Good manners, or behaving in a way that's socially acceptable and respectful, display respect, care, and consideration for others. Excellent manners can help you to have better relationships with people you know, and those you will meet. Here's how to cultivate them. Basic Etiquette 1 Practice basic courtesy . Say "please" and "thank you," when you need to, even to the person behind the counter at McDonald's. People notice when you're courteous and respectful toward them, and it can count for a lot. Additionally, say "excuse me" whenever you accidentally bump into someone, or if you need to leave a social setting temporarily. 2 Hold open doors for other people . You don't have to be a guy to hold a door open. If someone will be entering the door shortly after you, pause a second and hold it open. Say "After you, sir/ma'am," if the person is a stranger; if not, use his or her name in place of sir or ma'am. If you're unsure about whether or not the other person would appreciate having the door held open, ask politely. Say, "May I get the door for you?" This gives the other person an opportunity to accept or decline. 3 Speak politely . Keep the volume of your voice as low as possible while still allowing people to hear you, and don't use slang or filler words (such as "like," "uh," "so..." and so on). Don't interrupt or override another person when he or she is speaking. Practice