host or hostess of an event by guests. A small gift is generally considered appropriate for dinners and parties, while guests who are staying for several days may get something larger. The ideal gift is tasteful and elegant, reflecting ...

When playing any variation of poker, you should always have the right to count your chips. After all, no one else at the table is going to keep track of them, and you certainly don't want to bid more than you can cover. Knowing when to count your chips ...

Many people enjoy the hobby of karaoke singing, a form of entertainment in which background vocals and lyrics are provided for soloists or groups. Karaoke, Japanese for "empty orchestra", is often featured in local bars or nightclubs as a means of attracting new customers and building up repeat business. With ...

There is some dispute about what constitutes an appropriate bar tip. When people pay for drinks one at a time, they usually tip the bartender about $1 US Dollar (USD) per drink. Free drinks delivered in a casino setting tend to require a tip of $1 to $2 USD. When ...

When you prepare to attend a cocktail party, it is much like preparing to attend a dinner party. Your first step is to respond to the host to let him or her know that you plan to attend. Next, determine the occasion for the party, and if it is a ...

In many parts of the United States, a rule about not wearing white after Labor Day, which takes place on the first Monday in September, is heavily ingrained. The roots of the idea that people should not wear white after Labor Day appear to be shrouded in mystery, and the ...

To go Dutch, also known as a Dutch treat or a Dutch date, implies an informal agreement for each person to pay for his or her own expenses during a planned date or outing. The decision to do this is usually made in advance in order to avoid any confusion ...

Tips are generally customary when you valet park your car in the US. There is some disagreement about when and how much to tip, however. Some suggest a larger tip if you have a nice car and want to keep it safe. On the other hand, some feel that the ...

A first date can be a lot of fun if you remind yourself that it's an opportunity to learn more about a person you find yourself attracted to. If you worry whether it will lead to a relationship or not or try too hard to impress this new person ...

Sending a thank you note after an interview is an opportunity for giving a final good impression. In general, you should send a note within a day or two of the interview. Even if you don't plan to accept any offered job, showing your appreciation can be a way ...

Wearing high heels at the office depends greatly upon dress code. Many offices require more than just sitting, so high heels worn should always be something one can walk in swiftly, and frequently. If a shoe is so high that it is merely for decorative purpose and will have one ...

Thank you cards are something that many people do as a matter of course, whenever another person provides a moment of their time, or performs a service of some sort for the individual. While many occasions clearly indicate that writing thank you cards is an appropriate response, some of our ...

Lunch interviews are becoming more and more common in many professional areas. While a regular job interview requires a certain set of skills, a lunch interview can be especially tricky. If you are facing one, however, there are a few things you can do to improve your chances of acing ...

One of the things you should avoid when you’re emailing is creating what is called an email train. You’ve likely seen these before if you’re not that new to the net or email communications. These are letters in which there are a huge number of previous replies ...

Cell phones have become an unavoidable part of modern life for many people, but their presence in so many places can lead to situations in which users are inconsiderate of others. Just as general rules of etiquette vary among cultures, so do rules of cell phone etiquette. Still, some basic ...

Email etiquette, sometimes referred to as netiquette in broad terms, is a complicated thing. It’s certainly not appropriate to fail to respond to email, especially from individuals, but we all get busy at times and may be able to do no more than to acknowledge the receipt of emails ...

Internet dating is on the rise with well over 1,000 dating sites available online. Confusions about Internet dating etiquette have arisen, since this form of dating has gained in popularity. There are some definite Internet dating etiquette guidelines, which can help one navigate this new experience of trying to ...

Since so much business is now conducted via email, understanding business email etiquette is of great value. A few guidelines to keep in mind are to know one’s audience, keep communication short and to the point, and keep business email similar to regular business mail. Within these guidelines for ...

Some bemoan the lack of basic telephone etiquette both in personal and professional calls. Telephone etiquette offers a way for people to function politely together in a society, eliminating frustration and communication mishaps. However, telephone etiquette works best when all know the rules. Start early teaching children telephone etiquette. Don ...

Using someone else's wireless service is indeed stealing, as it involves using a resource that someone else has paid for without paying for it. It may not always be totally unethical, however, especially if you talk about it with the person, and in some communities, anonymous strangers may actively ...

The Internet has spawned whole new ethical dilemmas regarding how we relate to one another. A typical example of this is the new chat room etiquette, which helps us determine how we should talk to people in a chat room setting. Unlike a private conversation with a single person via ...

