Manners Make All The Difference

A matter of civility.

- DP Sabharwal

Manner is a way of doing something or the way in which a thing is done – e.g. she stared at me in an accusing manner or he was elected secretary in an unusual manner, without voting.

Add suffix ‘s’ and the resulting word ‘manners’ means quite differently.

While manner is concerned with the way you handle yourself, manners are concerned with others. In simple terms, it means the way of behaving with others, especially the ways that are socially correct and show respect for others’ comfort and feelings e.g. he lacked manners as he kept interrupting the speaker or she displayed good manners as she helped the elderly people to get up.

It is commonly said that it is the manners that correctly and accurately describe a nation, a society, and the individuals who are part of it. The manners depend on individual culture and race. It also depends upon the development and evolving of a country as a whole.

The core of good manners is good behaviour, which is based on the goodness of heart, politeness, mercy, kindness, empathy and so on. Most of the time, it reflects on an individual’s grooming and upbringing. Above all, it helps an individual to rise not only in one’s own eyes but in the eyes of colleagues and society as well. The bottom line however is what Lilian Gish said: ‘You can get through life with bad manners, but it is easier with good manners.’

Consider these