Courteous

Salon game · Manners

Would you survive the dinner party? An etiquette quiz

Fifteen scenarios from the doorbell to the dessert. Each answer explains the reasoning and links to the guide behind it — and a perfect evening earns you a title worthy of the chandelier.

Free · No sign-up · Built on cited sources · Updated October 2026

The dinner party begins

15 scenarios, from the doorbell to the dessert. Choose what you’d do; each answer comes with the reasoning and a link to the full guide.

  1. Scenario 1 of 15The invitation says dinner at 7:00. When do you ring the bell?
    Reveal the answer

    Between 7:00 and about 7:15. Precisely. Arrive at the stated time or up to about 15 minutes after, and text if you’ll be more than 15–20 minutes late.

    From our guide: Dinner party etiquette

  2. Scenario 2 of 15You arrive with a lovely bottle of wine. What do you say as you hand it over?
    Reveal the answer

    “This is for you to enjoy another time.”. Perfect. Present wine as a gift for the host to enjoy later, not something they must open tonight.

    From our guide: Dinner party etiquette

  3. Scenario 3 of 15Three forks gleam beside your plate. Which do you pick up for the first course?
    Reveal the answer

    The one farthest out. Right: work from the outside in, one utensil per course. And watching the host is always allowed.

    From our guide: Table manners

  4. Scenario 4 of 15Mid-meal, you excuse yourself to take an urgent call. Where does your napkin go?
    Reveal the answer

    Loosely on your chair or to the left of your plate. Exactly. And stepping away to take the call, rather than taking it at the table, was the right move too.

    From our guide: Table manners

  5. Scenario 5 of 15A party invitation reads “Regrets only.” You can come. What do you do?
    Reveal the answer

    Nothing. No reply means you’re coming. Correct. With “regrets only,” silence means yes. Just be sure to turn up.

    From our guide: RSVP etiquette

  6. Scenario 6 of 15A wedding invitation arrives addressed only to you. Your date would love to come.
    Reveal the answer

    Go solo. The names on the invitation are the guests. Gracious. The people named on the invitation are the people invited.

    From our guide: Wedding guest etiquette

  7. Scenario 7 of 15You’ve just married. How long do you have to send thank-you notes for gifts?
    Reveal the answer

    Within about three months of receiving each gift. Right. The Emily Post Institute recommends sending them within three months of receiving each gift.

    From our guide: Thank-you notes & templates

  8. Scenario 8 of 15Your aunt gives you a generous cash gift. Your thank-you note should…
    Reveal the answer

    Thank her generosity and say how you’ll use it. Lovely. Name the plan, not the figure: “We’re putting it toward our first sofa.”

    From our guide: Thank-you notes & templates

  9. Scenario 9 of 15Good service at a sit-down restaurant in the US. What’s the customary tip?
    Reveal the answer

    15–20% of the pre-tax bill. Spot on: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill for good table service.

    From our guide: How much to tip (US guide)

  10. Scenario 10 of 15At a coffee counter the tablet swivels toward you: 20%, 25%, 30%. You ordered a drip coffee.
    Reveal the answer

    “No tip” or “Custom” are both perfectly fine. Exactly. Counter tips are a kindness, not an obligation. Decide your policy in advance and let the screen be.

    From our guide: How much to tip (US guide)

  11. Scenario 11 of 15Dinner in Tokyo was flawless. How do you show your appreciation?
    Reveal the answer

    A sincere “arigatō gozaimasu.” Tipping isn’t customary. Beautifully done. Thanks, not cash. In a rare case, a gratuity goes discreetly in an envelope.

    From our guide: Tipping abroad

  12. Scenario 12 of 15You’d like to thank your mail carrier at the holidays. What’s allowed?
    Reveal the answer

    A small gift clearly worth $20 or less. Right. Postal Service rules allow only gifts clearly worth $20 or less, and no cash or gift cards. A treat or a note is ideal.

    From our guide: Holiday tipping guide

  13. Scenario 13 of 15Forty colleagues are on an email announcing your project launch. You want to say thanks.
    Reveal the answer

    Reply to the sender alone. Exactly. Reply-all only when everyone on the thread needs your answer.

    From our guide: Email etiquette

  14. Scenario 14 of 15You’re in the middle seat on a long flight. Who gets the two center armrests?
    Reveal the answer

    You do. Yes. By widely shared convention, the middle seat gets both center armrests.

    From our guide: Airplane etiquette

  15. Scenario 15 of 15A friend’s mother has died. What do you say when you see her?
    Reveal the answer

    “I’m so sorry about your mom,” and share a memory if you have one. Just right. Short, specific and sincere, naming the person who died, means more than any general phrase.

    From our guide: Condolence etiquette

The titles

Score one point for each scenario you get right. Your title depends on your total out of 15:

  • 0+ correct: Charming Rogue
  • 5+ correct: Promising Débutante
  • 9+ correct: Gracious Guest
  • 12+ correct: Count of Courtesy
  • 15+ correct: Duchess of Decorum

How the quiz works

Each scenario has one answer that matches the guidance in our guides and two that are tempting for understandable reasons. Choose an answer and you’ll see why it works (or doesn’t), with a link to the guide where the rule is explained in full and its sources are cited. Without JavaScript, every question is still here: open “Reveal the answer” under each one.

The guides behind the questions

The scenarios come from across the site, so a low score is really a reading list:

Hosting the real thing?

The kindest dinner parties are planned around the guests. Ask about allergies when people accept, and read our guide to cooking for guests with dietary restrictions before you shop. If you need menu ideas built from what’s already in the cupboard, PantryRx’s recipe collection is a free place to start, and Confetti, a simple event planner, keeps the guest list and replies in one place.

Frequently asked questions

What does the etiquette quiz cover?

Fifteen everyday situations: when to arrive at a dinner party, how to present wine, which fork to use, where your napkin goes, RSVPs and plus-ones, wedding and cash-gift thank-you notes, restaurant and counter tipping, tipping in Japan, mail-carrier gifts, reply-all, airplane armrests and what to say to someone who is grieving.

Where do the quiz answers come from?

Every answer is drawn from a Courteous guide, and those guides cite their sources, such as the Emily Post Institute, Japan’s national tourism organization and survey research. Each result links to the guide so you can read the full reasoning.

What is the best score title?

A perfect 15 out of 15 earns ‘Duchess of Decorum.’ Twelve or more is ‘Count of Courtesy,’ nine or more ‘Gracious Guest,’ five or more ‘Promising Débutante’ and anything below that ‘Charming Rogue.’

Is it rude to arrive early to a dinner party?

Yes, usually. Hosts often use the last few minutes to finish cooking or get dressed. Arrive at the stated time or up to about 15 minutes after, and text the host if you’ll be more than 15 to 20 minutes late.

Sources

  1. Emily Post Institute — Wedding Thank-Yous
  2. Emily Post Institute — General Tipping Guide
  3. Emily Post Institute — Holiday Tipping Guide
  4. Japan National Tourism Organization — Tipping in Japan

Statistics are quoted from the linked publishers as of October 2026. See our methodology.

Dining & hosting

Dinner party etiquette

A good dinner party is a small act of cooperation. Here is each side’s part, from the invitation to the morning-after thank-you.

6 min read

Dining & hosting

Table manners

Which fork, when to start, where the napkin goes and what to do with your phone. The few conventions worth knowing, and the reasons behind them.

6 min read

Dining & hosting

RSVP etiquette

Replying to an invitation is the easiest courtesy there is, and the one hosts most often wish guests would remember. Here’s how to do it well.

5 min read

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