The norm for dining nowadays includes various cutting instruments, ranging from knives, spoons, and forks. These instruments are used on almost all occasions, depending on which country preferring particular instruments more than others. Therefore, attaining proper awareness of table manners is essential in dining in modern day.



Different categories of food require different instruments' specialties. Typically, soft foods including liquids primarily uses spoon, while the dining or "table" knives are used for either cutting hard food or spreading, which both requires proper ways to utilize them.

The generally understood method of using forks and spoons are by holding them in a horizontal angle by using the first knuckle on the middle finger while the index finger's tip steadies and the thumb balances your instrument. As for the knife, the index finger tip is used to pressure the top handle of the blade to provide force and guiding to cut.

The fork and spoon can be placed either on the left of right hand of the table with the plate in the middle, depending on the person's preference on using the utensils. But fixed is the spoon used for eating desserts which is placed above your plate, alongside the dessert fork, both placed horizontally. A quick tip for eating soup with proper table manners is to tip and angle the bowl of soup away from your body and use your spoon to scoop it.

As for the spoon, use it as the utensil to eat your food from, while the fork will assist the food onto your spoon. Note that your left hand always needs to be the fork, while the spoon always on the right.

Carry forks hold similar qualities to the carry spoons in usages, by turning the utensil facing downward and sticking it with the food.

Note that the fork can be held on either hands, likewise to the spoon, but most importantly ration the food either utensils adequately, so that the food will not spill from either utensils.

There are also tips to follow while eating a meal and wanting to pause rest the fork and spoon.

It is normal while dining to rest your utensils but this has to be done correctly. Instances of this particular situation are such as excusing yourself to the toilet or engaging in a conversation. You can lay the utensil(s) down properly by gently placing the utensil(s) on the plate you are dining from and face the utensil(s) down.

Beware that using your bare hands to assist the food onto your fork is considered very impolite and inappropriate, though your intention was to avoid creating noises with the knives and forks. It is improper to eat loudly using your dining utensils though most the utensils are made from metal or silver and the plate from glazed tile.

The last note is avoid talking while there is still food in your mouth at all costs. To begin with, it is already improper and impolite to stuff your mouth excessively with food. In addition to the previous tips, lay the dining utensil down while pauses during chewing to either engage in a discussion or for various reasons. Maturely, do not play around with the knives or forks or any other dining utensils, even using them to point or improperly use the knife to poke or pick your food.