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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2 votes
2 answers
368 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 ...
1 vote
2 answers
719 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: "... ...
2 votes
1 answer
600 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 ...
2 votes
1 answer
457 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....
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3 votes
1 answer
551 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 ...
4 votes
1 answer
496 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 ...
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12 votes
2 answers
976 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 ...
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0 votes
1 answer
276 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 ...
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1 vote
0 answers
557 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 ...
1 vote
1 answer
377 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, ...
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5 votes
1 answer
562 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 ...
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2 answers
472 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 ...
0 votes
1 answer
222 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 ...
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20 votes
4 answers
7k 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 ...
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2 votes
2 answers
492 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 ...
user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
757 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, ...
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2 votes
2 answers
341 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 ...
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3 votes
1 answer
431 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 ...
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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,...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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2 votes
1 answer
616 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 ...
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0 votes
1 answer
562 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 ...
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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 ; ...
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10 votes
1 answer
690 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 ...
3 votes
1 answer
623 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-...
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0 votes
1 answer
469 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 ...
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1 vote
1 answer
619 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 ...
0 votes
1 answer
3k 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.
2 votes
2 answers
347 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 ...
3 votes
2 answers
360 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 ...
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4 votes
4 answers
885 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 ...
-1 votes
1 answer
566 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?
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3 votes
2 answers
878 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 ...
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0 votes
2 answers
381 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 ...
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73 votes
8 answers
21k 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/...
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 ...
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2 votes
1 answer
541 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 ...
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35 votes
2 answers
4k 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. ...
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3 votes
2 answers
732 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 ...
6 votes
3 answers
2k 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 ...
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20 votes
10 answers
28k 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 ...
2 votes
2 answers
628 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 ...
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3 votes
2 answers
394 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 ...
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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)...
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5 votes
1 answer
350 views

Is it acceptable to ask about visitation or memorial service for a funeral?

A family friend's wife died and they were very poor. I'm planning to call him soon, but I'm still hesitant about asking for visitation or memorial service. The only reason I think it could be rude/...
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26 votes
4 answers
5k views

How many photos should I take If I'm given a camera to take a picture?

I live in a fairly touristic place and get asked to take pictures of strangers a lot. When I do this, I get a little bit self-conscious thinking if they are saying to themselves "this dude is taking ...
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13 votes
2 answers
1k views

How do express my condolences, when I couldn't show up at the funeral?

Two days ago, one of my old relatives passed away. His family lives 900km away and due to my job, I couldn't show up at funeral. Where I live it's important to show up. I've thought of calling his ...
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1 vote
1 answer
543 views

How to greet Teachers and Staffs?

I am in the final year of my Engineering degree but still find greeting my teachers difficult. It happens whenever I am on my way to college, when I have to walk from the Hostel to Campus, which ...
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39 votes
6 answers
17k views

What is Soda Fountain Etiquette?

The other day I was walking with my cup to the Soda Fountain1 at a restaurant. Someone was already using the fountain, but the drink they were getting was on the far right side, while what I wanted ...
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