Strange etiquette/grammar things your mom was a stickler for

[Anonymous]

Following on the other post, what are some of the etiquette things your mom taught you? My mom, for instance, insisted on "The steak is done but you are finished." Said whenever I said, "I'm done with my homework!" for example.

And also, whenever my poor, unsuspecting friends would call on the phone and they would say, "Can I speak to Larla?" "I'm sure you can but do you mean 'May I speak to Larla?'

[Anonymous]

My mom did the can/may correction too! She was also a stickler for table manners, like napkin in lap, elbows off table, etc. She definitely stabbed me in the elbow with a fork more than once when I leaned my elbow on the dinner table.

She is also SUPER Catholic, and would make us: say three Hail Marys before any long car trip and pray to St. Christoper (patron saint of travelers); pray to St. Vincent (patron saint of lost articles) to help us find any missing items, like a lost jacket; bless ourselves anytime we passed a Catholic church; and say a prayer any time we heard an ambulance siren. Good times Mom!

[Anonymous]

“I beg your pardon” instead of “what.”

[Anonymous]

When answering the phone:
Other person: Hi, is Larla there?
Me (Larla): yes, this is she

How are you?
I am well

[Anonymous]

Definitely pronoun correction using the universal 'he'. Not 'they' which is inaccurate today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom did the can/may correction too! She was also a stickler for table manners, like napkin in lap, elbows off table, etc. She definitely stabbed me in the elbow with a fork more than once when I leaned my elbow on the dinner table.

She is also SUPER Catholic, and would make us: say three Hail Marys before any long car trip and pray to St. Christoper (patron saint of travelers); pray to St. Vincent (patron saint of lost articles) to help us find any missing items, like a lost jacket; bless ourselves anytime we passed a Catholic church; and say a prayer any time we heard an ambulance siren. Good times Mom!

Isn’t it Saint Anthony for lost articles?

I remember my mom praying
“Tony Tony look around
Something’s lost and can’t be found”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Following on the other post, what are some of the etiquette things your mom taught you? My mom, for instance, insisted on "The steak is done but you are finished." Said whenever I said, "I'm done with my homework!" for example.

And also, whenever my poor, unsuspecting friends would call on the phone and they would say, "Can I speak to Larla?" "I'm sure you can but do you mean 'May I speak to Larla?'

Grammar pet peeves?

"Where's he at?"

Ending a sentence with a preposition.

"He could have ran fast."

Incorrect past participles.

[Anonymous]

I used to get fined every time I said "like." Thank God for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom did the can/may correction too! She was also a stickler for table manners, like napkin in lap, elbows off table, etc. She definitely stabbed me in the elbow with a fork more than once when I leaned my elbow on the dinner table.

She is also SUPER Catholic, and would make us: say three Hail Marys before any long car trip and pray to St. Christoper (patron saint of travelers); pray to St. Vincent (patron saint of lost articles) to help us find any missing items, like a lost jacket; bless ourselves anytime we passed a Catholic church; and say a prayer any time we heard an ambulance siren. Good times Mom!

She sounds like a terrible person...

[Anonymous]

“This is she” on the phone.
Same on the “may/can” thing and “chickens lay but people lie” on lay/ lie
NEVER elbows on the table
The order in which you introduce people: “Mrs. Smith (older or higher ranking person), I would like to introduce Larla (younger or lower ranking person) to you. Larla, please meet Mrs. Smith.”
No calling people’s houses after 9pm
Thank you notes out the door within two days

[Anonymous]

Holding doors open. If we didn't hold the door for her she would not do it herself and just stand there to teach us a lesson.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think my mom corrected me about less vs fewer but she and I are both pedants about it and I correct my kids.

[Anonymous]

My mom had many quirks, but than God she was not a pedant about grammar.

[Anonymous]

butTONS vs. buttins.

Legs down at table

Yeah vs. Yes
Oh my vs. OMG

[Anonymous]

Mom hated "what." Now, of course, I do, too. If we didn't hear or didn't understand, she wanted us to respond with "Excuse me?" or "Sorry?" or "Would you please repeat that?" etc.

All I know is the complainers on this thread better not be the same people who thought it was unreasonable to pass only salt when salt was requested. Because THAT's a silly etiquette rule that most people seemed to think was fine.