One of the key criteria for success in an educational interview is the extent of deference which the interviewee shows to the interviewer and to the educational establishment in question. The display of deference by the interviewee or the less powerful participant in any form of gatekeeping interview is something which is often assumed or taken for granted. Yet how this is effected through both the verbal and non-verbal modalities has not always been clear. This article focuses on the verbal and non-verbal expression of deference through the use of modality and discourse etiquette.