Did you know that “Miss” and “Mrs.” should not be used in business?

Addressing men in business is clear: John Smith is formally addressed as Mr. Smith. But how should you address women in business? Women were traditionally addressed based on marital status. However, as society changed, so did etiquette! Learn how to address women in business today in this tip!

Do you know the Rule of Ten for getting dressed?

Have you ever gotten dressed, looked in the mirror, and wondered if your outfit is a bit uninspired? Do you ever feel overlooked because of what you wear? Or perhaps your outfits are very busy, and your clothes are the focus of people’s attention.

To create a polished and strategic look, our goal is to choose items that captivate people’s attention without overwhelming them. Do you know when to amp up your outfit to avoid looking boring and when to scale a busy look back to keep the focus on you—not your clothes? Learn a powerful trick called The Rule of 10 for getting dressed in this month’s “Do You Know?”

Do you know how to write a belated thank you card?

Did you forget to say thank you for a holiday gift? Expressing gratitude is a life-changing tool that most of us forget to use. Thank you cards should ideally be sent within 48 hours of receiving a gift or act of kindness, but it is never too late to say thank you! Learn how to write 5 lines in 5 minutes in this thank you card tip!

Did you know that kids should not go first?

Many of us enjoy buffets with family around the holidays, and we often let kids go through the line first. Making hungry kids wait is not the most enjoyable task, but did you know that kids who can balance a plate and serve themselves should NOT go first through a buffet line? Learn who should go first in this tip!

Do you know when to tip and when to pass?

The clerk at your favorite bakery or local clothing boutique swipes your credit card and spins an electronic screen around that asks whether you want to tip. Do you select 15%, 20%, or 25% for being handed a croissant or for being shown to the dressing room? Or do you select “no tip” under the awkward gaze of the clerk? Learn how to handle awkward electronic tipping scenarios in this month’s “Do You Know?”

Did you know that there is a way to handle food requirements at an event?

If you have a dietary issue, the standard etiquette was to let your host know at the point of R.S.V.P. After all, no one wants to call 911 due to an unknown, life-threatening reaction to nuts. However, as food awareness in the U.S. has expanded this rule has changed. Learn how to navigate your dietary needs when dining with others in this tip!

Did you know that personal space extends from 1.5 to 4 feet away?

If you have had someone intrude on your personal space, you know how hard it is to think about anything other than regaining your comfort zone. In fact, the maintenance of personal space appears to be a very basic survival mechanism. Learn why we respond so strongly to space invaders and how to effectively navigate personal space in this tip!

Did you know that both men and women should rise when others join the table?

Under traditional social etiquette rules, a man was expected to rise for a woman when she approached or left a table. Learn how this rule has changed and what you should do in this tip!

Did you know that airplane middle seats enjoy special rights?

What seat do you prefer when flying? Studies show that just over half of us opt for the window seat while the rest of us choose the aisle. Everyone’s last choice? The dreaded middle seat. No one enjoys being trapped in a tight space for hours between two strangers. The good news? Find out in this tip!

Did you know that there is a polite way to spit out food?

Everyone has faced that moment when you take a bite of food only to discover it contains something that you do not want to swallow. Once you have taken a bite, what do you do with pesky bones, pits, and meat gristle? Learn how to handle unwanted food in this tip.

Did you know that you should tip hotel housekeeping every day?

Travelers overwhelmingly forget to tip hotel housekeeping. In fact, 32% of hotel guests never tip these hardworking individuals who go about the overlooked work of cleaning our messes, scrubbing our toilets, making our beds, and tossing out our trash. Learn how much and how often to tip hotel housekeeping in this post.

Did you know that you do not have to answer every question you are asked?

“How much did that cost?” “Are you still single?” “How old are you?” “When do you plan to have children?” “Who did you vote for?” Handle cringeworthy questions like these with grace by following these three tips…

Did you know that there is a proper place to take a phone call?

Although phone booths have nearly disappeared from the landscape, the need to step away from others to take or place a call has not. Where should you take a phone call?…

Did you know that the rules for who should pay on a first date have changed?

Old dating etiquette required men to pick up the check on a first date because they were traditionally doing the inviting. Etiquette changes as society evolves…

Did you know that saying thank you can transform your career?

A survey of 2,007 people for the John Templeton Foundation revealed that 81% of respondents would work harder for a more grateful boss, and 93% agree that a grateful boss is more likely to succeed…

Did you know that everyone should RSVP, but only about 30% of people do?

RSVP comes from the French expression “répondez s’il vous plaît,” which means “please respond.” If you receive an invitation with RSVP on it…

Did you know that we touch our phones 2,617 times a day?

According to a study by the research firm dscout, a typical cellphone user touches their phone 2,617 times and spends 145 minutes on their phone every day.

Did you know that there are times to avoid shaking hands?

A handshake is the only socially acceptable form of touch in western business, and it conveys a lot about you, including your confidence and professionalism…

Did you know that you can wear white after Labor Day?

For over a century, Americans dutifully followed the no-white-after-Labor-Day rule. The origin of this rule is unclear. Some say that rich people used to only wear white…

Did you know that there is a proper time within which you should send a thank you note?

Thank you notes should be sent within 48 hours. Emails are nice, but nothing replaces a handwritten thank you note…

Did you know that there is a proper way to ride an escalator or moving sidewalk?

Here is how…