The Modern Gentleman's Guide to Manners & Entiquette

135 Rules to Live By in 2025

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Knowing how to be a gentleman used to be straightforward: There were codes that were passed down, instilled and strictly enforced. With both social mores and the nature of masculinity itself wildly in flux, that's not exactly the case anymore.

Which is why we at GQ put our heads together and pulled in some wise (and well-behaved) outsiders to craft the ultimate guide to being a well-mannered gentleman in 2025. (This is, after all, Gentlemen's Quarterly.) We've considered both the new predicaments guys might be struggling with in this specific day and age, as well as the classic, evergreen rules that men should still adhere to—and could maybe use a good strong reminder of.

This means we're helping you navigate everything from the modern landscape of online-dating etiquette to how to act in that all-women Pilates class to when (and when not) to pop a Zyn, while offering you a refresher on everything from thank-you notes to how to be a conscientious human being in public to how to act at a dinner party. The result is a list of 135 rules on how to be your best-behaved self wherever you go in 2025 and beyond. Friends, dates, colleagues and the people sitting beside you on your next flight all thank you for reading.

Other People

We'll assume you've got the basics of being a self-aware human down—but these moves will show you're uniquely attuned to what other people want, need and appreciate most.

1. Greet people you know with a warm and positive gesture, like a friendly namaste, handshake or smile. Unless you're in a business setting or meeting someone for the first time, in which case stick with a handshake. If you sense someone going in for a hug—embrace it (and them) if you feel comfortable.

2. Take out your AirPods when you're talking to someone. Muting doesn't count.