TABLE MANNERS Your fork goes on the left, knife on the right.

DEAR KATHY: I loved your dining idea last month for using "BMW" (bread, meal, water) to identify your bread plate. My main problem is identifying which fork is mine. Do you have an easy way to figure out the silverware?

— FORK FALLACY

DEAR FORK FALLACY: Yes, I do. "Fork" has 4 letters and so does "left." Your fork is to the left of your plate. If you have 2 forks, work from the outside to the inside. The salad fork will be the smaller fork on the outside and the larger dinner fork will be on the inside. "Knife" and "spoon" both have 5 letters and so does "right." Your knife (always turned inward facing the plate) and spoon are to the right of your plate. This tip will also help you set a table properly.

FRONT AND CENTER Position name tags on lanyards at the upper part of your chest.

DEAR KATHY: My supervisor always mispronounces my name. This really bothers me, but I don't know how to handle it. Should I just ignore the error?

— BOTHERED BETTY

DEAR BETTY: No. It is better to correct your supervisor right away in a casual and friendly manner. A delay could add to her embarrassment. Try to think of a way to help her say your name correctly. Does your name rhyme with something familiar or is it the opposite of something else? For example, I met a nurse whose last name was "Mallon." She said her manager was always mispronouncing her name as "Mal-lone" with a long "o." This finally stopped when she told her that "Mallon" was pronounced like "gallon," as in a "gallon of milk." As another example, I tell people that my last name of "Pagana" should be pronounced similarly to "banana."

DEAR KATHY: Based upon patient feedback, our unit is finally getting name tags for our staff. Is there a proper placement for a name tag?

— NAMELESS IN NASHVILLE

DEAR NAMELESS: Yes. The name tag should be placed on the right side of the chest so it can be easily seen when shaking hands. When you shake hands, your right shoulder is thrust forward right into the eye line of the other person. By the way, if you're wearing a name tag on a lanyard, adjust the length of the string so the name tag is positioned at the upper part of your chest. It is awkward for patients and others to move their eyes from your face down your body to the navel area to read your name tag.