Help! Everyday Etiquette in the U.K.
- leitwrtr
- gqduong
- raaksingh
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» leitwrtr - Standard reference
Later this year, I shall be moving from the USA, where I know all my ps and qs perfectly, to the UK, where manners and customs are very different in confusingly subtle ways.I have my mother's Emily Post, from the 1940s; my Amy Vanderbilt, from the 1970s; and several volumes by Miss Manners, our contemporary etiquette diva; all on my book shelves. But I have been unable to find any parallel comprehensive etiquette guide for British etiquette.
I've got one slim Debrett volume, very general, but with no detail at all. I've used search engines a book search services, but haven't been able to turn up a title.
What I'm looking for is a British standard etiquette guide on the order of Amy Vanderbilt and Emily Post. (The "question and answer" format is not appropriate for my needs.)
Can anyone suggest an author, title or source? Thanks.
-- posted by leitwrtr
» gqduong - Re: Standard reference
In response to message posted by leitwrtr:Mona,
I can certainly appreciate your dilemma. My fiance is British, so I have gleaned little tips and pointers along the way with the built-in tour guide I have in him; however, I don't know off the bat of a concise British etiquette primer. One author who comes to mind as a possible source for some information is a writer called Bill Bryson. He is an American who had lived a couple decades in Britain, and he is a keen observer on language/culture, and perhaps I'm a Stranger Here Myself might give you some insight? I haven't read this particular book yet, but I have read a couple others, which have touched upon the subtle cultural differences in language between British English and American English.
I will do some research and see what my fiance, his family, and my friends might know could help. In the meantime, if anyone else out there can point Mona in the right direction, please post away.
Apologies on the long lag-time in repsonse; we've just returned from holiday in the Dominican Republic!
Will get back to you soon,
Giao
-- posted by gqduong
» raaksingh - language on formal invitations
Ever since we have been posted around the world, I find myself increasingly confused on the language to be used on formal invitations.I would sincerely welcome reference to a book that could throw some clarity on how to word invitations in the name of an ambassador of a country for the national day of the country.
I have searched desperately under diplomatic etiquette but found nothing on wording an invitation for national day celebrations, a solemn but joyous event.
Thank you
Raka Singh
-- posted by raaksingh
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