Etiquette Subpage 8: The Unwritten Rules of Late Arrival

Rule 1: Apologize for your tardiness, but only if you're 10 minutes late.

It's a fine line between a sincere apology and a desperate attempt to shift the blame. If you're more than 10 minutes late, you're on your own.

Rule 2: Bring a gift, preferably a fruit basket or a bottle of wine.

It's the thought that counts, not the quality of the gift. A fruit basket with a few sad apples and a wine with a slight sediment will get you far in the world of Late-Comers.

Rule 3: Use the phrase "traffic was a nightmare" at least once during the conversation.

A classic, but don't overdo it. You can say it once, twice, but no more than that. Any more and you'll be seen as a serial latecomer.

Rule 4: Make up a reason, but only if you're more than 20 minutes late.

Fire, flood, car trouble, or a family emergency – the sky's the limit when it comes to creative excuses. Just don't get too creative and you might find yourself in a world of trouble.

Go to Subpage 9: The Art of Making Up More Creative Excuses