These 37 Etiquette Rules Are a Must

On the Internet

Etiquette is not a mere formality from the age of balls and starched collars. These are norms that were created for other people to feel comfortable in our presence.

 

• Don’t tease your friends and colleagues with resort photos indicating a temperature. It’s better to give a short description of the place you’ve posted.
• Don’t discuss topics that concern only the two of you on your friend’s wall or under their photos — there are direct messages for this.
• Don’t tag friends in bad photos.
• Don’t use caps lock: it’s like you’re shouting.
• Don’t overuse hashtags: they make your post look messy.
• Post no more than three pictures a day on your Instagram — or five, if you went on vacation, for example.
• If you send someone a friend request, it’s better to write and explain who you are and the reason for the request.
• Food photos have already become a standing joke in social networks because they most commonly signify bad taste. There are three exceptions: if you made this meal on your own and improved the recipe; if there’s a story connected with this food (share it!); if the food is really unusual.

 

Greetings

• For verbal greetings, men greet women first, younger greet elder, and inferior greet superior.
• The person to whom a stranger was introduced is the first to offer their hand for a handshake. So a woman offers her hand to a man, the older person offers their hand to the younger one. Yet a boss always gives their hand first.
• Whatever your status is, when entering a room, say hello first.
• When introducing people, give them a little information about each other: "This is my friend Leila, and she’s a vet." Each of the friends will understand what kind of relationship you’re in, and they’ll have a topic for conversation.
• A man should take off his glove before shaking hands.
• When getting into a taxi, say hello to the driver first.
• If a person who enters offers their hand to a seated person, they should stand up: shaking hands while sitting is bad manners.
• If your companion greeted a stranger, you should also say hello.
• Never offer a handshake in a bathroom or at the exit from it. In general, if your hands are wet or dirty or you carry something heavy, it’s better to apologize and not shake hands than to fuss trying to do it.
• Don’t shake hands across the table.

 

At someone’s house

• Don’t answer an invitation by asking "Who else will be there?" That is very impolite.
• If you have a guest, turn off the TV and stay away from your PC.
• When at someone’s place or if you have guests, don’t talk on the phone for more than five minutes.
• First, show your guests a bathroom where they can wash their hands. Only then should you show them other rooms.
• If all the guests are at the table, wait for the host to join before you start eating.
• At the beginning of a stand-up reception, when everyone greets each other, it’s better to hold a cold drink in your left hand. Otherwise, your right palm will be cold and wet, which is undesirable for a handshake.
• If you leave a reception first, say goodbye only to hosts. Otherwise, your departure can become a signal for other guests to go home.

 

In a restaurant

• It’s impolite to join a friend sitting in a cafe in the company of a stranger. You can do it only if they invite you to their table.
• It’s not recommended to ask for the check if your partner hasn’t finished their meal.
• It’s inadmissible to use a paper napkin instead of a handkerchief.
• If a dish is served with a sauce in a separate dish, put some sauce on your plate or ask for your personal sauce. Don’t dip pieces of food into a sauce dish that’s meant for all.
• Don’t choose the best portion from the food presented on a dish. Take the piece that’s closest to you.
• Don’t pour a drink from a pitcher only for yourself. If you take it, first offer a drink to your neighbor.

On the phone

• Don’t use texts to share important events.
• Always turn off the sound on your phone in a theatre, library, cinema, or lecture hall.
• If a person doesn’t answer you after the fifth dial tone, you should hang up.
• If you’re chatting with friends, it’s ok to glance at your phone. But if you need to make or answer a call, step a couple of meters away so as not to bother anyone.
• If a call was disconnected, it’s the initiator of the conversation who should call again.
• If you call from an unknown number, give your full name so that the person doesn’t need to ask "Brian? Which one?"