These are the top 30 etiquette confusions according to adults under 30

More than a quarter of younger adults have tried to host a formal spread of their own.

And best efforts include 45 per cent putting more cutlery on the table, 44 per cent trying their hand at table dressing and 37 per cent insisting that their guests respected manners at the dinner table.

Unfortunately, 57 per cent of young adults have experienced someone pointing out they’re doing something wrong at a formal occasion, with 22 per cent saying this has happened to them multiple times.

As a result, six in 10 have resorted to Googling formal etiquette at the dinner table, while others copy everything the person next to them is doing or rely on a partner to tell them what to do.

Young women worry about which cutlery should be used for which course and men stress about what to do with their knife and fork when they’ve finished their meal.

Despite their efforts to learn, 73 per cent of those polled via OnePoll believe etiquette and good manners are dying out.

To help younger adults to feel more comfortable with dinner party rules, Specsavers Home Visits has created a tutorial with etiquette expert Diana Mather from The English Manner, who is also part of #GenerationWOW (wonderful older wisdom).

Within the video, Diana reveals how you should work your way from the outside in with cutlery and how bread rolls should actually be broken by hand rather than cut with a knife.

Diana said: “Things like etiquette can seem quite intimidating, but what better time than The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee to learn a bit about it and enjoy more formal celebrations.

“It’s sad to hear that younger people believe that etiquette is waning, as actually it is as relevant today as it has always been. Being able to hold your own at a formal event can be crucial to career success, as well as to being able to enjoy weddings and dinner parties.

“I hope my tips will help a little, but there’s really no substitute for talking to an older friend or relative if you need some more advice – and maybe you could even invite them to dinner to say thank you!”

Top 30 etiquette confusions according to adults under 30

1.            Which cutlery to use for which course

2.            Which glass is for what drink

3.            If I can tear my bread up or if I have to cut it

4.            What I should do with my knife and fork when I’m taking a break from eating

5.            What I should do with my knife and fork when I’ve finished my meal

6.            Whether I’m able to put my elbows on the table or not

7.            What to do with my napkin after eating

8.            Which direction to pass food

9.            If I have to stand up or not when someone leaves or arrives at the table

10.          If I’m allowed to go to the toilet during a meal

11.          Whether a knife is a steak or fish knife

12.          Who should be served their food first

13.          Who should pay for the meal

14.          How many bread rolls are polite to eat

15.          If I’m allowed to handle any of my food

16.          What the spoons are used for

17.          Where I put my bag/purse

18.          What topics I’m allowed to talk about at the table

19.          If I have to finish everything on my plate

20.          Which side is my bread roll on

21.          Where I put my phone

22.          Where I should put my napkin when eating

23.          Where I put my jacket

24.          How I’m supposed to sit

25.          How to hold my glass

26.          How to eat e.g. can you only have small bites

27.          If I have to pass salt and pepper together

28.          If I’m allowed to season my meal at all

29.          If I’m able to finish someone else’s meal

30.          If it’s rude to chew with my mouth open