Dear Miss Manners • I have a voice-enabled speaker, and for the most part, it is a useful delight throughout the day. But I do have one gripe, to which I cannot find a resolution.
Dear Miss Manners • Over the past several years, I’ve received graduation announcements from perhaps half a dozen high school seniors whose parents I know. I’ve sent them my congratulations as well as a modest cash gift. Not one of them has acknowledged or thanked me.
Dear Miss Manners • My dilemma stems from being new in a small office where tight bonds have already been formed, and new people are understandably on the fringe for a while. The problem relates to a small baby shower being thrown for a lovely young mother who is a delight to know.
Dear Miss Manners • During casual conversations, my mother would suddenly interrupt, as politely as she could, with something like, “Oh! Please excuse me, but if I don’t mention this now, I will surely forget!”
Dear Miss Manners • I know that married couples are always supposed to be invited as a pair, the exception being when there's a single-gender event like a bachelor party or bridal shower. However, what is the rule for inviting a same-sex partner when the spouse would usually be left out?
Dear Miss Manners • Ah, weddings. My daughter is getting married in a few weeks, and I am looking forward to a lovely occasion. The bride and groom adamantly insisted on inviting only people they knew, not every relation. No "plus one" invitations were sent.
Dear Miss Manners • As a widow on a fixed income, I’m finding my wedding expenses getting steep. A younger friend of my fiance told him that the woman pays for the wedding.
Dear Miss Manners • We love having a Little Free Library in our front yard. We enjoy seeing neighbors and passersby look through the books, take one or two, and maybe make a special trip to leave a few that they’re finished with. We’ve received thank-you notes from people who appreciate our …
Dear Miss Manners • We have a weekly ladies’ group that meets for coffee. As a result of COVID-19, we haven’t met in quite some time. We announce our meetings on a social media group page because we would like the group to be open to new people who might be interested.
Dear Miss Manners • My childhood friend’s young daughter just tragically died. I am heartbroken for her.
Dear Miss Manners • I find myself having difficulty conversing with my mother-in-law. If I broach a topic, she tends to jump in with a “similar” situation before I can finish my thought.
Dear Miss Manners • My husband of 30 years has a stepmother who thinks she can educate people about manners.
Dear Miss Manners • I had a miserable childhood, suffering violent abuse and constant ridicule and rejection within my family, from the kids in the neighborhood, and also at school. The adults who should have stepped in to help either ignored what was happening or occasionally joined in. It …
Dear Miss Manners • I enjoy meeting new people and making new friends, whether it’s at a party or at work. I’d like to think that I’m good at picking up on social cues and knowing when someone is enjoying socializing with me (as opposed to just being nice or cordial).
Dear Miss Manners • I was standing in line at the post office, wearing a mask. The man in front of me turned around and started shouting at me for wearing a mask.
Dear Miss Manners • I’ve been working from home. One morning last week I was in the bathroom when my 5-year-old daughter barged in with my phone and yelled, “Phone call, Mommy!” It was my boss.
Dear Miss Manners • A dear friend separated from his partner of 11 years and very quickly found someone new, with whom he’s spending quite a bit of time. I find this new suitor to be taking advantage of my friend, who is “on the rebound,” and think the suitor is eyeing him less for his compa…
Dear Miss Manners • I attended a party where I suddenly needed to use the toilet, hurriedly retreating to a nearby powder room. After I exited, the hostess gave me a withering look and barely spoke to me for the rest of the evening, apparently unhappy that I had violated her very elegant room.
Dear Miss Manners • I sit 7 feet from an employee who loudly sniffs all day. It is so bad, I cannot believe no one in her family has said anything to her. It is nonstop.
Dear Miss Manners • I have a three-syllable first name, and it is what I go by. Some people take it upon themselves to shorten my name to the first syllable, which I do not care for.
Dear Miss Manners • My wife and I had a couple over for dinner — longtime friends of ours. I prepared filet mignon and served one to each person. As always, we enjoyed their company and our shared meal.
Dear Miss Manners • We understand that during COVID, plans had to change and weddings had to be postponed. However, what is the protocol for disinviting people who received “Save the Date” cards for the original wedding in 2020, but who will not be invited to the rescheduled event?
Dear Miss Manners • My email was hacked. Some of my loving, trusting, generous — and also naive — friends were tricked into sending money to scammers because they thought they were helping me.
Dear Miss Manners • Why is it considered taboo to ask a woman her age? Why would a woman not be obliged to answer when asked her age?
Dear Miss Manners • I used to be a dog walker, and I really like dogs. When we are out for a hike and I see someone approaching with a dog, I have the urge to say hi to the animal.