manners

Manners are a set of social behaviors and norms that guide polite conduct in interactions. They encompass the ways people show respect, consideration, and regard for others, including speech, actions, and attire. In everyday usage, manners refer to courteous behavior such as saying please and thank you, listening attentively, avoiding interruptions, and observing local customs at meals or ceremonies. Etiquette is a related term that often denotes codified rules and protocols developed in particular societies, schools, or organizations, while politeness is the broader quality of being considerate, which may be practiced even without strict rules.

Origins and scope follow from the need to reduce social friction and signal belonging in growing communities. In Europe and Asia, formal etiquette manuals from the early modern period onward systematized expected behaviors in courts, dining rooms, and public life. Over time, many norms broadened into informal expectations within families, schools, and workplaces, evolving with changes in social structure and technology.

Variations in manners are wide and culturally specific. Greeting rituals, table behavior, punctuality, and deference to authority can differ markedly, so what is polite in one culture may be seen as odd or rude in another. In increasingly global contexts, people often adapt to diverse situations, including multicultural workplaces and online environments that require digital etiquette and respect for different norms.

Education and consequences: manners are usually learned informally through family and peers, and reinforced by schools and media. They influence social ease and opportunities but do not determine moral character. Excessive rigidity can foster exclusion, while a focus on respect and inclusion is widely encouraged. Contemporary developments emphasize netiquette, professional communication, accessibility, and cultural sensitivity.