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According To Americans, These Are 30 Unwritten Rules That Everyone Should Know About

If you're planning to visit America, it's important to do your homework on some of the things you should never do.

According To Americans, These Are 30 Unwritten Rules That Everyone Should Know About

Traveling through the United States can feel exciting, but it also comes with a long list of social habits that locals expect people to know without being told. From restaurant etiquette to road rules, some of these unwritten expectations can catch visitors off guard fast.

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That is exactly why a recent AskAnAmerican thread stood out, with people sharing the customs they think everyone should understand before spending time in the U.S.

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Here are the unwritten rules people kept bringing up, and the ones that might save you from an awkward moment.

1. Don't get sick in America.

1. Don't get sick in America.HighDruid, Marcelo Leal
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2. Never cut in line!

2. Never cut in line!iamnoking, Melanie Pongratz
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3. Wearing a "Make America Great Again" red hat is a bad idea.

3. Wearing a "Make America Great Again" red hat is a bad idea.bighead1008, Natilyn Hicks (Aubrey Hicks Photography)

4. This particular swear word isn't taken lightly in America. Try not to use it.

4. This particular swear word isn't taken lightly in America. Try not to use it.Aceofkings9, Chandra Oh

5. Never trespass on someone's property. You could be shot on sight.

5. Never trespass on someone's property. You could be shot on sight.Tatnatnat, Bjorn Pierre

6. The price you see on the shelf is not what you'll pay; taxes will be included at the counter.

6. The price you see on the shelf is not what you'll pay; taxes will be included at the counter.Traegs_, Phil Aicken

7. "21 is the legal drinking age. Don't try to convince the bartender that it's 18 back home."

7. "21 is the legal drinking age. Don't try to convince the bartender that it's 18 back home."huazzy, Michael Discenza

8. Whenever you dine at a sit-down/table service restaurant, don't leave without tipping your waiter/waitress. They survive on those tips.

8. Whenever you dine at a sit-down/table service restaurant, don't leave without tipping your waiter/waitress. They survive on those tips.changeant, Priscilla Du Preez

That tip culture catches a lot of visitors off guard.

9. Never call a Black man 'boy.'

9. Never call a Black man 'boy.'LordMackie, Nico Marks

10. "Don't take selfies at memorials honoring the dead."

10. "Don't take selfies at memorials honoring the dead."Osgreat, Axel Houmadi

11. "NEVER pass an unloading school bus."

11. "NEVER pass an unloading school bus."tyfroidfever, Joshua Hoehne

12. "If you're driving and get pulled over, DO NOT get out of the car."

12. "If you're driving and get pulled over, DO NOT get out of the car."g00ber88, Erik Mclean

13. "Don't complain that taxes aren't included in the price."

13. "Don't complain that taxes aren't included in the price."kinkachou

14. "It’s completely unacceptable to voice your racist opinions in public."

14. "It’s completely unacceptable to voice your racist opinions in public."erbarme, Priscilla Du Preez

15. There are 330 million Americans; don't generalize ideas.

15. There are 330 million Americans; don't generalize ideas.grizzfan, Jan Folwarczny

16. "Treat wildlife with respect."

16. "Treat wildlife with respect."Badlands32, Zdeněk Macháček

17. "Don't talk down to people in service industries."

17. "Don't talk down to people in service industries."purecainsugar, Louis Hansel

Some of these are less about manners and more about common sense.

It also echoes OP confronting cash-strapped friends who wouldn’t pay their vacation share.

18. "Don't go to dangerous neighborhoods just because you saw them on TV."

18. "Don't go to dangerous neighborhoods just because you saw them on TV."WellLatteDa, Carlos

19. "Americans are really unaccepting of any type of body odor."

19. "Americans are really unaccepting of any type of body odor."Wand_Cloak_Stone, Aqua Mechanical

20. "Pointing is VERY rude!"

20. "Pointing is VERY rude!"Lordofravioli, Nicholas Jeffries

21. "The American South is VERY, VERY big on politeness and manners."

21. "The American South is VERY, VERY big on politeness and manners."Lordofravioli, Nicholas Jeffries

22. "Don't sit around for hours in a restaurant after eating."

22. "Don't sit around for hours in a restaurant after eating."reddit, kayleigh harrington

23. Littering is a big no!

23. Littering is a big no!purecainsugar, Jon Tyson

24. "If you're a stranger, keep an arm's distance when conversing with an American."

24. "If you're a stranger, keep an arm's distance when conversing with an American."Kcb1986

25. "Don’t try to make it cross-country in a day."

25. "Don’t try to make it cross-country in a day."reddit, Clay Banks

26. "Avoid opening alcohol in public."

26. "Avoid opening alcohol in public."reddit, Miguel Ausejo

27. Cash is always better when paying at restaurants or stores.

27. Cash is always better when paying at restaurants or stores.avocadosoneverything, Clay Banks

28. "If you are driving, don't forget that you can make a right turn on a red light."

28. "If you are driving, don't forget that you can make a right turn on a red light."reddit, Mehmet Ali Turan

29. "We Americans love foreign visitors, and we will pepper you with questions."

29. "We Americans love foreign visitors, and we will pepper you with questions."Kcb1986, Mimi Thian

30. "NEVER stop in the middle of the road."

30. "NEVER stop in the middle of the road."amh93

31. Trying to bribe or catcall in public will get you in serious trouble.

31. Trying to bribe or catcall in public will get you in serious trouble.huazzy

Do you know all 30 of these? How many do you break daily in America?

There’s no need to feel bad if you don’t know them all, we all learn as we go. But it never hurts to brush up on your social etiquette skills!

Who knows, maybe knowing these rules will help you avoid embarrassing faux pas in the future. Are there any other unspoken social rules that you think should be added to this list? Let us know in the comments below!

America's unwritten rules can be surprisingly specific.

After you read about the AITA conflict over hidden vacation costs, you’ll see why. the friends argued after OP tried to make them cover sneaky vacation expenses.

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