Why are the British so polite? - Lingoda (2024)

FAQs

Why are the British so polite? - Lingoda? ›

Good manners are expected in the UK

Why do people think the British and/or English are so serious? Well, we are, in theory, a more polite, formal, and traditional folk than our American cousins. But Americans are, in my experience, infinitely more polite and formal than us—we are simply more reserved.

One of the primary motivations for British politeness is our innate desire to save others from social embarrassment. We see it as our responsibility to do everything we can to avoid someone else feeling awkward. So we'll rush to apologise when to someone else has made a mistake.

When meeting people in the UK, the handshake is the most common form of greeting. This should be light and not too firm. The cheek kiss, which is popular across Europe, is also becoming part of British etiquette. Close friends and family members often embrace.

However, alongside its beautiful geography and unique cultural landscape, Japan is also considered one of the world's most polite countries. According to some reports, it is so polite that staff in restaurants bow when a customer walks into the venue.

Middle-aged Brits are healthier compared to the same age bracket of US adults across all levels of income, according to a new study. Adults in the US aged 55 to 64 years old had higher rates of diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, and mental health conditions compared to their peers across the pond.

But in Britain there are several dialects, including the popular Received Pronunciation. This dialect places more emphasis on saying words clearly, with more careful intonation and elongation. This can come across as being articulate and more eloquent than words spoken in the more common American dialect.

We consider it polite and well mannered. In fact, researchers have found that Brits say 'thank you' more than any other nation (whether we always mean it is another matter!). We may not be the most tactile nation but we do believe in good manners.

Politeness and charm

Both historically and in the present day, the British have often been associated with good manners by many people around the world.

What is a very British way to say hello? ›

These are universal greetings that can be used in almost any situation, both formal and informal. If you are not sure which one to use, 'hello' is a bit more formal, while 'hi' is more casual. When using 'hello' or 'hi', you can also add the person's name or title to make the greeting more personal.

British etiquette dictates courteousness at all times, which means forming an orderly queue in a shop or for public transport, saying excuse me when someone is blocking your way and saying please and thank you for any service you have received is de rigueur.

Sulking, arguing or complaining if you have lost at any form of competition is considered poor manners. Whether you've been outdone on the sports pitch or exceeded in the classroom, congratulate your opponent with good grace, no matter how upset you feel underneath.

British English will sound more formal to listeners than American English, due to the use of more formal grammatical structures. For example, when talking about the predicted future, “shall” is the word of choice for the British, while Americans use the less formal “will” or “should” to talk about the same idea.

Socialising rules. There is a cultural tendency for Americans, and New World people in general (Americas, Australia) to be more open, friendly, helpful, but also hypocritical toward strangers, compared to the more reserved and blunt Europeans. That phenomenon was observed by many cultural psychologists.

Choosing one over the other is a matter of personal preference. Some prefer an American accent because they grew up watching American movies and listening to American music. Some think British English sounds more proper and prefer that. Neither accent is wrong and both have benefits.