Etiquette Scholar Logo
  • Home
    • Dining Etiquette
  • Table Manners
    • Handling Utensil Etiquette
    • Resting Utensil Etiquette
    • Napkin Etiquette
    • Passing Etiquette
    • Bread Etiquette
    • Serving Etiquette
    • Seating Etiquette
    • Eating Etiquette
      • Appetizers & Soup Etiquette
        • Canapes Etiquette
        • Caviar Etiquette
        • Cheese Etiquette
        • Crackers Etiquette
        • Escargot Etiquette
        • Hours d'oeuvres Etiquette
        • Nuts Etiquette
        • Olive Etiquette
        • Pate Etiquette
        • Soup Etiquette
      • Beverage Etiquette
      • Meat and Egg Etiquette
        • Bacon Etiquette
        • Game Bird Etiquette
        • Chicken Etiquette
        • Chop Etiquette
        • Egg Etiquette
        • Frog Legs Etiquette
        • Meat Etiquette
        • Spareribs Etiquette
      • Seafood Etiquette
        • Clams Etiquette
        • Crab Etiquette
        • Fish Etiquette
        • Lobster Etiquette
        • Mussels Etiquette
        • Oysters Etiquette
        • Shellfish Etiquette
        • Shrimp Etiquette
      • Vegetables Etiquette
        • Artichokes Etiquette
        • Asparagus Etiquette
        • Avocado Etiquette
        • Baked Potato Etiquette
        • Celery Etiquette
        • Cherry Tomatoes Etiquette
        • Corn-on-the-Cob Etiquette
        • French Fries Etiquette
        • Peas Etiquette
        • Potatoes Etiquette
        • Salad Etiquette
      • Fruit Etiquette
        • Apple Etiquette
        • Apricot Etiquette
        • Banana Etiquette
        • Berry Etiquette
        • Cantaloupes Etiquette
        • Cherries Etiquette
        • Fig Etiquette
        • Grapefruit Etiquette
        • Grapes Etiquette
        • Kiwis Etiquette
        • Lemons Etiquette
        • Mangoes Etiquette
        • Melon Etiquette
        • Oranges Etiquette
        • Papayas Etiquette
        • Peaches Etiquette
        • Pears Etiquette
        • Persimmon Etiquette
        • Pineapple Etiquette
        • Plums Etiquette
        • Pomegranates Etiquette
        • Strawberries Etiquette
        • Watermelon Etiquette
      • Bread and Pasta Etiquette
        • Bread Etiquette
        • Muffin Etiquette
        • Pasta Etiquette
        • Pastries Etiquette
      • Condiment and Sauce Etiquette
        • Butter Etiquette
        • Condiments Etiquette
        • Garnish Etiquette
        • Crackers Etiquette
        • Gravy Etiquette
        • Honey Etiquette
        • Ketchup Etiquette
        • Olive Oil Etiquette
        • Sauce Etiquette
      • Desserts and Sweets Etiquette
        • Cake Etiquette
        • Candy Etiquette
        • Cookies Etiquette
        • Desserts Etiquette
        • Ice Cream Etiquette
        • Pastry Etiquette
        • Petits Fours Etiquette
        • Pie Etiquette
        • Plum Pudding Etiquette
        • Poached Pears Etiquette
        • Sherbet Etiquette
        • Sorbet Etiquette
        • Stewed Fruit Etiquette
        • Tart Etiquette
      • International Food Etiquette
        • Fajitas Etiquette
        • Fondue Etiquette
        • Pizza Etiquette
        • Tacos Etiquette
        • Tortillas Etiquette
      • Miscellaneous Food Etiquette
        • Casserole Etiquette
        • Sandwich Etiquette
        • Shish Kebab Etiquette
    • Table Manner Tips
    • Bad Table Manners
    • Table Manners Mishaps
    • Dinner Conversation
    • Table Blessings
  • Table Setting
    • Formal Table Setting
    • Table Setting Plan
    • Place Setting
      • Dinnerware
        • Placing Dinnerware
        • Plates
        • Bowls
        • Cups
        • Care of Dinnerware
        • Buying Dinnerware
      • Flatware
        • Placing Flatware
        • Forks
        • Knives
        • Spoons
        • Care of Flatware
        • Buying Flatware
      • Glassware
        • Placing Stemware
        • Care of Glassware
        • Buying Glassware
        • Corkscrews
    • Table Linens
      • Tablecloth
      • Napkins
      • Placemats
      • Table Runners
    • Serveware
    • Serving Utensils
    • Table Setting Terms
  • Parties
    • Party Preparations
      • The Guest List
      • Invitation Etiquette
      • Hiring a Caterer
      • Decor
    • Party Etiquette
      • Host Etiquette
      • Guest Etiquette
      • Children at a Party
    • Parties & Events
      • Cocktail Parties
      • The Buffet
      • Lunches, Brunches, Teas
      • Barbeques & Picnics
      • Other Dining Occasions
  • Business
    • Business Lunch Invitation Etiquette
    • Talking Business
    • Business Toasts
    • Follow-Up
    • Eating at Your Desk
    • Job Interview Etiquette
      • Recruiting Event Etiquette
    • Corporate Event Etiquette
    • Business Entertaining at Home
  • Restaurants
    • Host Etiquette
    • Table Etiquette
    • Ordering Etiquette
    • Restaurant Staff
    • Complaints
    • Tipping Etiquette
      • International Tipping Etiquette
    • VIP Treatment
    • Save Money Dining
    • Kids
