Politeness is a cornerstone of social interaction, shaping how we connect and coexist. In the United States, perceptions of politeness vary widely, often colored by regional stereotypes.
For instance, “Southern hospitality” is a well-known trope, while New Yorkers are sometimes perceived as less friendly. But how much of this is based on reality?
This blog post delves into a recent study by Preply, which surveyed Americans to gauge the importance of polite actions and ranked states accordingly.
By exploring the findings, we aim to uncover the nuances of politeness in the top 18 states, offering insights that go beyond mere stereotypes.
1. Arkansas
- Ranked as the most polite state with an impressive score of 99.3.
- Nearly 75% of Arkansan participants feel it’s “very important” to hold the door for others.
- The state scored 90.8 on the perceived politeness question, placing them second after Minnesota.
2. Georgia
- Scored 98.9 on the politeness scale.
- 62% of Georgians agreed that it’s “very important” to respect someone’s preferred titles or pronouns.
- The state ranked 14th in perceived politeness.
3. Alabama
- Politeness score of 98.6.
- Nine out of ten Alabaman participants consider giving up their seat on public transportation to someone in need as important.
- Alabama ranked sixth in perceived politeness, tied with Kentucky.
4. South Carolina
- Received a 98.5 politeness rating.
- The perceived politeness score landed them in fourth place.
5. Tennessee
- Ranks fifth with a politeness score of 98.0.
- Residents ranked ninth for perceived politeness.
6. Kentucky
- Ranks sixth with a politeness score of 97.6.
- The state also ranked sixth in perceived politeness.
7. Kansas
- Received a 97.6 score in Preply’s politeness study.
- Kansans ranked thirteenth for the self-reported perceived politeness of their state.
8. Louisiana
- Politeness score of 97.3.
- Louisianans ranked higher in perceived politeness compared to other states, landing in sixth place.
- Their perceived politeness score was 87.5.
9. North Carolina
- Residents answered questions pertaining to politeness that resulted in a score of 97.1.
- The state ranked 22nd in perceived politeness.
10. Michigan
- Scored an even 97.0 for politeness.
- The perceived politeness score was 76.9, ranking them in 30th place.
11. Minnesota
- Politeness score of 96.8.
- Locals consider themselves far more polite, with Minnesota ranking number one for perceived politeness.
12. Ohio
- Ranks just below Minnesota with a politeness scale of 96.7.
- Ohioans ranked in 28th place for perceived politeness.
13. Mississippi
- Scores a 96.4 for politeness.
- It ranked fifth in perceived politeness.
14. Utah
- Scored a solid 96.0 for politeness.
- They ranked in 21st place for perceived politeness, with a score of 80.3.
15. Virginia
- Politeness score of 95.5.
- Virginians ranked in 26th place for perceived politeness.
16. West Virginia
- Ties with Virginia with a politeness score of 95.5.
- They ranked in tenth place for perceived politeness.
17. Iowa:
- Scored a 95.4 in Preply’s politeness study.
- Iowa’s perceived score ranking was 86.1, making it the eleventh most perceived polite state.
18. Nebraska:
- Falls just below Iowa, with a politeness score of 95.3.
- Residents landed in third place for perceived politeness.
Alicia Richards