DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was just wondering why the blade of a knife faces in toward the plate and not out?
GENTLE READER: Throughout the noble history of etiquette, there has been concern, to the point of alarm, about the possible misuse of table knives.
It was bad enough that for centuries before the widespread adoption of the fork, people used to spear their food on the tips and introduce the knife into the mouth. But they might also be tempted to use knives for murder or, worse, picking their teeth.
Thus there have been various rules passed in an effort to tame such instruments, such as blunting the tips (a French 17th-century dictum) and turning the sharp part in. If you have ever been attacked by a dinner partner, Miss Manners trusts that you will see the wisdom of this.
—Why knives must face inward
I love Miss Manners…she makes me laugh. But I will continue to face the blades of my knives away from the plate.
February 9, 2022
Sometimes etiquette is just a BIT too much! I am sure that if someone wanted to do something bad with a knife, the way it was facing would not change their mind.
I was completely clueless and think the rule is funny. 😀
I didn’t know Miss Manners was still around! I used to read her column in some newspaper. can’t remember now. it’s interesting that in England they keep the fork in their left hand and place food on the back of it with their knife. even in Downton Abbey! I need to learn to do that as my essential tremor in my right hand gets worse. maybe I’ll practice now. xo
Sorry about the tremor… it’s always good to have contingency plans. Andy and I have gotten creative about some things here. 🙂
it’s a bit like blunt knifes at airport security!
it must be a colonial UK thing as my knife blades always face into the plate
I’m not surprised that it would be the same where you are. It tickles me that I had never learned that and placed them away from the plate because it made more sense. 😀
If and when I do set a table, the knife blade is pointed out. What makes the difference? I guess as stated by her, there is. My way is best for me…cut meats, etc. at the counter, and instead of setting table, carry my plate and use tv tray to watch a movie. ?
I’m like you. I usually don’t sit down at the table to eat. No worries about etiquette here. 😀
You know, in all the years I’ve set a table, I never realized there was a right and a wrong way to face the knife. I just always set it next to the plate and didn’t pay attention to what way the blade was facing.
I think it’s a silly rule and Miss Manners had a good time with it. 🙂
My mother taught me how to properly set a table but she wasn’t particularly focused on etiquette to the best of my knowledge. The knife was aways turned with the blade facing the plate. I didn’t know anyone ever set the tableware differently and haven’t see it otherwise. I, too, am intrigued with the British eating with the fork upside down compared to how we do it. I keep intending to try using the fork British style sometime.
When I was taught it was about where the fork, knife and spoon went, but not the direction of the knife blade.
I had no idea there was a right and wrong way of laying a knife. It occurs to me that people who are left-handed might prefer a spoon to have the handle to the left instead of to the right.
I also had no idea Americans use their forks differently from the English. Personally I normally use the fork in my left hand and the knife in my right, but if I’m eating something with pasta or noodles or rice I usually eat it with just the fork in my right hand.
Oh, and I never use a fork upside down. Why would anyone do that?
Bless Miss Manners for inspiring this post! I love the comments.
This was a fun read. I we oukd be interested in how you and Andy are creative.
I’ll answer that tomorrow. 🙂
Change of plans. The problem was our 50-year-old cord-draw curtain rod stopped working:
We didn’t feel comfortable getting up there and replacing it, so we took out the cords and added a baton rod from the local hardware store. Something like this:
It works beautifully. Easier than before.
I learned to set the table properly in my most hated class of Home Economics. The funny thing is, I last set a table in 1963. That would have been in my mothers house. Even i we used Paper plates for large dinners, we put the plastic knives and forks in the proper place with blade towards plate. the other funny thing is Mother hated to do clean up, loved to cook. she got the paper plates and plastic ware to throw away but then she washed the plastic ware for the next meal. On the rare occasion I had anyone over, we always did the buffet style with paper plates. the real china I got for a wedding present in 1963 was never used until I sold it to help finance my divorce.
Thank you! That’s a neat story.
Come to think of it, every now and then I see knives set ‘blade in’ at a restaurant and just figured no-one took the time to teach their staff. (Like a TP roll hung under v. over. LOL)
I’ve been setting my knives ‘blade out’ the way Miss Lamb taught us in Home Economics. Until I traveled to Italy, I never thought there was another acceptable way.
Thank you for that! Your Miss Lamb was a sensible woman. 😀
I’m with Sandra, I learned in Home Economics too. I do place the edge of the knife towards the plate.
Thanks.