A How To Guide For Tying Your Tie There are several acceptable ways to tie a tie. The Four in Hand knot may be the most common way, but there is also the Windsor Knot, Half Windsor Knot and Pratt Knot to consider. While it is usually acceptable to tie your tie in any of these knots, some are suited for different types of shirts better than others. If you wear a bowtie, then tying your tie correctly is even more important, since there is nothing to take away from the shape of your knot. The Windsor Knot The Windsor Knot works best for shirts whose collars are wide apart in the front, since the knot is lager than other knots. 1. To begin a Windsor Knot, loop the tie under your collar, and cross the ends, with the thinner tie end under the thicker end. 2. The thicker, wider end should be about 12 inches lower than the thinner end. After you have crossed the tie, bring the thicker end up through the "x", then bring it back down. 3. Pull the wider end under the narrow end, then to the right. Bring the wide end through the loop again, and to the right again. The wider end will be inside out. 4. Pull the wider side around the front, from right to left. 5. Pull the wider end through the loop once more, then down through the front of the knot. 6. Tighten the knot, pushing up from the bottom toward the collar.   The Four In Hand Knot The four in hand knot is perhaps the most widely used type of knot. To tie a four in hand knot, follow these steps: 1. Cross your tie in the front, after you have looped it under you collar. The wider end should be on top, and extend twelve inches below the thinner end. 2. Loop the wider end behind the narrow end, bringing it back to the front. 3. Pull the wider end up through the loop you've just made. 4. Pull the wider end down through the front of the knot. 5. Tighten the knot carefully, pushing up toward the collar.   Tying a Bow Tie The knot of a bow tie is particularly important, since most people can't avoid paying attention to the knot in a bow tie due to its short stature. To tie a bow tie correctly, you should: 1. Loop the bow tie around your neck, under your collar. The right end should be a couple inches lower than the left end. 2. Cross the ends, with the longer side on top. 3. Bring the longer side up, under the loop made by crossing the ends. 4. Make the shorter side loop over itself, to make the front base loop. 5. Loop the longer end over the base loop. 6. Fold the longer end over itself, the carefully slip it through the loop formed behind the bow tie. 7. Carefully pull the ends of the bow tie to tighten it.