Questions tagged [etiquette]

Etiquette is a set of rules or customs that control accepted behaviour in particular social groups or social situations.

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What are the etiquette rules for bringing someone with me to a high school reunion?

I got invited to a 10-year high school being hosted at a local restaurant. I'd like to go, but I haven't seen most of my classmates in years. I have some social awkwardness and didn't really form my ...
Stevoisiak's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
862 views

How do I tell my sister that her daughters should not use their smart phones in church?

I am part of a family in which I and my siblings were all raised Christian and our parents took us to church every week. Our parents expected us to behave in church and to try our best to listen ...
user57467's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
195 views

Tipping etiquette for combined self-service buffet & table service

We were on holiday in Brazil recently (we're Irish), and we went for a dinner / show. The dinner was a self-service buffet, however when sitting down and during the show, waiters did come around to ...
komodosp's user avatar
  • 577
3 votes
2 answers
664 views

Etiquette for wearing ties at a "Black Tie" event

I've been invited to a wedding (in Scotland, UK). It's described as a "Black-tie" event and the groom has asked guests to wear a dinner jacket (tuxedo), but it's not an absolute requirement. ...
mooie's user avatar
  • 133
5 votes
3 answers
1k views

How to deal with a younger lady who I may have inadvertently offended?

I seem to be having some interpersonal problems with a female co-worker in my workplace. To put it into context, I'm a middle-aged male and she is a fair bit younger (early 20s). I first met her at a ...
Time4Tea's user avatar
  • 181
4 votes
2 answers
508 views

Is it acceptable to save seats for friends/relatives in waiting areas?

I've come across this rude habit of some people in the waiting areas at airports or hospitals wherein they place something (like a handbag or a water bottle) on a vacant seat next to them, and claim ...
Shoes's user avatar
  • 49
1 vote
2 answers
809 views

Is it appropriate for foreigners to thank US veterans for their service?

I am a foreigner living in the USA. I sometimes come across veterans and I know that in the local culture it is custom to respectfully acknowledge their service. Nothing too fancy: Person A: "... ...
Foreigner in America's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
640 views

How can I ask my neighbours to refrain from using EV spaces?

My wife and I own a little electric vehicle, EV, and live in an area with many public EV charging points. Most of the time, our EV is fantastic; we plug it in when we get home, and then in the morning ...
James Geddes's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
561 views

What is the proper title for addressing a godparent?

A friend asked me to be a godparent for his first child. Due to Covid, I really haven't seen my godson since his first birthday so he really doesn't know me. I am sending a birthday gift with a card....
Moby Disk's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
578 views

Inviting a colleague to hang out without giving the impression I'm interested in something more than friendship

I have one collaborator from another country for whom I have great admiration. In fact I'm learning a lot with her and I think she is amazing both professionally and as a person, and I would like to ...
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4 votes
1 answer
605 views

How to shake hands with someone having a prosthetic right arm/hand?

Airbus did a few years ago a few videos about inclusion of disabled people, including this one: https://youtu.be/RJuE_Ywl64o It features a disabled woman with a prosthetic right arm (or hand, it is ...
WoJ's user avatar
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12 votes
2 answers
1k views

Why is it considered bad form to break up with someone over written text?

I am autistic and, when I was a teenager (10 years ago), I had always heard that it was "rude" to break up with someone over text. However, I never understood why. What's wrong with ...
Ael's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
283 views

If I know my interlocutor native language, it is approprieate to respond them using it? [closed]

I got an email in English from a staff member, and it turns out that he speaks the same native language as me (which is not English). Would it be rude/appropriate to respond to the email in our native ...
Atresmo's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
579 views

How can I raise my opinion to a biased person without looking too offensive?

Personally, I am a 25 year old male who has just graduated with a Computer Science degree and currently a Software Engineer by profession. Recently, my dad was very interested in numerology after ...
Prashin Jeevaganth's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
483 views

How to thank someone for her kindness in welcoming you publically?

I am in a formal setting whereby my superior pleasantly welcomed me in an email (tricky to say it is non-formal, it is formal but in a nice way) among other members. I want to reply to her via email, ...
Anonymous's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
568 views

How do I tactfully ask an ex-supervisor to approve a reference letter that I have drafted without changing anything in the main body?

I am currently in the process of my immigration application, and I need employment reference letters from all my previous employers. I worked at a job for 20 months. It's been 5 years since I left. I ...
AIQ's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
481 views

What is the maximum interaction where saying goodbye is unnecessary in the US?

