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Manners and Etiquette: The Best Rules to Follow

Stop annoying other by keeping your cell phone off the table, holding doors for people, and learn the proper rules of etiquette for every situation.

from Reader's Digest | Dec/Jan 2012
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1. Wait for everyone to be served

If you're seated at a table with eight or fewer guests, wait for everyone to be served and for the hostess to begin eating before you dig in. At a long banquet table, it's OK to start when several people are seated and served.

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2. Keep your things off the table

All things not having to do with food (and decoration) should remain off the table: keys, clutch bags, cigarette packs, sunglasses, BlackBerrys.

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3. Don't text at the table

Farhad Manjoo on slate.com: "If you're in a situation where you'd excuse yourself to go to the bathroom, you should also excuse yourself before reaching for your phone."

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4. If you prefer not to have wine while dining out, don't turn your glass upside down

Don't make a big deal of saying you don't drink. Simply place your fingertips on the rim of the glass and say "Not today, thanks." This implies no judgment of those who wish to imbibe.

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5. Practice good speakerphone manners

Don't use a speakerphone unless you're in your office and holding a meeting that's being attended by someone remotely. Alert the person you're speaking with that others are present, and close the door. FYI: Using a speakerphone at full volume to go through your voice mailbox is the definition of annoying.

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6. Whoever arrives at a door first holds it for the next person

It doesn't matter the gender of either.

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7. Don't microwave stinky foods in the shared lunchroom. (Come on.)

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8. At the airport, don't crowd the boarding area

And once on board, stow your stuff and get out of the aisle quickly. When claiming your baggage don't crowd the carousel. Step forward only when you see your bag.

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9. Let people off the elevator and hold the doors for others before you board

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10. If all you have to say in your e-mail reply is "Thanks!" refrain from sending it.

You're just clogging an inbox.

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11. Keep your cell phone out of the conversation

When talking to someone in person, don't glance down at your cell phone to see who's trying to reach you.

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12. Be polite in e-mail

Things not to do when e-mailing: shout in all caps, use colored fonts or clip-art emoticons, attach large files, forward an e-mail unless appropriate.

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13. Respect the text

Work e-mails can be sent anytime, but business texts should be restricted to one hour before the start of the workday to two hours after it ends, according to The Modern Gentleman.

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Your Comments

  • joy mae

     its soo good tama!

  • http://www.facebook.com/arshamsray Shams Aci

     Wait for everyone to be served: That sounds as a qualified etiquette & manner.

  • http://www.facebook.com/arshamsray Shams Aci

     Keep your things off the table:   Right

  • http://www.facebook.com/arshamsray Shams Aci

     Don’t text at the table:  Right

  • http://www.facebook.com/arshamsray Shams Aci

     Whoever arrives at a door first holds it for the next person

    It doesn’t matter the gender of either.                                  :  Nice

  • Harvthebarbarian

    I think the last one about an email “thanks” is not correct.  Not so much for the thank you, but that it acknowledges that you received the other person’s email doing something or telling you something that is worthy of a thank you.  If you don’t reply, you may be leaving the sender wondering if you even received it.  I don’t consider a confirmation a clogging of my inbox.

  • Harvthebarbarian

    I think the last one about an email “thanks” is not correct.  Not so much for the thank you, but that it acknowledges that you received the other person’s email doing something or telling you something that is worthy of a thank you.  If you don’t reply, you may be leaving the sender wondering if you even received it.  I don’t consider a confirmation a clogging of my inbox.

  • Heavenrabbit

    nice tip

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/SMVV27EYKNNGAPJEMDK4R72B2M Roxy

    This is one of those things that boys and girls are taught at an early age.  It always pays to be polite.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/SMVV27EYKNNGAPJEMDK4R72B2M Roxy

    This is one of those things that boys and girls are taught at an early age.  It always pays to be polite.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/SMVV27EYKNNGAPJEMDK4R72B2M Roxy

    This is one of those things that boys and girls are taught at an early age.  It always pays to be polite.

  • Robin Caulfield

    Sending a “thanks” let’s the person to whom you are replying know that you received the information and they don’t have to worry about if it vanishing into spam, or was buried in a stack, or had a failed attachment of something critical. Sending a one word email takes a second, reading it takes a second, and while I am aware seconds can add up so does frustration and concern over communication. Send the thanks, it makes everything easier and lets people move on to other matters more confidently. 

  • mohd gulrez

    ettiquets folllow with girl friend

  • Mohdgulrez

    ettiquets follow with family

  • H.L.

    As new technological changes come into our daily life, we each have a reasonability to learn and change. The business card came along in the late 1800′s as a form of introduction of ones self. Living in the South most of my life, I find many others with poor social skills. Breaking bread at a the table (a game changer) as some will take the whole bread into both hands to brake off one part, “WRONG”. I find it most disturbing when others around me openly talk about foot cleaning, operations, diet, ear wax removal or anything relating to the body at the dinner table or in a public place. The table is the place of reverence to others, with full respectful beaver to the host and others at the table. At the table one should address current issues of the day and not things like a murders or bad accidents. But with the lack of knowledge in todays world one can understand the lack of self control. A child learns there is a difference between inside voice and outside voice. Some adults still have a problem in this area. When going to dinner the lead person should know his or her group and ask for a private room if necessary. Bring a baby or small unlearned child or talking about others in the office in a public dinning room is “WRONG”. Some may be paying 100′s of dollars per plate. So setting next to the restroom door or a crying child shows a total lack of respect for others. Lastly as I am running on, one should not text, or dial a phone number while driving.

  • John From Ohio

    the person who wrote this doesn’t have a clue about manners versus etiquette!