Tipping is very important in the US. You should tip between 15-20% at restaurants, bars, cafes, and in taxis. Tipped employees are actually paid below the minimum wage, as it is assumed that they will receive tips to increase their wages. In other countries, tipping shows that you received great service; but in the US, not tipping shows that you were extremely unhappy. You may even get an angry response from the staff.

You may have heard the phrase ‘the customer is always right’. There is a huge emphasis on customer service in the US, and you can be a little more demanding than you can in other countries. If you behave politely, you shouldn’t get a rude response. For example, it is usually not a problem to ask the chef to remove an ingredient from your dish if you have a dietary requirement (or even if you just don’t like a certain food). And it is completely acceptable to complain if there is a genuine problem with your meal.

While it might seem pointless, small talk is more about politeness, creating a friendly environment, and passing the time, than about having a meaningful conversation. You should keep a positive and friendly tone throughout. Typical topics include your job, what you study, plans for the weekend, holidays, interesting current events, sports, hobbies, or the weather.

Americans place a lot of value on punctuality. If you’ll be more than 5 or 10 minutes late to meet someone, you should message or call to let them know. If you are going to a restaurant, dinner party, or small gathering, you should not be late. But for larger informal events (such as a party) where people can freely come and go, it’s okay to be 30 minutes late.

Americans say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ in all situations, no matter how insignificant – for example, at the grocery store checkout or when buying transport tickets. If you don’t do this when visiting America, you will appear rude.

You should also say ‘sorry’ or ‘excuse me’ even when it seems unimportant (or isn’t particularly your fault!) – for example, stepping on someone’s foot in a crowded metro carriage, or passing close to someone in a busy store.

Making eye contact during conversation is polite, but you shouldn’t stare at people, as this is considered rude.

America is a very smiley culture. Like with saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, Americans have a friendly face in all situations, no matter how unimportant they seem. This can seem strange if you come from a culture where smiling at strangers is not the norm – but if someone smiles at you and you don’t do the same, they might feel confused or even offended.

Personal space is important to Americans. You should stand an arm’s length away when talking to someone.

The correct answer to the question ‘how are you?’ should be neutral or positive – ‘Fine, thanks’ or ‘Very well, thank you’. In casual conversation, ‘how are you?’ is basically another way of saying ‘hello’, rather than a genuine enquiry. So be careful about pouring your heart out to a total stranger!

When saying goodbye, Americans often say something along the lines of ‘Let’s get together soon’ or ‘Let’s go for a drink some time’. This is part of saying goodbye. You shouldn’t be offended if they don’t follow up with an invitation to hang out.

Most people in the US, including young people, don’t typically smoke cigarettes. Smoking in most indoor spaces is banned in many US states and big cities, and some states have banned smoking in outdoor public spaces. If you’re at someone’s house when visiting the US, it is polite to ask permission before smoking.

On the flip side, most Americans believe marijuana should be legalised. Smoking marijuana is legal in 15 US states – so don’t be shocked if you walk past someone smoking an unusual-smelling cigarette.