Manners guide for the modern girl

Cherie Blair would be best to avoid Hillary Clinton's lips and go for the cheek

It's a modern day dilemma - should you greet a friend with one cheek kiss, two or go for broke with three?

The answer, among many to 21st Century etiquette conundrums for women, is two, says Good Housekeeping magazine.

Its guide advises that while three kisses are de rigueur for French ladies, two is quite sufficient here.

The magazine's Noughtiquette guide also addresses such thorny issues as showing the top of a thong and using the loo while your other half is showering.

The answer to both is: "Don't."

The magazine says it is a manners guide for the Sex in the City generation.

And contrary to the openness about sex in that programme, it says it is poor form to ogle other men while with a partner and women should not reveal details of their sex life.

Noughtiquette guide (from November's Good Housekeeping):

DON'Ts:

Kiss anyone other than your partner on the lips

Kiss a boss, plumber or doctor or anyone you have a professional relationship with

Argue loudly in public

Steal from your partner's plate; order chips yourself

Stretch out in a gym changing room without clothes on

Quibble over a group restaurant bill

Use a smiley face in an e-mail

Write anything in an e-mail you wouldn't be prepared to say to someone's face.

DOs

Answer an invite to dinner as soon as you can, not on the morning of the party

Serve food within an hour of guests arriving or they will be too drunk to eat

Avoid serving food which has been the subject of a recent food scare

Invite your former spouse to your wedding - and even better manners for them to be unable to make it

Where children are involved, maintain exquisite manners when referring to your ex.