Often when you meet people on the street you may opt to say "Hi" and then be on your way. To my understanding this is not considered a rude behavior. It is also common to greet someone have ...
Gregory Furmanek's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
225 views

How to start the interaction in one online meeting in a friendly manner?

I have always had some issues to start interactions. Things usually go smoother when the other person starts talking. But there are times I need to start the interaction and I often end up doing it in ...
user avatar
20 votes
4 answers
9k views

Does the food or drink item brought to a potluck need to be large enough to serve everyone?

Tomorrow I'll be going to a potluck that will be attended by around 20 people. I'm not good at cooking, so I'm planning on bringing something from a bakery. What is the etiquette with regards to the ...
VKV's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
503 views

How to give a gift that was declined on the basis of welfare of the gifting party without being rude?

I am attending the wedding of a very close family member soon (45 days). This family member and their fiancé need new phones, their current one doesn't seem to last 30 minutes of use with a full ...
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5 votes
1 answer
762 views

I have a co-worker from India, who has lost several family members to covid. How is it most appropriate to express condoleances?

I am an academic in a US university. My co-worker is a more junior academic who grew up in India and has family in New Delhi. Today I learned that he has lost several family members (uncles, aunts, ...
yo9cyb's user avatar
  • 424
2 votes
2 answers
354 views

What is the proper etiquette for when someone you're not very close with is dealing with a terminally ill family member?

I'm currently enrolled in graduate school. I've been having a lot of trouble getting in touch with my advisor recently. He finally responded with apologies that he has been dealing with a terminally ...
Scruffy's user avatar
  • 23
3 votes
1 answer
448 views

How many "bise" (kisses) should I give?

Context Let's assume we are in a COVID-free environment. In France, depending on where you are, we give different amounts of "bises" (kisses on the cheek) in greeting. For example, we give ...
Ael's user avatar
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1 vote
3 answers
4k views

What's the etiquette for addressing a friend's partner or family in a greeting card?

I'm sending holiday greeting cards for the first time to friends, among whom some live with their partners (unmarried). I am not friends with their partners but consider myself on good terms with them,...
eurieka's user avatar
  • 347
11 votes
3 answers
1k views

What is the proper etiquette with regards to reciprocating Thanksgiving dinner invitations?

A little bit of background: I am an international graduate student at a university in the US. A domestic friend invited me to his apartment to celebrate Thanksgiving Day and we had a great time on ...
Frank's user avatar
  • 213
7 votes
4 answers
1k views

Is it customary in the US not to say "bye" after a phone call? [closed]

I am French and we end our phone conversations with the equivalent of a "bye". I noticed however that in most of the US movies or TV series (especially the police/action ones), the callers ...
WoJ's user avatar
  • 2,514
2 votes
1 answer
631 views

Best way to respond to continue possible friendship

I am taking an online course. Two days ago, the instructor organized a meeting of all the students. I liked one of them – he is senior to me, and seems like a nice sort of person, friendly-like – and ...
EvC752's user avatar
  • 21
0 votes
1 answer
622 views

How to address a Chinese co-worker?

Question similar to How to address a Korean co-worker? When interacting in direct chat messages in English with co-workers (software developers like me) from Chinese offices ; is it rude to address ...
wip's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
1k views

How to address a Korean co-worker?

My current employer is a global software company with offices in several continents. The company tries to maintain a culture of conviviality. Our main communication medium is text chat in English ; ...
wip's user avatar
  • 121
10 votes
1 answer
720 views

How to respond to a particular aspect of Indian culture?

In my line of work, I spend lots of time meeting people from various companies. Often, especially when the companies are tech companies, my counterpart will be Indian. One useful skill in working with ...
TheEnvironmentalist's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
626 views

Buying an expensive item from an acquaintance -- making an offer

I want to buy an item from an acquaintance---we work in the same field roughly and have hung out a few times, I might refer to them as a friend loosely. The list price at a local shop is $1,050 pre-...
Kai's user avatar
  • 139
0 votes
1 answer
472 views

Resolve frequent conflicts between a group of friends due to poor etiquette

My friends and I are in our mid twenties and have a small friendship group of around 6-7 of us. We have been friends since school, so for around 15 years. More and more I have noticed scenarios where ...
Jsk's user avatar
  • 317
1 vote
1 answer
628 views

I accidentally mentioned my hourly salary to my hairdresser, is that bad? [closed]

During small talk with my hairdresser I was talking about an upcoming job interview (which was the reason I went to the hairdresser), and then I accidentally mentioned what I was going to earn per ...
Bad_M7te's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
4k views

Who is expected to pay for birthday trip accommodations? [closed]

So I asked my friends to go to Vegas for my birthday, am I expected to pay for all of their rooms? It would be around 3 rooms I would have to pay for. I am the one planning it and I did invite them.
user29796's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
447 views

How to be persistent but not annoying when dealing with property manager

I'm trying to get my property manager to move me (total household = me + minor child) from a 1 bedroom unit to a 2 bedroom unit. I actually thought this would be a simple request but it's not ...
user29716's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
401 views

Is "I'm sorry" appropriate when offering condolence?

