7 Tips for Showing Good Manners in English

Good manners are an important part of any language, especially when learning a new one. Showing respect and politeness is key when learning English, as it helps to build relationships with those around you. 

This blog post will provide 7 tips to help you show good manners in English. These tips will ensure you are making the most out of your language learning experience and will help you to build positive relationships with those you interact with. So read on to discover how to be polite and courteous in English!

1) Say Please and Thank You

Good manners are essential when learning English. It is important to remember to always say “please” and “thank you”. This simple gesture shows respect and can make conversations more pleasant.

For example, if you need help with something you should always say “Please, can you help me with…?” 

And if someone does help you, you should express your gratitude by saying “Thank you so much for helping me”.

Other polite phrases include “Excuse me” when trying to get someone’s attention and “I’m sorry” when apologizing for something. Using these phrases will help you make a good impression when speaking English and help show that you have good manners.

You can read more here. This is a great article for good manners. 

2) Make Eye Contact

Good manners in English include making eye contact. This is especially important when meeting new people, making introductions, or speaking to someone in authority. 

Making eye contact conveys respect and shows that you are engaged and paying attention. To practice good manners, look the person you are speaking with directly in the eyes and smile. 

Make sure to keep your gaze friendly and avoid staring at them. Phrases like “It’s nice to meet you” or “I’m glad we could talk” are polite ways to show respect and appreciation. Maintaining eye contact also helps to ensure that conversations flow more smoothly.

3) Introduce Yourself

Good manners involve introducing yourself when meeting someone new. It is important to do so with a smile and eye contact. 

You can start by saying, “Hello, my name is [your name]”. 

After you introduce yourself, you should extend the same courtesy and invite the other person to introduce themselves. This will help create an atmosphere of respect and understanding.

When introducing yourself, it’s also important to use polite language. 

For example, instead of saying “I’m [name]” you can say “My name is [name]”. Or if you are asking someone else to introduce themselves, you could say “Could you please tell me your name?” instead of “What’s your name?”.

These small details can make all the difference in creating a positive first impression and fostering good manners. By following these tips, you’ll be sure to show respect and make a great impression when introducing yourself in English.

4) Smile

Smiling is a universal way to show that you are friendly and open. When you’re speaking in English, it’s important to remember to smile, even when you may not be feeling your best.

Smiling shows that you’re interested in what the other person is saying, and it can make them feel more comfortable when speaking to you.

Smiling also sets a positive tone for the conversation and can help build rapport. Make sure to look people in the eye when you smile – this shows that you are paying attention to them and are truly engaged in the conversation.

5) Speak One at a Time

It is important to be polite and respectful in conversations and one of the best ways to do this is to make sure that you are speaking one at a time.

This allows everyone to express their opinions and prevents conversations from becoming too heated or chaotic.

Here are some examples of good manners to follow when speaking one at a time:
• Give everyone a chance to speak and don’t interrupt someone else’s conversation.
• Listen carefully before you contribute your opinion.
• Use phrases such as “Can I add something?” or “What do you think?” to politely join the conversation.
• If someone interrupts you, use phrases such as “Please let me finish” or “I wasn’t finished yet” politely and respectfully.

By following these tips, you will show good manners in English by allowing others to express themselves and creating an atmosphere of mutual respect.

6) Don’t Interrupt

Good manners are about showing respect for others, and that means allowing people to finish speaking before jumping in with your own opinions.

Interrupting someone during a conversation is rude, and shows that you don’t value the other person’s thoughts. Make sure to give the other person enough time to finish what they’re saying before speaking.

To ensure that you don’t interrupt, try adding phrases like “That’s interesting” or “I see what you mean” at the end of their sentence. This will let them know that you were listening and that you acknowledge their point of view.

You can also use phrases like “Go on” or “Please continue” if you’d like them to continue talking. Showing that you have good manners by not interrupting will make others more likely to listen to you when it’s your turn to speak.

7) Offer Compliments

One of the most important aspects of good manners in English is to offer compliments to those around you.

This can be done by using phrases such as “Nice to meet you”, “Thank you for your help”, “I really appreciate it” or “That was very kind of you”.

By expressing your appreciation, you show that you value the other person and their efforts.

Additionally, you can also offer sincere compliments about a person’s work, ideas, or talents. This will help build relationships and make your conversations more pleasant and meaningful.

Thank you for reading!

This was written by me. Bryce Purnell, founder of Learn Laugh Speak.

Check out more on my Medium or send me an email if you’re ever curious about anything at all 

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