Etiquette

Etiquette is a code, usually unwritten, that governs socially acceptable behavior. The rules of etiquette vary among cultures and subcultures, so that what is perfectly polite in one society may be rude and offensive in another.

Fast Facts

1. Comes from French word l'etiquette, meaning "ticket"
2. Much of formal etiquette originated in royal court of France during the 1600s and 1700s
3. From 1500s to the early 1900s, children learned etiquette in school
4. Includes ethics as well as manners
5. Rules exist today for a variety of settings, which include the office, the road, the date and the dinner party
6. On the Internet, called Netiquette

Etiquette Around the World

• In Asia, blowing your nose in public is unacceptable, but spitting is generally okay
• In China, Hong Kong and Singapore, it is common to "graciously refuse" a gift three times before accepting it
• In North America and Europe, making noise while eating is considered rude
• In much of Asia, slurping soup and quietly belching after a meal are compliments to the chef
• In some of Europe, tardiness to social events like dinner parties is unacceptable
• In Latin America and Singapore, arriving on time to a dinner party implies greediness
• In Mongolia, if you accidentally step on someone's foot, you are expected to offer your foot in return

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