A water glass is the glass set at a place setting for drinking water — placed above the knives, to the right of the wine glasses in formal service. It is typically a plain tumbler, larger than a wine glass, since water is drunk freely through the meal. Its position in the table layout is fixed by convention: nearest the plate among the glasses, so it is the first reached. In restaurants, keeping water glasses filled is basic service; in formal dining, the water glass is the only glass that may be filled before guests sit. Like all table glassware it should be spotless and polished — a smeared water glass undermines the whole setting.