Etiquette and manners best practices are often not what our first instincts tell us. Take this fun modern manners and etiquette quiz and put your knowledge to the test!
By: Maralee McKee, Manners Mentor
Are you a manners mentor? A mentor in the making? Or are you in need of Manners Mentoring 101? Take this fun manners and etiquette quiz and find out your Etiquette I.Q.! There are no trick questions in this quiz. Just keep in mind that etiquette is sometimes counterintuitive.
Most of all, have fun — and compare your score to the scores of your friends, coworkers, and family members!
Modern Manners and Etiquette Quiz! Test Your Etiquette I.Q.!
1. When you are introducing yourself, which name should you say?
A. Your full given name: “Jenna Marie Bolten.”
B. Both your full given name and the name you like to be called by if it’s different from your first name: “Jenna Marie Bolten, but everyone calls me Jen.”
C. The name you want the other person to call you by and your last name: “Jen Bolten.”
Answer: C Introductions happen quickly, and it’s often hard to catch the other person’s name. For that reason, stick with the form of your first or middle name you’d like the other person to use. As far as your last name, always include it in a business setting. In social settings, do so as long as safety isn’t an issue. To shine in every first impression, follow the specific five-step formula I share in this post.
2. When introducing two people, you should…
A. give their names only.
B. give their names and a bit of information about each person.
C. give a bit of information about each person if that person is a family member (otherwise, in respect for each person’s privacy, don’t share anything more than their names).
Answer: B If you know one or both of the persons you’re introducing, it’s gracious to share a bit of information about them. That way, when you step away, you’ve set them up with some conversational openers, and they’ll appreciate it! And if you’re ever stuck wondering what the best thing is to say after you say hello, here are great ideas for what to say that apply for both social and business interactions and five things you want to steer clear of saying.
3. During an in-person conversation, what percentage of your message is delivered through your spoken words?
A. 7 percent
B. 38 percent
C. 55 percent
Answer: A This statistic always amazes me, yet it’s true. The message we deliver in an in-person conversation is only based 7 percent on the words we say. Most of our message is received by the other person through the tone of our voice (angry, happy, sad, disappointed…) and our body language. And that’s not just for people we don’t know well; it includes our best friends, spouses, and other family members. A whopping 55 percent of our message is delivered by how we look. Since others can see us approaching from across the room, a lot of what we communicate is “said” by our appearance before we ever have the chance to say our first word. Dressing for success might seem old-fashioned, but it will always matter because people take in more visually than by any other method. If you ever wonder what to wear, this post shares helpful guidelines for meeting expectations.
4. When should you be certain to reciprocate a compliment you were just given?
A. Every time you’re given one.
B. It’s never required.
C. When you’ve been complimented on your appearance or something you’re wearing.
Answer: B Compliments are verbal gifts. Each day you receive one is like your birthday. You can receive presents (compliments) without giving them in return. In fact, doing so allows others to flex their kindness muscles. Accept the compliment with a happy “Thank you!” or “That’s nice of you to say!” or “You just made my day!” If you don’t happen to agree with a compliment, don’t let the person know. Doing so is the conversational equivalent of throwing the gift back. If you were truly going to pay a compliment, but the other person beat you to it, then you may still pay that compliment, especially if you won’t see each other again or in the near future.
5. When you say “I’m sorry,” what does your apology imply that most people aren’t aware is included in an apology?
A. What you said or did made the other person feel bad.
B. You promise not to do the same thing again.
C. You did not live up to your own standards.
Answer: B While all three of these answers are correct, it’s “B” that we often forget. An apology is only an excuse unless inherent in our words is the promise that we won’t do the thing we’re apologizing for again. You can find all 7 Steps of A Sincere Apology in this popular post.
6. When is the most gracious time to respond (RSVP) to an invitation?
A. within 24 hours of receiving the invitation
B. within one week of receiving the invitation
C. anytime before the “respond by” date listed on the invitation
Answer: A It seems like responding within 24 hours doesn’t give you much time, but that’s the whole point of doing it so quickly. You see, receiving an invitation is an honor, even if it’s to an event you’d rather not attend. Responding quickly repays the honor. I explain it in the post that is linked. The two things I currently receive the most questions about are modern RSVP etiquette and what to do when people are paying more attention to their phone than to you. There’s no doubt that not responding to invitations is a subject that frustrates a lot of people!
