The lower edges of the utensils should be aligned with the bottom rim of the plate, about one (1) inch up from the edge of the table.
To avoid hiding a utensil under the rim of a plate or bowl, lay it approximately one (1) inch away from the plate's side.
To eliminate fingerprints on the handle, hold flatware by the "waist," the area between the handle and the eating end of the utensil.
Elbow room requires a minimum of 15 inches between place settings, or approximately 24 inches from the center of one place setting to the middle of the next.
Butter should be waiting on butter plates, the glasses filled with water, and the wine ready to be served before the guests are seated.
The water glass should be placed approximately one (1) inch from the tip of the dinner knife.
Place knives with blades facing the plate.
Do not place over three pieces of flatware on either side of the plate at one time (except forks if an oyster fork is used).
When an uneven number of people are seated, the odd-numbered place settings are laid opposite the middle of the even-numbered place settings.