Etiquette: it’s not just about where your silverware goes on the table and being on time to events. One main component of etiquette is how to conduct yourself in conversation — it’s about how to address people properly, which words to use, and how to converse in certain situations. When we’re kids, we all learn that when someone says “thank you,” the correct response is “you’re welcome.” So how come nobody says it anymore?
It seems like nowadays anytime you says “thank you” to someone, they respond by saying something like “no problem,” or “it’s all good,” or “of course,” or “sure thing!” What happened to just saying “you’re welcome”?
It seems like this change has happened over the past few decades. So what’s behind the change? It would be easy to blame this linguistic change on millennials, but that’s not actually the case.
According to etiquette expert Maryanne Parker, who spoke with Country Living magazine, the change has nothing to do with people being lazy or inconsiderate or rude. Apparently, people have stopped saying “you’re welcome” because they’re trying to be more considerate!
Maryanne explained, “Unfortunately, certain behaviors are often considered to be over-the-top instead of accepted as proper manners.” What that means is that when people say “you’re welcome,” it can be perceived as snarky or insincere.
So should everyone stop saying “you’re welcome”? No, definitely not. Maryanne explained that it’s all about the delivery; if your body language and tone are gracious, you can still make “you’re welcome” sound sincere.
According to Maryanne, “‘No worries, sure, of course, and no problem’ are acceptable in a more casual atmosphere and among close friends and family. But I always prefer the traditional way of saying ‘You are welcome.’ The rest of the words sound too generic.”
Do you still say “you’re welcome” when someone says “thank you”? I know I do! Make sure to share this article with your friends to see what they think!