# People who use a knife and fork American style: How did it happen? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 4, 2015, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400 "2015-12-04T13:10:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400/1 "2015-12-04T13:10:31Z")
The [American style](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eating_utensil_etiquette#American_style) of knife and fork usage involves cutting an item with your fork in the non-dominant hand and knife in the dominant hand, then putting down the knife and transferring the fork to the dominant hand to eat. While the practice is waning in America, there are still many people who use utensils this way. Growing up in Australia, I personally use the European style because that always seemed like the most obvious and natural way to use a knife and fork. As far as I can remember, I’ve never once had a conversation about utensil usage and I don’t think I ever gave the issue and conscious thought at all. In the 10 years I’ve been in the US, I don’t think I ever noticed how any of my friends use their utensils and I couldn’t for the life of me name a single person who I could label their utensil usage style. Given this, I’m pretty sure that even if I had grew up in the US, I’d still be eating European style. So, for the people who do eat American style, did someone at some point in your childhood sit down and have a conversation about utensil usage? Did you consciously notice how utensils were being used and make a conscious effort to mimic it? Or did it happen completely via osmosis without you making an effort to do it? ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400/2 "2015-12-04T13:33:47Z")
I used to eat that way as a kid because that’s the way everyone else did. I’m logic by nature but sometimes obtuse; even so when I learned how the Europeans did it in German class it made sense and I’ve been eating that way since 10th grade in 1987 or so. So: no one taught me specifically; I learned through observation, and continued through social habit. Once introduced to an obvious, better way I changed. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400/3 "2015-12-04T13:47:10Z")
Is it my imagination or is this the third (or fourth?)thread we’ve had on this topic recently? Not that there’s anything wrong with that (😉 ) I just can’t figure out why it’s seems to be such a puzzler. I do the switch thing because I have far more dexterity in my dominant (right) hand. No one told me to do it that way(that I recall, but then I don’t remember anything about being instructed in the ways of eating, though I’m sure I had to have been). After having been (playfully) mocked by Brit friends, I have learned to do it the other way with some effort but really, why should I? When something supposedly enjoyable like sharing a meal becomes a chore, well that’s not a good thing. Hope it doesn’t sound like I’m jumping on you, **Shalmanese** , I just don’t think there’s anything more to it than “it comes naturally”. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400/4 "2015-12-04T13:54:30Z")
There are all kinds of things you learned growing up that I’m sure you have no memory of sitting down for a formal lesson. How you eat is one of those things. All the thousands of things that a people learn without realizing it is how a culture is formed. The American style of using a knife and fork was also the European style at one point, but the European style changed, but the American style did not. Also, given how fat we Americans are, I think we’re using our silverware to maximum efficiency. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400/5 "2015-12-04T14:01:03Z")
It was the way of our fathers, and their fathers before them, and our forefathers back to the edges of recorded time ( c. 1935 ): we have always done things thus. That’s the standard explanation for most stuff. Still, I will say this looks very _strenuous_. I wonder why they don’t all play Musical Chairs to liven up meals. ---
**Author:** ![Stoneburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400/6 "2015-12-04T14:04:19Z")
It would seem to slow down the process to use the utensils this way. The switch time is time that could have been used to chew and swallow food. Maybe it’s a form of diet regime… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400/7 "2015-12-04T14:07:32Z")
Because That’s How It’s Done. Regards, Shodan’s Mother ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400/8 "2015-12-04T14:43:08Z")
Today I learned that that’s an American thing. I thought all civilized people are like that. ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400/9 "2015-12-04T15:24:34Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Because That’s How It’s Done. > > Regards, > Shodan’s Mother Apparently Shodan and I have the same mother. I was taught Proper Manners, including How to Use a Knife and Fork Correctly. My mom thought eating with the fork in your left hand was just a step above holding it in your fist. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400/10 "2015-12-04T15:28:05Z")
And my mother thought it was a step below putting your face directly in the soup. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400/11 "2015-12-04T15:29:23Z")
> [@Stoneburg](#): > > It would seem to slow down the process to use the utensils this way. The switch time is time that could have been used to chew and swallow food. Maybe it’s a form of diet regime… 😉 Seriously…is the rest of the world going to accuse us of shoveling food in our gullets as quickly and copiously as possible, or accuse us of eating too inefficiently? They need to get their accusations straight! ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400/12 "2015-12-04T15:37:25Z")
