Archives

DEAR MISS MANNERS: You once described men wearing wing collars with black tie as appearing to have dirty necks. For two decades now, I have been quietly seething at the seemingly ubiquitous choice to ... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a 3-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter. My best friend has two daughters, roughly the same ages, and is of the opinion that I must begin teaching my son "to behave like a... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: In the course of my business day, I am often called upon to answer questions related to my products and their purpose.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am in a quandary about giving a Christmas present to my cleaning lady. I had to cut her hours back from every other week to once a month.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My daughter just turned 3, and for the past year the recurring question I get from strangers is, "Is she potty trained?" or even worse.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Every year I am invited by my boss to attend the dinner auction for the private school he sends his children to, and the invitation is always accompanied with the ticket order form.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My best friend emailed this Christmas wish list on behalf of her 12-year-old daughter to her friends (no family members):... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My children occasionally have friends to our home to play, and one of them is exceptionally rude to adults.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I fly frequently on business and, as often as possible, book a seat in the exit row for the additional room needed to work while in flight.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Over the years, the gift-giving experience of grandparent to granddaughter has developed into a kind of predictable dance: A grandparent will call us and note that granddaughter's b... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: As the assistant for one of the executives at my company, I routinely answer his phone with, "Good morning/afternoon, this is John Doe's office." I even have a note on the phone rem... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My neighbors were kind enough to help me with a large household problem. In order to demonstrate my gratitude, I baked a cake and took it to their house two days later.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: How can one know if she is talking too much or being talkative? I like to think I'm funny and engaging, that I tell a good story and am an entertaining guest and hostess.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I know our beloved Victorians invented many esoteric and specialized utensils for serving such things as oysters, celery, asparagus and shrimp. Why not cranberry sauce?... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: How does one socialize politely with one's in-laws when they are involved in activities that I find immoral and are, at times, illegal?... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: What is proper holiday dinner conversation when the age ranges and marital statuses are mixed?... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I'm a single, 30-year-old gay male. Saturday night before last, I met a guy who's 12 years my senior. We spoke on the phone a few times, and on Monday he was persistent and asked me... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I like to be shirtless, but my girlfriend insists that when people are around I put on a shirt. I do not have an offensive body, so that's not the issue. She says it's respect. Who'... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Since I am better able to afford an engagement ring than my boyfriend, would it be all right for me to buy myself my own ring? And since he does not approve of that idea, would it b... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Leg room on airplanes continues to get smaller, and, being tall, I find the seats already fairly uncomfortable. I upgrade into either exit rows or business class whenever possible, ... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: If I'm asked to wait in an office setting, or while waiting in someone's home, is it rude of me to get up and look at paintings on the wall or book spines on a bookshelf (not touchi... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I have divergent interests, and I often attend events such as the ballet on my own. I enjoy getting to know people during the intermissions, but occasionally the conv... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I saw a post on social media that was a link to a website for friends to donate to a couple who recently bought a house. This couple justified this by writing they were never going ... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Now that winter is nearly upon us, I am fond of wearing hats outside. My dear mother always instructed me that it was rude to wear a hat indoors, and I am not suggesting that such r... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am at the age now when my friends have started having children of their own. That puts me in the generation who share nearly every part of our lives online, and though I don't hav... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband's sister and her husband are a nice enough couple, but their tendencies for PDA (both physically and verbally) are starting to drive me bonkers.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: How long after a woman is married would you call her a bride?... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: In the past couple of years, I have been invited to three separate fundraisers for women who were going through divorces. The purpose was to raise money to pay court costs during di... more