DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have been having a discussion with my sister-in-law, who stated that it is not correct anymore to say thank you, either in writing or verbally, for receiving a gift, and I should ... more
DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I have pet rats. They are trained domestic rats that bear little resemblance to the kind that live in subways.... more
DEAR MISS MANNERS: We had four children about five years apart, lots of gifts under the tree, and a very calm, enjoyable, fun-filled Christmas morning. It was a family time. Dad gave someone a gift. I... more
DEAR MISS MANNERS: Shrugs have always been poor manners, or at least that is what I was taught. When asked a question, you should give a proper verbal answer.... more
DEAR MISS MANNERS: My daughter was 7.5 months pregnant when the ultrasound relayed that her baby had passed away. Her baby shower was around the corner, and we have many gifts here.... more
DEAR MISS MANNERS: Nowadays when I call someone, the voice mail message often instructs me to "hang up and text me." This is said in a surprised, aggravated tone, as if I were violating an established... more
DEAR MISS MANNERS: My niece (23 years old) regularly texts during movies. When I was at a movie with her and my partner, I asked her not to text during the movie because it would upset my partner. She... 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 book shelf (not touchi... more
DEAR MISS MANNERS: For years, my husband and I entertained guests for holidays with gusto, pleasure and enjoyment. Now that we are in our 70s, we decided to keep quiet and not send any written invites... more
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I own a home with my boyfriend of six years, and I love entertaining. Mostly, this consists of family parties; his family lives nearby, mine a bit further. We all get along very wel... more
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a dear friend who periodically sends out texts to everyone on her smartphone contact list for holidays: "Happy New Year!", "Happy 4th!", etc.... more
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a widow who has been seeing a widower for over a year. He is such a lovely and distinguished gentleman. We are planning on being married soon.... more
DEAR MISS MANNERS: For the past 10 years, my family has been celebrating Thanksgiving at my sister and brother-in-law's home. Now we have received an email from our brother-in-law about how to dress w... more
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I'm not sure how to handle it when my sister-in-law keeps bringing up how her 7-month-old baby boy looks like my 4-year-old son. She has gone so far as to take a picture of a pictur... more
DEAR MISS MANNERS: The sense of private space seems to have changed radically over the last several years. Everyone now seems so intent on texting, but there is still the person on public transportati... more
DEAR MISS MANNERS: For the last two years, my husband and I have hosted Thanksgiving at our home (about 16 people total). Every year he asks that no one bring anything, and he always loses out. Everyo... more
DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I married this past year. After the wedding, we immediately began trying to become pregnant to fulfill our dreams of having a child.... more
Fraud on the social scene! It has come to Miss Manners' attention that invitations that are deliberately and shockingly misleading are being issued to unsuspecting people.... more
DEAR MISS MANNERS: My spouse and I married out of state in 2010, after several happy years together, because our home state does not recognize same-sex marriage.... more
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was taken aback by my elders' reactions to an anecdote about an encounter with a strange man who accosted me in a public place.... more
DEAR MISS MANNERS: When I returned a phone call from a cousin, he asked why it had taken nearly two weeks for me to do so. I told him I wanted to be sure he'd receive my undivided attention when retur... more