# Poll for men: How do you (have you) tie(d) your tie? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 4, 2011, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799 "2011-07-04T09:21:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799/1 "2011-07-04T09:21:55Z")
Poll to follow shortly. Lately I’ve been wearing ties to the office, and found myself getting tired of the same old [four-in-hand](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_in_hand) knot I’ve used since high school. Today I decided to try a [half-Windsor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Windsor_knot) and found, hey, much snappier, and symmetrical to boot! Long ago I tried doing a full [Windsor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windsor_knot) but only ended up with a squarish baseball sized piece of cloth resting under my chin, so I can’t say I’ve ever successfully worn it. And there are some styles I have yet to try, such as the [Pratt](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratt_knot) knot and the [small knot](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_knot). So, what styles have you successfully worn in the past? What do you prefer, and why? Stories? ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799/2 "2011-07-04T09:32:16Z")
(For “other,” you may select “He’s smiling at you, Beavis.” But you must explain.) ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799/3 "2011-07-04T09:42:59Z")
I have no idea what knot I use. It was the way I was shown as a kid and I still use it. ---
**Author:** ![Hogfather65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hogfather65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hogfather65)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799/4 "2011-07-04T11:00:58Z")
My grandfather showed me the full window years ago (30 years ago to be exact) - still use it - looks smart when done right - but never looks right when done in a hurry ---
**Author:** ![The\_Lurker\_Above](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Lurker\_Above](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Lurker_Above)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799/5 "2011-07-04T11:07:56Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Long ago I tried doing a full [Windsor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windsor_knot) but only ended up with a squarish baseball sized piece of cloth resting under my chin, so I can’t say I’ve ever successfully worn it. My usual knot is the Windsor; it’s what I learned as a boy and I can (and usually do) tie it half-asleep. I do have some ties that are just too short/too bulky to do up in a Windsor so I learned the Pratt knot for those occasions. I also find the Pratt a lot easier to tie on someone else from the front, i.e. certain co-workers that had ties as part of their uniform but always depended on asking someone else to tie it. ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799/6 "2011-07-04T11:12:19Z")
The half-windsor is symmetrical? Mine are always a little bit off - I thought that was the point, and if you wanted symmetrical (but big) you used a full windsor. I’ve rarely ever used a four in hand, but I gather it’s more popular in the states. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799/7 "2011-07-04T11:16:24Z")
_“I’m a dude and have never worn a tie, or don’t remember what my mom tied for me that one time”_ I haven’t worn a tie since I was a small boy. ---
**Author:** ![Dahnlor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahnlor/32/533_2.png) [@Dahnlor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahnlor)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799/8 "2011-07-04T12:46:10Z")
I normally use the small knot. Before this thread, I had no idea what it was called. I’m also surprised that it isn’t more popular. Checking the Wiki page on “The 85 Ways To Tie A Tie”, I can see that when I wrap the tie around twice, it called a “Kelvin knot”. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799/9 "2011-07-04T14:23:08Z")
I used a four-in-hand when I first started wearing a tie regularly, in graduate school on days I taught. Eventually, when I started working, I moved on to a half-Windsor, and used it for many years. About six months ago, I got curious, and found several videos on the Web demonstrating how to tie a full Windsor. I’ve used the full Windsor ever since, unless I am wearing a knit tie, which is too bulky. I have taught my son to tie a four-in-hand. I sort of figure it is a young man’s tie, and he should move on to a Windsor (full or half) when he gets older. ---
**Author:** ![Bartman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Bartman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bartman)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799/10 "2011-07-04T14:37:41Z")
I have a very long torso. So I have to use knots that take up the least amount of fabric possible, or they don’t reach past the bottom of my ribcage. Its always been a four-in-hand knot for me. Not that I wear ties all that often anymore anyway. They are not required for work, school, or any of my regular social activities. And I don’t attend church. ---
**Author:** ![bahia\_hombre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@bahia\_hombre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bahia_hombre)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799/11 "2011-07-04T14:46:31Z")
> [@Tabby\_Cat](#): > > The half-windsor is symmetrical? Mine are always a little bit off - I thought that was the point, and if you wanted symmetrical (but big) you used a full windsor. > > I’ve rarely ever used a four in hand, but I gather it’s more popular in the states. +1. The double-Windsor is symmetrical and not too bulky with a nice silk tie. Looks much better than the others, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799/12 "2011-07-04T14:58:17Z")
It depends on how wide the tie is. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799/13 "2011-07-04T16:09:42Z")
Always Four-in-Hand, it’s worth mentioning that at least up until I retired the Four-in-Hand was the mandatory knot for any of the Army Service Uniforms (Green / White / Blue.) There is a new design for the blue ASU that has been released (you can typically see top brass who appear before congress wearing them) and will replace all the other ASUs which will be discontinued. The blue during my time also required the four-in-hand knot just like the green / white. There was also a bow tie which was specified after retreat (although not usually required IME.) ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799/14 "2011-07-04T16:13:43Z")
My dad flies into town every morning and ties my necktie for me before work. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799/15 "2011-07-04T16:29:55Z")
I have no idea what the type of knot I tie is called but no one else I’ve shown it to in real life has recognized it. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799/16 "2011-07-04T17:06:44Z")
Small knot or a Pratt, depending on the thickness of the tie. Both can be tied without a mirror while racing to debate rounds, so they are what I teach my students. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799/17 "2011-07-04T17:08:46Z")
Whatever the normal way is. I didn’t even know there were so many configurations. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799/18 "2011-07-04T17:12:24Z")
Anyone wear a bow tie? ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799/19 "2011-07-04T17:32:51Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > _“I’m a dude and have never worn a tie, or don’t remember what my mom tied for me that one time”_ > > I haven’t worn a tie since I was a small boy. Same here. I wore one at St. Pius V School in Providence, RI. It was basically a clip on. I HATE ties. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799/20 "2011-07-04T17:53:38Z")
I used to be much fatter and so I have a lot of neck ties that were meant for a bigger neck. I now use a Prince Albert knot because it has a double wrap and takes a little more material. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-men-how-do-you-have-you-tie-d-your-tie/587799.md?page=2)