The Internet has become a world-wide community and in the process, innumerable forums on every subject under the sun are available where people can express their opinions. Some forums are closely moderated -- that is, someone checks every post for suitability before it is uploaded to the forum. Some forums ...

The Internet community does offer users a number of outlets to express their personal opinions and thoughts, from chat rooms to message forums to comment submission forms. Many of these interactive web pages encourage or even require participants to remain anonymous or create alternative identities. The anonymity of the Internet ...

To be tolerant is to be respectful of the belief systems or practices of others, either as an individual or as a culture. The term tolerance is often applied in religion or in society as an understanding that others may have different belief systems, or look different. In fact, governments ...

When thinking about Middle Eastern etiquette, it is important to remember that the Middle East is incredibly diverse, and it hosts communities which have wildly different rules of etiquette. Although there are a few etiquette tips which hold true throughout the Middle East, it is a good idea to solicit ...

Some people may enjoy attending Mass but do not practice the Catholic faith. The Catholic Church is happy to see people of different faiths attending, but they do request, most often in the service, that only Catholics participate in the Communion portion of the service. To take Communion when one ...

Sending religious cards to non-religious friends may be potentially insulting. Worse is sending a religious card to a friend of a different religion, say an overtly Christian card to a Jewish friend. If cards are meant to offer salutations, thanks, sympathies, or to wish someone a good holiday season ...

Giving co-worker gifts requires some thought. They should be appropriate and in keeping with company policies. They should represent thoughtfulness but not a great deal of expense. Some companies have specific policies about when it is acceptable to give gifts to a co-worker, and also may limit price ...

Receiving gifts from people who were not born to shop may be a mixed bag. Sometimes, an anxious shopper will give you something terrific, and other times you might receive something that you absolutely hate. It is always important to bear in mind that the thought is what counts. The ...

There are a number of ways to give condolences to someone who has experienced the death of a loved one, depending on the nature of the relationship to the mourner and the person's geographical proximity. Condolences of any form are usually greatly appreciated by the mourner and his or ...

Deciding who should receive Christmas cards can be a difficult process. Should you send a card to a new business associate or the neighbor down the street, for instance? In general Christmas cards should be sent, first and foremost, to family and friends who celebrate Christmas. Friends who do not ...

At some point, most people have probably received a gift that they either didn't want or didn't need. Whether it was a sweater in a color that was completely wrong for the complexion or a painting that clashed with the receiver's home décor, deciding what ...

Having a baby shower for a first baby is a standard event, and it’s often a delight for new moms and a significant help when she's trying to gather all the things that she needs to prepare for the coming of baby. There’s significant debate on whether ...

In general, it is considered perfectly acceptable for a couple to register for wedding gifts if it is their second marriage. While it is acceptable, according to most etiquette experts, people attending one’s second marriage ceremony are not in any way obligated to give gifts. Especially when such people ...

It is rarely considered poor etiquette to send flowers to those who have recently lost loved ones, but there are some circumstances under which a different gesture may be more appropriate. Many people send flowers directly to a funeral home for display during the actual calling hours and funeral service ...

Many etiquette experts suggest that thank you notes are less frequently used than politeness requires. They complain that the practice of writing a note upon receipt of a gift is in decline, and is little encouraged in children who will determine the future of such etiquette. Most people probably don ...

Mind your Ps and Qs can mean to be careful, vigilant, or, more often, polite. For example, a mother might mention that Aunt Gertrude is a stickler for manners and the children had better mind their Ps and Qs when she visits. There are several suggested origins for the phrase ...

A gratuity is a small monetary gift given to a service worker in acknowledgment for his or her service. Many people refer to a gratuity as a tip, especially in reference to food service workers. Gratuities show gratefulness and appreciation on the part of the customer, rewarding the employee for ...

Regifting is the process of passing a gift one receives onto another person. It may be that the gift makes it suitable for regifting because the color, or style of the gift would be ideal for someone else. Alternately, many people regift items like wine or food if they have ...

A condolence letter is a piece of correspondence sent to someone to express condolences for a death. These letters are classically sent to the lead mourner, although they can also be sent to the extended family and friends of the deceased. Such a letter differs from a condolence card in ...

A finishing school is an institution which offers training in cultural values and norms. Most are designed for women only, and as the name implies, people attend the school after their basic education is completed, “finishing” their education with instruction in how to live in society. Many such schools focus ...

A sympathy note is a brief note or card sent to someone who has lost a loved one to express sympathy and offer condolences. By contrast, a condolence or sympathy letter is a longer written letter which involves more detail, and is generally much more personal. Sympathy notes are greatly ...