Proper Etiquette of the Fork

“In eating, the fork should be used in the right hand, with the tines up—the only time it is used in the left is when it is assisting the knife in the cutting of meat.” — Unless, of course, you have a rare, left-handed fork!
(shown above, placed beside a regular fork)
— Photo, Etiquipedia’s private library

The Use of the Fork

Almost all foods are eaten with the fork, even including peas, and other dishes of semi-liquid consistency. In eating, the fork should be used in the right hand, with the tines up—the only time it is used in the left is when it is assisting the knife in the cutting of meat. Use the fork for the cutting of salad and pie or pudding. The knife is only used for meat or the spreading of butter on bread.— Pacific Rural Press, 1916

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia