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The historic reason your mom always told you to not put your elbows on the table

Raise your hand if you've ever rested your elbows on the table during a meal and got scolded. There's a reason why this seems ...

Miss Manners: Why are table knives placed with the cutting edge toward the plate?

GENTLE READER: It was to avoid the knives being used to attack fellow diners -- or at least to lessen that possibility.

Miss Manners: Help me remember the logic behind this table-setting etiquette

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, [email protected]; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 ...

Miss Manners: Why we turn knives inward

GENTLE READER: It was to avoid the knives being used to attack fellow diners -- or at least to lessen that possibility. Really. In cruder times, if you can imagine such a thing, people brought their ...