    • Heimlich Maneuver
    • Dining Alone
  • International
    • African Etiquette
      • Northern Africa
        • Algerian Etiquette
        • Chadian Etiquette
        • Egyptian Etiquette
        • Eritrean Etiquette
        • Ethiopian Etiquette
        • Malian Etiquette
        • Mauritanian Etiquette
        • Moroccan Etiquette
        • Nigerien Etiquette
        • Somali Etiquette
        • Sudanese Etiquette
        • Tunisian Etiquette
      • Western Africa
        • Beninese Etiquette
        • Gambian Etiquette
        • Ghanaian Etiquette
        • Ivoirian Etiquette
        • Nigerian Etiquette
        • Sengalese Etiquette
        • Togo Etiquette
      • Southern Africa
        • Malagasy Etiquette
        • Mozambican Etiquette
        • South African Etiquette
        • Zambian & Zimbabwe Etiquette
      • Eastern Africa
        • Cameroonian Etiquette
        • Central African Republic Etiquette
        • Congolese Etiquette
        • Gabonese Etiquette
        • Kenyan Etiquette
        • Tanzanian Etiquette
    • Asian Etiquette
      • Asia - Pacific Rim
        • Australian Etiquette
        • Chinese Etiquette
        • Filipino Etiquette
        • Guam Etiquette
        • Hong Kong Etiquette
        • Indonesian Etiquette
        • Japanese Etiquette
        • Malaysian Etiquette
        • New Zealand Etiquette
        • Singapore Etiquette
        • South Korean Etiquette
        • Taiwan Etiquette
        • Thai Etiquette
        • Vietnamese Etiquette
      • Asia - South, Central, Eurasia
        • Central Asian Etiquette
        • Indian Etiquette
        • Nepal Etiquette
        • Pakistani Etiquette
        • Sri Lankan Etiquette
        • Turkish Etiquette
    • Caribbean
      • Barbadian Etiquette
      • Cuban Etiquette
      • Dominican Etiquette
      • Haitian Etiquette
      • Jamaican Etiquette
      • Puerto Rican Etiquette
    • Europe
      • Europe - Western
        • Austrian Etiquette
        • Belgian Etiquette
        • British Etiquette
        • Danish Etiquette
        • Dutch Etiquette
        • Finn Etiquette
        • French Etiquette
        • German Etiquette
        • Irish Etiquette
        • Luxembourg Etiquette
        • Norwegian Etiquette
        • Scottish Etiquette
        • Swedish Etiquette
        • Swiss Etiquette
      • Europe - Eastern
        • Belarusian Etiquette
        • Czech Etiquette
        • Georgian Etiquette
        • Hungarian Etiquette
        • Polish Etiquette
        • Romainian Etiquette
        • Russian Etiquette
        • Slav Etiquette
        • Ukrainian Etiquette
      • Europe - Mediterranean
        • Greek Etiquette
        • Italian Etiquette
        • Portuguese Etiquette
        • Spanish Etiquette
    • Latin America
      • Central America
        • Belizean Etiquette
        • Costa Rican Etiquette
        • El Salvador Etiquette
        • Guatemalan Etiquette
        • Nicaraguan Etiquette
        • Panamanian Etiquette
      • South America
        • Argentinean Etiquette
        • Bolivian Etiquette
        • Brazilian Etiquette
        • Chilean Etiquette
        • Colombian Etiquette
        • Ecuadorian Etiquette
        • Paraguayan Etiquette
        • Peruvian Etiquette
        • Uruguayan Etiquette
        • Venezuelan Etiquette
    • Middle East
      • Irian Etiquette
      • Israeli Etiquette
      • Jordanian Etiquette
      • Kuwaiti Etiquette
      • Saudi Arabian Etiquette
      • UAE Etiquette
      • Yemen Etiquette
    • North America
      • American Etiquette
      • Canadian Etiquette
      • Mexican Etiquette
  • Gourmet Guide
    • Menu Primer
    • Food
      • Judging Food
      • Food in Season
      • Presentation
    • Drink
      • Toasting Etiquette
      • Port
      • Sherry
      • Brandy
      • Champagne
      • Cognac
      • Beer
      • Coffee
        • Coffee Flavor
        • Coffee Grinds
        • Coffee Makers
        • Making Coffee
        • Storing Coffee
        • Caffeinated Decaf
        • Coffee Brew
          Times
  • Wine
    • Wine Etiquette in a Restaurant
    • Wine Tasting Etiquette
    • Wine Serving Etiquette
      • Order of Wine Service
      • Wine Temperature
      • Red Wine Aeration
      • Opening Wine
      • Hold & Pour Wine
      • How Much Wine to Pour
      • Servings Per Wine Bottle
      • Wine Storage
      • Leftover Wine
    • Wine Basics
      • Wine Grapes
      • Red Wine
      • White Wine
      • Fortified Wine
      • Wine Glossary
    • Food and Wine Pairings
      • Seafood
      • Meat and Poultry
      • Vegetables
      • Pasta
      • Cheese
      • Dessert
  • Tea
    • High Tea
    • Going Out to Tea
    • Choosing the Right Tea
    • Preparing Tea
    • Preparing Iced Tea
    • Storing Tea
    • Teapots
    • History of Tea
  • Religion
    • Bahai Etiquette
    • Buddhism Etiquette
    • Christian Etiquette
    • Hindu Etiquette
    • Jain Etiquette
    • Muslim Etiquette
    • Sikhism Etiquette
    • Zoroastrain
      Etiquette