7. When you are the recipient of a gift (other than a wedding gift) in the mail, you should…
A. Call on the day it arrives to let the giver know, even if you’re not opening it until a special day.
B. Open it right away, without waiting for the special day, so you can call and thank the giver specifically for the gift.
C. Wait until the day when you open the gift, and then call the giver. You can also follow up with a handwritten thank you note.
Answer: A People worry about whether the gift they sent arrived safely. Even though it can be tracked to their door through various apps, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t stolen from the doorstep or set somewhere inside by another family member who then accidentally forgot about it. It’s kind to call, text, or email to let the senders know that the gift arrived and to thank them for it even though you might be waiting weeks to open it (as in the case of Christmas or shower presents sent early). There are 7 easy and savvy steps to follow when opening any gift in front of someone. You can discover them here.
8. In the first sentence of a thank you card, you should…
A. include the words thank you.
B. pay the giver a compliment.
C. mention the gift by name.
Answer: B In the first sentence of a thank you card, it’s kind to compliment the giver. In this digital world, handwritten thank you cards are a joy to receive. However, have you ever seen the ones that read like they were written quickly so the senders could mark “Write thank you notes.” off their to-do list? Sure..the basics are there, but there’s no heart in the message. If you want to write a thank you note that touches the heart of the recipient, there’s actually an easy-to-follow formula that I came up with. You’ll find it here in what’s my favorite post on the blog! (And yes, the story I share in it is real.)
9. If you’re with someone who passes gas and then says “Excuse me,” what’s the most gracious way to respond?
A. Say, “That’s okay, it happens to all of us.”
B. Try to keep the mood light by saying something similar to “Better you than me today!”
C. Don’t say anything. You can acknowledge with a smile or nod to show you heard the person’s comment, but you want to draw as little attention to the matter as possible.
Answer: C Bathroom and bodily noise etiquette isn’t something we want to have to think about, but knowing about it is a social life saver both for the “offender” and those nearby! You might think it’s best to set the person’s mind at ease by saying something similar to “That’s okay, it happens to all of us.” However, among adults, passing gas is what’s politely called a “social unmentionable.” And since it’s unmentionable, it’s best for us not to say a word about it, and keep the conversation going just as if nothing ever happened. Yep, really!
10. From which direction should you approach your dining-table chair in order to sit down?
A. From the left of the chair.
B. From the right of the chair.
C. Either direction is correct when sitting down. When exiting the chair, you should do so from the chair’s right.
Answer: A Why does it matter from which direction (left or right) you enter and exit your dining chair? It sounds kind of picky and maybe a little OCD-like at first blush. Yet as in everything with etiquette, there’s a valid reason, and the reason is that it makes things easier to manage for everyone. You want to enter and exit from the left of your dining chair because when everyone does it, it keeps diners from bumping into each other, and it lets you know to move a bit to your right if the person next to you wants to exit. I share this tip and about 100 others in the dining skills e-guide you received when you subscribed to Manners Mentor. If you’re not a subscriber, join us today and receive your guide. When we eat, we’re only about 18 inches from the persons next to us. It’s hard not to notice their table manners and dining skills! You deserve a seat at every table. With the guide, you’ll feel right at home dining anywhere and with anyone!
Now For The Fun Part!
- If you answered nine or ten questions correctly, congratulations! You’re a Manners Mentor in your own right!
- If you answered seven or eight questions correctly, you’re oh so close to Manners Mentor status!
- If you answered four, five, or six questions correctly, you’re on the right track. Keep going, and you’ll be a Manners Mentor in record time!
- If you answered fewer than four questions correctly, that’s fine! You’re on your way up from here! There are approximately 200 posts on the blog. Spend a little time reading through them, and you’ll turn self-consciousness into self-confidence. You’ll be a Mentor before the New Year!
What’s Next?
I hope you had as much fun taking this quiz as I did in making it for you!
Until next time, do what only you can do! Make your corner of the world a better place by being you at your authentic best!
Blessings and hugs,