This weird thing is definitely purposed to be slower eating than doing it normally; but that doesn’t mean people couldn’t eat fast whilst performing this elaborate two-step. Maybe slower in _method_, but intensity of effort will win through. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400/13 "2015-12-04T15:45:05Z")
The women in my family, at early points in my childhood, made it clear that any other way of using utensils was uncouth and unacceptable, and that includes the European method. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400/14 "2015-12-04T15:52:32Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > This weird thing is definitely purposed to be slower eating than doing it normally; but that doesn’t mean people couldn’t eat fast whilst performing this elaborate two-step. > Maybe slower in _method_, but intensity of effort will win through. Whaaaa? No it isn’t. I mean, I suppose some people see that as one of the benefits. I believe it was **Anamika** who said so in the last thread we had about this, but I think that’s fairly new reasoning. I don’t believe anyone ever said “let’s slow down our eating by adding a step”. \*\*Shodan \*\*and \*\*TheChileanBob \*\*are cracking me up; your moms sound tough! [ ---
**Author:** ![Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fool_in_the_Rain)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400/15 "2015-12-04T15:53:12Z")
I’ve always done it the “American Way”, and most people I know do also. As a lefty, I’d be afraid I’d cut off my hand if I cut with the right hand, being all evil and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![arseNal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@arseNal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arseNal)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400/16 "2015-12-04T15:59:04Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Seriously…is the rest of the world going to accuse us of shoveling food in our gullets as quickly and copiously as possible, or accuse us of eating too inefficiently? They need to get their accusations straight! As an American, I feel it is my duty to go with the worst of both worlds: I do the switch but then to make up for lost time, I make sure I saw off the biggest honking chunk of meat I could possibly cram down my craw. Then I do the switch but pick up the fork in my fist (tines up) and plunge that fucker into my piehole as fast as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Stoneburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400/17 "2015-12-04T16:15:33Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > Today I learned that that’s an American thing. > > I thought civilized people ate like that. Fixed your post. But you were wrong. Civilized people don’t, Americans do. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400/18 "2015-12-04T16:27:15Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Seriously…is the rest of the world going to accuse us of shoveling food in our gullets as quickly and copiously as possible, or accuse us of eating too inefficiently? They need to get their accusations straight! I know! Clearly we’re a bunch of uncoordinated doofi. Duh. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400/19 "2015-12-04T18:38:46Z")
This site: [http://www.cookingandtips.com/recipes/etiquette/etiquet\_cutlery\_history.htm](http://www.cookingandtips.com/recipes/etiquette/etiquet_cutlery_history.htm) contains the following: > [@](#): > > But, in colonial America in 1630, Governor Winthrop of the Massachusetts Bay Colony owned the first and only fork. The knives imported from Europe with their new blunt ends were not as easy to eat with as the pointed ones and people began to use a spoon to steady their food to cut it. When forks were first imported, they were called, “Split Spoons”. Spoons – and later forks – were switched to the right hand after the food was cut in order to scoop it up into one’s mouth – This was the beginning of what is known today as the American zig-zag method of switching our fork from our left to our right hand to eat, while the Europeans still keep their forks in the left hand. It would seem as though this double process we go through would have been changed sometime in our history for pure common sense. Instead, we consider it poor etiquette to keep the fork in our left hand to eat – unless, of course, someone is left-handed, and then they’re seated at the end of the table so their left elbow won’t collide with the elbow of a right-handed person trying to eat properly. What I am curious about is when and how my grandparents who were born in Europe learned to eat this way. This is how I learned to eat. Incidentally, when I googled this, this thread came up first. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400/20 "2015-12-04T19:04:08Z")
As with a few others, my mother taught us kids that the ‘European’ method was uncouth and bad manners. I can still hear her telling me not to turn my fork over. But, although I found the European method more natural to me, I still am weirded out when I see Brits mashing a bunch of food on the back of their forks before putting it in their mouths. It seems like it would be easier for food to fall off the back of a fork than the front. Spearing your food, fine. But piling up food on the back of the utensil? Seems almost as odd as eating soup with the back of your spoon. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-a-knife-and-fork-american-style-how-did-it-happen/739400.md?page=2)