Repair any fragment by attaching it to a nearby sentence or by rewriting it as a complete sentence. If a word group is correct, do not change it.
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Example
1 of 10
The purpose of having good manners is to make people feel comfortable. And to avoid hurting their feelings.
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2 of 10
Good manners are defined differently in different places. For example, in some cultures diners burp to show their appreciation, but in other cultures a person who burps is expected to say “Excuse me.”
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3 of 10
Rules of etiquette also change over time. Because cultures are constantly evolving.
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4 of 10
In the United States a hundred years ago, etiquette books devoted long passages to hats. Explaining when hats should be worn and, especially, when they should be removed.
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5 of 10
Emily Post wrote a popular book on manners in 1922. In it, she noted that “a gentleman does not keep his hat on in the presence of ladies in a house.”
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This rule and many similar ones are little known or are generally ignored today. Even by the few men who still wear hats.
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7 of 10
In Emily Post’s day, one gesture that was almost always considered rude was pointing at someone. Which implied that the pointer was accusing the other person of some misbehavior.
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8 of 10
When teaching their children manners, few parents today are likely to insist that pointing is always rude. At least in American culture.
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9 of 10
Pointing at others to ridicule them still makes a person look impolite. However, many people now point at friends and acquaintances as an informal way of indicating approval or saying hello.
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10 of 10
Today’s etiquette experts, such as advice columnist Miss Manners, make Emily Post seem quaintly old-fashioned. But half a century from now may seem quaint themselves.
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