I think it's conventional to say "I'm sorry" when offering condolence -- for example, "I'm sorry to hear your mum died", or, "I was sorry to hear your mum died". Although it may be conventional I ...
ChrisW's user avatar
  • 769
4 votes
4 answers
892 views

Figuring out interesting questions in friendly or romantic conversations

How can I figure out which questions are interesting and will be pleasant for the person to whom they are addressed to answer? I am a person who has an extreme problem conveying what he wants to ...
George Ntoulos's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
833 views

Putting arm on a married woman's waist during photo [closed]

How appropriate is it as a single guy to put his arm on a married woman's waist during a photo? Does this count as a friendly gesture or inappropriate behavior?
pi a's user avatar
  • 187
3 votes
2 answers
903 views

Confronting an Inconsiderate Co-Worker

A little background: I am very conflict averse. I go out of my way to be friendly and accommodating. Recently I was promoted at work, but I am in a different group. I used to be in a technical ...
JenInCode's user avatar
  • 2,472
0 votes
2 answers
390 views

How can I ask for recommendations from an acquaintance?

I used to live in city X, and I have an acquaintance Y back then that I have not contacted since I left X. I recently moved back to X (after 6 years) and have some problems at home where I will need ...
Isa's user avatar
  • 101
73 votes
8 answers
22k views

How to quickly end a date?

I use a dating app to go on dates with people I have never seen in person. Usually we spend 1-2 hours to go for some coffee etc. I've had dates turn up that e.g. don't look like their picture/...
user1209304's user avatar
18 votes
3 answers
7k views

For how long after New Year's Day is it appropriate to wish people all the best for the new year?

Today is my first day back at the office after a two-week vacation, and so there's a lot of handshakes and well-wishing ('happy new year', 'best wishes') going on. Which raised a fun discussion ...
Tinkeringbell's user avatar
  • 33.9k
2 votes
1 answer
559 views

Etiquette for Cancelling Abroad Trip

A friend and I were looking at flights to Japan from our home city for a week or so back leading up to this year's Black Friday. Typically flights range from $1000-$1600 round trip, however during ...
Jay's user avatar
  • 21
35 votes
2 answers
5k views

Is it appropriate to ask for the text of a eulogy?

At a funeral there is usually a eulogy by family or close friend of the deceased. This usually covers interesting details of their lives. Unfortunately, just hearing it once means you'll miss things. ...
paj28's user avatar
  • 1,075
3 votes
2 answers
736 views

How to convey interest after I've declined multiple invitations?

My neighbor who lives across the hall from me in my apartment building is clearly trying to extend an olive branch of friendship. We met at a community gathering for residents a little over a month ...
Wes Sayeed's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
3k views

How to ask people not to push in front of me at concerts?

I have some experience with concerts (mostly heavy-metal ones, but pretty sure it's the same for any genre). And every time some people try get to the front rows either by just walking as they have a ...
randomGuy's user avatar
  • 163
20 votes
10 answers
29k views

Pointing the index fingers to one another as a way to excuse oneself: is this a common gesture?

I grew up in Italy, and there is a gesture I use that I'm wondering whether is strictly Italian or is used/understood elsewhere. It means either of: "I know this may bother you, but I'd really ...
Nicola Sap's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
716 views

Etiquette about crossing a door when someone also wants to cross from the opposite side?

Let's take the following situation: I'm on the outside and want to go inside Someone is inside and want to go outside The door is open (one of us is holding it) There isn't enough room for both of ...
Ael's user avatar
  • 17.4k
3 votes
2 answers
409 views

What is the etiquette around greetings in online communication in India?

Background I work with people from a rather diverse set of cultures. We are spread across several cities, so most of our communication takes place on Slack. I have several co-workers who are from ...
Rainbacon's user avatar
  • 9,052
11 votes
2 answers
2k views

Who pays for the date?

I am from northern Europe, but currently live in China. I was going to be a speaker at this social event at a cafe. I asked a Taiwanese woman if she would like to join me to the event (just me and her)...
Ola's user avatar
  • 111

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