Changes

A '''formality''' is an established procedure or set of specific behaviors and utterances, conceptually similar to a [[ritual]] although typically secular and less involved.  A formality may be as simple as a [[handshake]] upon making new acquaintainces in Western culture to the carefully defined procedure of bows, handshakes, formal greetings, and business-card exchanges that may mark two businessmen being introduced in Japan.  In legal and diplomatic circles, formalities include such matters as greeting an arriving [[head of state]] with the appropriate [[national anthem]].

A '''formality''' is an established procedure or set of specific behaviors and utterances, conceptually similar to a [[ritual]] although typically secular and less involved.  A formality may be as simple as a [[handshake]] upon making new acquaintainces in Western culture to the carefully defined procedure of bows, handshakes, formal greetings, and business-card exchanges that may mark two businessmen being introduced in Japan.  In legal and diplomatic circles, formalities include such matters as greeting an arriving [[head of state]] with the appropriate [[national anthem]].