I don't even need that please, "may I have ____" is courtesy enough.

I'm off the grammar track and on the manners train. It take no more effort to use good manners and it does so much to smooth ones way. I know a guy who was under qualified for a pretty lucrative serving job. At the end of the interview he was told that his lack of experience probably meant he wouldn't get the gig. When it was over he smiled, shook the hand of the interviewer and thanked him for the chance to come in and pushed in his chair in on the way out, guy beat out four more experienced candidates. Some people wonder why they have it so hard and I suppose it's their parents fault but rudely bumbling your way through life must be a bummer.

Here is another one that I'm some times guilty of but I'm trying to shed. When someone says "thank you" don't say "thank you" back or "no, thank you." Just say "you are welcome". The thank you battle looks a lot like manners but it's one-upmanship subtext is not gracious. At work, I cash someone out and they thank me it's easy to give the, "no, thank you," but much better is "your welcome, I appreciate you guys coming in tonight." Your welcome is always the appropriate response to thank you, if you want to reciprocate get the welcome out of the way first.

One other thing. People need to stop fighting over who pays the bill. If someone has card in hand and wants to pick up the tab, don't get in an argument over it. Thank them, and if it was really appreciated do something nice for them in the future, send a note, buy them a coffee or a pastry, pick up dinner next time. The bill fight pretty much takes all the grace out of a generous action.