étiquette
Forget those stuffed shirts and extended pinkie fingers and picture etiquette as the evolving social norms of a community. Whether talking about how to introduce a colleague, or how to eat with chopsticks, or how to maneuver the social intricacies of Facebook, etiquette gives us the socially accepted practices that match the spirit or character of the community.
Consider traveling to another country without knowing the cultural conventions. As you become immersed in the culture a raised eye brow or frown may ensue. Your intended message is being misunderstood. Knowledge of etiquette closes that gap allowing for greater success in communication.
A close cousin to etiquette is manners. Manners are the way we apply etiquette in our daily life. On the flip side, when we don’t apply the norms of etiquette we are sometimes considered rude. Generally, interactions with people go much smoother when we practice the social norms of etiquette.
by 
"étiquette"
at The Free Dictionary
