A Guide for Confusing Table Manners

Proper table manners can be a source of confusion and embarrassment if one does not understand proper social graces. In this article I will share with readers tips and information about good etiquette when enjoying a meal with others.

First off, when serving a meal, ladies should be served before their male partners. The hostess will inspect the dishes before serving them and it is important that the first guest served does not begin eating immediately. The first guest served should wait until several others have also been served before eating. It is not necessary to wait for everyone to have been served or your food might be cold. The hostess will serve herself next to last and then her husband, at all meals other than breakfast, the husband will wait for the wife to begin eating before he does.

It is considered to be very rude if you drink while chewing food. Always wait until you have swallowed the food inside your mouth before taking your beverage. This will help prevent unsightly smears on your drinking glass and you also won't have disgusting food remnants floating in your beverage if you swallow your food before drinking.

Another common source of confusion at the dinner table comes from the napkin. Unless you are a child you should never tuck your napkin into your shirt! If you are given a small napkin it is acceptable to lay the napkin unfolded into your lap. If the napkin is a large dinner size you should fold it in half before placing it in your lap. Before placing your napkin in your lap, you should wait until your hostess does so first. It is very rude to place your napkin in your lap before the hostess does so.

Finally, with bottled water and beverages growing in popularity, it is considered to be in very poor taste to directly serve or consume bottled beverages during a meal. Beverages should be poured into a mug or glass instead of being consumed directly from the bottle.

I hope this article is of assistance to anyone who has not attended a class on etiquette, or anyone who has their doubts about proper table manners at a dinner party. Utilizing your knowledge and skills on the subject of etiquette is a great way to impress others with your grace and to obtain many more invitations to social gatherings. Good manners are also sure to save a person from much embarrassment in a social setting.