Dear Jacquelyn,

Is it impolite to tell someone to hold your place in line?

Dear Reader,

Occasionally, it’s fine to ask someone to hold your place in a line if it’s for a very brief interval.

If the line is moving slowly enough, so that there won’t be one more person added while you are gone, it’s not impolite.

Thank the people behind you for their patience and tolerance, but be sure to hurry back.

When you are ready to step back into line, if you took more than a few minutes, go to the end of the line.

If you are leaving the line for a good reason, to use the restroom or tend to a child, people are generally understanding and will have no problem letting you back in your original place. There is a level of courtesy to it all.

The more difficult situation to deal with is when someone is holding a place in line for a group of friends. It can be very frustrating if you have already been waiting for a long while and a group pushes you back.

When you approach a line-cutter to let them know they violated the sacred social code of waiting, it’s important to remember not to bring anger into the situation.

For those times when you feel like you absolutely must say something, smile sweetly and say, “Excuse me, maybe you didn’t see me, but I was actually next in line.”

Good manners are about doing things in a way so as to not make others feel bad or uncomfortable. There are a lot of situations that could make it look like someone’s trying to cut in line, when in reality they are making an honest mistake.

It is polite, if someone in line has to step out for a reasonable and unexpected reason, to let that person back in when they return.

Respectfully Yours,

Jacquelyn

Have a question? Email: jacquelyn@ptd.net. Jacquelyn Youst is owner of the Pennsylvania Academy of Protocol, specializing in etiquette training. She is on the board of directors of the National Civility Foundation.

All Rights Reserved &Copy; 2020 Jacquelyn Youst