Dining Etiquette

  • dining etiquette
  • table manners
  • utensil etiquette

Utensil Etiquette

  • Share this etiquette article on Facebook
  • Share this etiquette article on Twitter
  • Share this etiquette article on Reddit
  • Share this etiquette article on GooglePlus

Handling Utensils

In most situations, following the "outside-in" rule will tell you which knife, fork, or spoon to use at the dinner table.

  • Use utensils on the outside first and work your way inward with each new course that is served.

Continental Style v. American Style

(for right-handed dinners)

Continental Style

Hold your fork in your left hand, tines downward.

how to hold a fork

Hold your knife in your right hand, an inch or two above the plate. Extend your index finger along the top of the blade.

how to hold a knife

Use your fork to spear and lift food to your mouth.

If your knife is not needed, it remains on the table.

American Style

Hold your fork like a pencil, with the shank extended between your thumb and index and middle fingers. Your fourth and fifth fingers rest in your hand.

For leverage, the index finger is extended along the back of the fork, as far from the tines as possible.

how to hold a fork - american style

Hold the knife with the handle cupped in the palm of your left hand, along with your third, fourth, and fifth fingers. Place your second finger on the back of the blade. Hold your thumb against the side of the handle.

  • Share this etiquette article on Facebook
  • Share this etiquette article on Twitter
  • Share this etiquette article on Reddit
  • Share this etiquette article on GooglePlus
  • Table Manners
  • Napkin Etiquette

Restaurant Etiquette

12 Restaurant Dos and Don'ts

Sometimes, proper dining etiquette, whether in a restaurant or at home, is not obvious. Most of us need a dining etiquette refresher from time-to-time.

Read More

Utensil Etiquette

Table manners infograph illustrating how to rest utensils in the Continental style

How do you leave your knife and fork on your plate when taking a break or are finished eating?

Read More
knife and fork  etiquette

Utensil Etiquette

Correctly holding your fork, knife, and spoon is one of the most important dining etiquette fundamentals. Read more in our table manners section to learn this dining etiquette skill! [...]

Read More

International Dining Etiquette

  • japanese dining etiquette

    Japanese Dining Etiquette

  • Muslim Dining Etiquette

    Muslim Dining Etiquette

Toasting Etiquette

  • The first toast given during a dinner is normally offered at the beginning of the meal.
  • Traditionally, the first toast is offered by the host as a welcome to guests.
  • Toasts offered by others start during the dessert course.

For more etiquette tips and hundreds of toast examples...

read more toasting etiquette

Etiquette Topics


  • Business Etiquette

  • Business Email Etiquette

  • Golf Etiquette

  • Flag Etiquette

  • Tipping Etiquette

  • Toasting Etiquette

Table Manners

For almost all meals, if you are wondering what utensil to use, start from the outside and work your way in.

  • handling utensils
  • napkin etiquette
  • serving etiquette
  • bread-and-butter etiquette
  • hard to handle foods

read more table manners

Follow Etiquette Scholar

  • Etiquette Scholar Facebook account

  • Etiquette Scholar Twitter account

  • Etiquette Scholar Pinterest account

  • Etiquette Scholar Instagram account

  • Etiquette Scholar g+ account
© 2019 Yellowstone Publishing, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy