The telephone has become part of our daily life. It is just as common as fresh air and delicious hamburger, but what would we do without it? As much a part of our lives as learning to talk and walk and maybe that is why we, at most times, pay little attention to it. However, we sometimes think about it when we have had the experience of being treated abruptly or rudely while using this mode of communication. We get angry at others’ abruptness and rudeness to us, but most probably never take thought of the times we have shown our bad manners while speaking on the telephone.

Phone call is a bridge between two people for delivering and receiving information. A certain problem may thwart the communication if the telephone etiquette is not observed. Generally speaking, we are supposed to use standard language instead of slang, to be polite to each other, and to make it clear who caller and receiver are. Although it might be okay from time to time to depart from etiquette, especially when calling very well-known friends, greater adherence to the telephone manners is still useful.

The manner in speaking on the telephone is just as important as in talking to people face to face. Many people bemoan the lack of basic telephone etiquette both in personal and professional calls. Telephone etiquette provides us the proper way to function politely together in a society, eliminating frustration and communication mishaps. However, telephone etiquette would not work best unless everyone knows the rules.

■Basic Good Manners

◇Let the telephone ring a reasonable length of time, neither too long nor too short.

◇Apologize promptly and hang up gently if you dial a wrong number.

◇Calling a business at or very near closing time is to say the least unthoughtful. Do not delay them when it is time to go home, after a long day.

◇Give your name when placing a call. The game of “guess who this is” may not play well to a busy friend.

◇Try to make your call short and informative when speaking to anyone who is working.

◇To avoid dialing a wrong number and inconveniencing others, make sure to dial carefully and in proper lighting.

■Making Telephone Calls

You’d better think about what time it is, when making a phone call. It’s impolite and intrusive call when that person may be asleep, such as before 7:00 on a work morning, or after 9:00 to 10:00 in the evening. And remember to avoid calls around the usual period most people will be having meals. Courtesy is expected when using the telephone just as if you are talking face to face.

When the telephone answered, give your name before asking for the person you are requesting.

Sometimes you may dial a “wrong number” due to inadequate lighting or dialing too quickly. Instead of hanging up abruptly, apologize politely and let them know you have dialed a wrong number. Remember to dial carefully and make sure that you can see the dial pad to avoid disturbing another person unnecessarily.

Pay enough attention to the way you sound when speaking on the telephone. Make sure that you enunciate your words precisely and clearly. It is always embarrassing to be asked to repeat what you are saying. Try to sound gentle and polite, because the person on the other end of the line could not see your facial expressions and your “tone of voice” will need to express this.

■Answering the Telephone

Usually we say “hello” to answer a telephone call, while “yes” is a curt and improper response. The phone caller can draw a very quick conclusion, thinking of that person as aloof and cold, and hesitate to communicate readily.

Sometimes, it is not the head of the house who will answer the phone call. If the caller asks, “may I speak to Mr.... please,” the replay should be, “one moment please, I will get him for you.” If the head of the house is not available, the response should be “I am sorry, Mr.... is not available at this time. May I take a message?” You can use different forms of response to show your good manners, which are also a reflection of your politeness and thoughtfulness. The person may be calling to offer a new job with great pay and benefits, who’s to know! And what would he/she think if the answer to the question “is Mr.... home please” would be an abrupt “no”. This response would reflect negatively on the actual person being called.