Dear Terry,
When I am at a business meal sitting at a round table, someone invariably uses my bread plate. What can I do about this?



We should all know that our bread plate is located to our left. Unfortunately not everyone seems to know this, but even so they have a 50-50 chance of getting it right.

When someone beside you gets it wrong, don't make a fuss. Good manners dictate that you ignore the faux pas and make do with using your dinner plate or forego bread. After all, it's not just about knowing the rules but making your dining companions feel comfortable.

The queen mother once had a foreign visitor to dinner and when the guest used the wrong fork for a certain course, the queen mother promptly picked up the incorrect fork and accompanied him. Did she know the proper fork to use? You bet. Did she have good manners? Impeccable!

The next time someone uses your bread plate, smile quietly to yourself, feel like royalty and mention that you recently visited a very interesting web site.