can be seen as evasive; this is in contrast to much of the rest of the world, where looking someone directly in the eye may be rude.
Not leaving an appropriate tip or gratuity at a restaurant (typically 10–20% of the bill) will make any dinner guests at your table feel extremely uncomfortable. In the U.S., tips represent a large portion of a waiter's income and your guests may feel embarrassed if the tip was considered too small. Ten percent can be considered a rebuke to the waiter, 15% is considered an average tip, and 20% is typically given for satisfactory to excellent service. Tips higher than 20% can be considered ostentatious by dining companions (though undoubtedly appreciated by the wait staff).
Tipping is also customary for taxi drivers, barbers and hair stylists, for those who deliver food to your home or office, for casual handymen (neighbor teens who cut the lawn, and the like) and some others. Tipping for food deliver usually is two to five dollars (as opposed to being a percentage of the food cost).
It is considered impolite to ask people how much money they earn. It is not considered rude to ask someone what he or she does for a living.
It is considered impolite not to cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing. When someone else sneezes, it is customary to say "Bless you." (The German word for health, "Gesundheit", is also generally acceptable.) If someone says "Bless you" to you, it is customary to reply with "Thank you."
At an initial introduction, it is considered awkward to ask someone if they are married or have a boyfriend or girlfriend.
At an initial introduction, it is considered awkward to ask someone their political views.
It is considered impolite to ask a woman how old she is or inquire about her weight.
Strangers in America interact with one another generally in a friendly, informal way. This varies from region to region. In the South, for example, greetings such as hugging and patting on the back are considered friendly. However, in the Northeast, interaction tends to be more reserved and such greetings are seen as overbearing. Many foreigners who travel to America thus unjustly find Americans superficial. Although Americans treat one another in a very friendly way, they nevertheless understand and maintain the limits of their relationships and the distinction between acquaintances and friends. Conversely, foreigners who cannot interact with Americans in a relaxed, casual manner, may be perceived as awkward, aloof, rude, or even arrogant.
It is considered a rude violation of personal space to stand within an arm's length of another person, unless you are very close friends. In crowded situations it is tolerated, but makes some Americans uneasy.
Profane words are not allowed on broadcast television or radio, and generally are seen as lower class to use in common discussion, but many people use them regularly in familiar discussion.
Emitting any odor or smell, whether due to lack of hygiene, diet, or applied perfumes, is considered a violation of others' personal space. Only in close personal proximity is the detection of perfume or cologne tolerated.
Getting the attention of waiters, servers or store workers with gestures or by snapping fingers, is considered offensive. It is better to move toward a sales clerk and say something along the lines of "Excuse me . . ." In a restaurant, simply making eye contact with the waiter, or eye contact with a slight smile and nod should be enough to signal your need - in crowded situations, eye contact and raising the hand casually about shoulder high with index finger extended up is fine.
Calling a Southern person a "Yankee" will be taken as an insult. Baseball fans in the Boston area may also find the term offensive due to the intense rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees baseball teams. This rule doesn't seem to apply to the British, however, to whom all Americans are "Yanks".
In most business settings, physical contact should be limited to a handshake at the beginning and end of the meeting.
When giving a handshake, the corner of your hand between the thumb and first finger should be met firmly with the other person to avoid an uncomfortable weak handshake.
It is considered polite to bring something for the host or group when invited to a dinner in someone's home. A bottle of wine is very typical. Bringing a dessert is not uncommon, but only after checking with the hosts (to ensure they haven't gone through the trouble of making dessert themselves).
It is considered impolite to give cash as a gift, except to close family members. A few exceptions include graduations, bar mitzvahs, and bat mitzvahs. Weddings can also appropriate situations for cash gifts to people who are closer than acquaintances. Gift Certificates are generally considered appropriate in all gift giving situations.
It is usually impolite to refer to how someone looks at all—-mentioning someone's weight is very impolite. Complimenting someone on lost weight can be acceptable if remarked upon honestly.
References to someone's ethnic or racial identity are inappropriate unless the subject is broached generally.
It is generally considered impolite to begin eating one's dinner before all seated have been served. If one's food hasn't arrived and is likely to take a long time (or already has taken a long time), it is appropriate for that person to invite the others to begin eating.
One must address those significantly older than them as Mr., "Sir", Mrs., "Ma'am", "Madam", Ms. or Miss. For example, it would be rude to address a friend's parent by their first name unless he has invited you to do so. Conversely, addressing someone near to your own age group by title is usually considered stand-offish unless it is in a professional setting.
Scatological, bodily function and sexual topics are considered off limits except to close friends. Americans have a cultural history of conservative behavior, and jokes about these subjects is uncomfortable and rude. Full or upper body nudity is forbidden for females, but males may remove shirts in instances of hard work or extreme heat. Nursing mothers are allowed in public, but it does make some men uncomfortable. Males are uncomfortable with small clothes on the lower half of the body of men, but sexually mature women are encouraged to wear revealing bathing suits in a beach or pool setting before middle age.
Many Americans embrace informality and would consider taking faux pas too seriously a sign of snobbery. In general one must judge the situation and respond accordingly (This is most likely true for most countries placed on this list). Giving reference to a list of this type, and to how people "should" act to an American can cause a response of mild amusement to mild offense depending on the person you are speaking with. A plain T-Shirt and jeans is acceptable dress in almost all public context.