DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a dear friend of many years who is now a member of a fundamentalist religion. I am an atheist. She has recently started saying grace out loud when we meet for lunch at a rest... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I seem to have a different point of view about how tidy the house should be when visitors are expected to arrive. To that end, he will inform me if someone's planning... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a reasonably empathetic person. I'm not a sob sister, but I do feel true sympathy for other people's misfortunes. But I have reached my limit.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have been cleaning houses for many years, and I have become close with one of my clients. I have been working for her since 2003. She has been very good to me over the years and h... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Several months back, I reconnected with an old friend from my hometown whom I had not seen in many years. We both expressed a desire to see each other again the next time I returned... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: When I was invited to join a group of six for dinner in a very fine restaurant, I was informed by the friend who had invited me that it is customary for each diner to order somethin... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have received gift cards -- one for a spa and another for a restaurant -- in which the amount of the gift, while generous, wouldn't be enough to cover any treatment at the spa or ... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My sister and parents are going to come visit us and stay for three nights. I was told very bluntly by my sister that I need to have empty drawer space and hanging space for their c... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Is there an etiquette for taking videos in another person's home?... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I think even you, Miss Manners, might blanch at this problem. My friend's husband is a refugee, and I imagine he is obligated to pick up his English wherever he can. He is kind and ... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A friend of mine from school loves to post pictures of her 15-year-old daughter doing cheerleading poses. I get it, she's very proud of her daughter -- there's nothing wrong with th... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My sister has five kids. Four are lovely: They each have their own quirks, but have always been polite and helpful.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: An old and dear friend texted me an invitation to her daughter's birthday party a day after the "please RSVP by" date, with no explanation for the delay. Clearly we didn't make the ... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A few months ago, I was contacted through social media by a person looking for information about my father. I inquired as to what their interest in him was, and was informed that th... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: On entering my son's house for my birthday celebration, one of his newly acquired stepdaughters said to me, "Oh, it's your birthday! When were you conceived?"... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: This weekend I went to do my usual grocery shopping. As I entered the store, the customer in front of me stopped and, due to this being a small store, there was no maneuvering aroun... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I made the mistake, during COVID, of buying and renovating a home in the town where my parents and sister live. It's right next to the town where I grew up -- which I hated. However... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: How, if at all, does one acknowledge or comment on the gender change of a friend's child?... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: May I make a plea for a public service announcement that everyone please keep their damned "curiosity" to themselves?... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My job involves answering a helpline to assist callers applying to a confusing government funding program. I pride myself on not only answering the questions posed, but ensuring app... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Can you tell me what "cocktail attire" means? Can you wear a fancy pantsuit? Can a man wear a sport jacket and slacks?... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I are in our mid-30s. My husband has a twin sister who is married with two children. We haven't seen them in some time due to the pandemic, but they called and asked ... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: There seems to be an etiquette ritual of politely protesting when someone offers to do something nice for you. For example:... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My loving daughter and her husband have been having dinner every night with us since my wife and I have both been too ill to cook. They bring their meal to our house and share with ... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: During the pandemic, with restaurants limiting the number of patrons at one table, my friend would often send dinner invites to eight friends, stating that only six could be seated,... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am based in the Washington, D.C., area and must correspond with colleagues all over the world, particularly in Europe. When I log in for the day, I see correspondence from them al... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My daughter married into a very nice family. They are a fairly small group, as are we, so we have celebrated holidays together since our children married, usually alternating hostin... more

The guests were assigned to either bring a pie and/or some wine. That was their only contribution. After the meal was over, my partner's daughter got up from the table and opened a large backpack, whi... more