DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I received a good bottle of red wine from friends as a thank-you for a favor we did for their family. We brought that bottle of wine with us to my sister's house for ... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have heard that it is not proper to thank people for Christmas gifts. This does not seem reasonable to me, especially when gifts have been packaged and mailed, and the giver is no... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: It has happened again. Once more, my wife and I attended a lovely catered party in a reception facility, where the company was interesting and the hosts gracious and welcoming -- an... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am inundated with holiday season requests from friends and colleagues to make charitable donations to one cause or another. I read the stories associated with each of these causes... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: In one of the variants of the tiresome "Secret Santa" office gift-giving games, wherein each person ends up with an anonymous gift, I found myself holding a gift card for a well-kno... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Why, in the traditional table settings, do knife edges face toward the plate when it seems more convenient to have them facing out?... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I'm looking for the most important advice of my life. My fiance insists on having his ex-wife attend our wedding ceremony and banquet. He even insists on paying for her hotel and se... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A few years ago, we got a panettone from a distant family member for Christmas. We said thank you enthusiastically.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I've sent nearly all my Christmas letters out this year by email (hard copies to those whose email addresses I don't have). A friend said this was impersonal; however, he also said ... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a recent widower and will be dating a lady for the first time. We will be attending a performance of "The Nutcracker," and I'm wondering if it may be appropriate to give my lad... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My father-in-law was arrested last week. His family is obviously distraught over this.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Upon opening what I thought would be a wedding invitation from good friends, I found, printed on very nice stationery:... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: As a difficult part of my job, I am required to dismiss students who fail to meet academic standards. Such a dismissal is done in person, but it must be accompanied by a letter deta... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Can you please tell me when it is appropriate to lick or tuck the flap of an envelope on a card? What is the thought behind either?... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: While at a family reunion on the opposite coast, I took my brother to the airport 100 miles away. I called a friend (female) who lives 20 miles from said airport, whom I met years p... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: If you are at a gathering of friends and family, is it rude to go into a corner and fall asleep?... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Would you please define for us some guidelines for video chatting? I am especially interested in knowing whether a lady is considered to be in her own home or a guest in somebody el... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I enjoy meeting new people, friends of friends and fellow attendees at various events. We are easygoing, genuinely interested in others and adventurous, so we receive... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I'm getting married soon, and we are asking for cash as our gift. We are registered at two places for those who are old-fashioned. We have a sweet poem that is nice for asking for c... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a 62-year-old woman and was in a large university hospital visiting a friend who was being moved into hospice care. There were several people waiting for an elevator on that fl... more

Left over from last Thanksgiving: Evidence from Gentle Readers of how people concluded the holiday for gathering in warm fellowship to give thanks for the bounty received:... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My dad has married someone close to me in age, and I am uncomfortable introducing her as my stepmom. I also don't think it's right to introduce her as my dad's wife. What should I s... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am 27 and have recently stepped back into the dating game. I have noticed an alarming trend: men commenting on women's bodies on the first date.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: For three holidays a year, my mother's extended family gets together for dinner. This meal was traditionally at my grandparents' home, but has since moved to my parents' home. My mo... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My teenage daughter has a number of mild but annoying medical conditions that require regular testing and treatment. Sometimes while she is undergoing an hour-long (but not painful ... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: We moved from our home of seven years when the bank would not renegotiate our mortgage and chose to foreclose. As is common, there was a substantial shortfall (several million).... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: What is the latest etiquette on modern marriages? This couple has been living together for a number of years, but as they are both young, the parents financed and hosted the wedding... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was at a wedding for which I drove a total of 19 hours there and back, only to find the following line on the back of the ceremony program: "In lieu of thank-you notes, we will be... more