DEAR MISS MANNERS: My last name is a very common American first name. My first name, while standard, is not so common. For the purposes of this question, I’ll call myself Whitney Joseph.
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I go by my first name, Whitney. I have always introduced myself that way. But all my life, there have been people who seem unable to address me as Whitney and instead call me Joseph, or some variation like Joe.
I work for a large corporation and my job involves a lot of emails. My email signature reads “Whitney Joseph,” and I always end my emails with “Best regards, Whitney.” Yet people still address me in emails as Joseph. I usually say nothing and figure they will eventually catch on (many do). But sometimes, I am annoyed by this and want to say something.
What do I say? And how do I say it in a way that does not violate my employer’s code of polite email communication?
GENTLE READER: “It’s Whitney, actually. I know it can be confusing.”
How sad that your employer had to make a conduct code about polite emails. That you are now in fear of violating it, however, tells Miss Manners why it was necessary.