From thank you notes, to wedding gifts, to table manners and more, Miss Manners answers your etiquette questions with her patented wit and unfailing wisdom. Visit MSN Lifestyle each week for more from your trusted guide to all things mannerly. (Have your own questions? Ask Miss Manners or talk about your etiquette dilemmas on our Miss Manners message board.)
Weekly Columns
- How to handle houseguests that are too helpful
- What are the expectations for friends' second or third marriages?
- How to handle the 'hospitality attack'
- When is it OK to NOT mind your own business?
- My sister "shops" at my house ... how can I get her to stop?
- How should we act when kids are near us in a bar?
- Bride doesn't want kids at wedding, including bridesmaid's new baby?
- She was texting during dinner out ... how to respond next time?
- Why can't a guy hold a phone conversation?
- What to do with dirty (literally) houseguests
- She's their step-mom, not their mom
- Are the elderly excused from having manners?
- She clipped her tot's fingernails at the dinner table!
- She wants another dog, but everyone seems critical. How to respond?
- How do you define "fashionably late"?
- Their family dentist is too busy, but how do they properly move on to another one?
- We did him a favor and he took off with our money!
- No, she can't change a dirty diaper on my sofa!
- Is it impolite to read a book at the breakfast table?
- How can she get them to stop imitating her British accent?
- How can she teach her sloppy 7-year-old some table manners?
- What is proper check-out line etiquette?
- Should she invite her old friend to her wedding even though they've been out of touch?
- Should a northerner have to speak "southern" to his future in-laws?
- Should kids open gifts at their birthday parties?
- Getting to the bottom of the wedding invite 'And Guest' dilemma
- How to announce a graduation without soliciting gifts
- How to best defend her shy daughter around her in-laws
- Should her boss chip in for her speeding ticket?
- Why are they pushing their dietary lifestyle on me?
- She's going to her 25th high school reunion ... how to answer questions on why she's still single?
- Her friend keeps pestering her to have a baby
- How to politely say no after they ignore the 'No Soliciting' sign
- Is it appropriate to send a thank you letter to ex-boss?
- Should he clean up after himself after fast food stops?
- Do they have to send a thank you for an offensive wedding gift?
- Mom's homemade dish is no longer a favorite ... it's actually sickening!
- Why she missed their calls is none of their business!
- How to reply when someone says "thank you"
- Where to put your handbag when seated
- How do you politely tell a co-worker that her underwear is inappropriate?
- Should he stop opening door for ladies?
- Can this couple throw a party and leave out the birthday part?
- Is it really a "non-tipping" environment?
- Where should you sneeze -- into your hands or elbow?
- Should singles expect "And Guest" on wedding invites?
- How can this bride-to-be acknowledge her late parents?
- Was it wrong to ask to see her friend's engagement ring via email?
- Do you send a thank-you note for a thank-you gift?
- Is it ever appropriate to request fewer presents at Christmas?
- Can she skip her friends' kid's birthday parties?
- She's tired of strangers commenting on her pregnancy
- Does she have to accept his mom's old wedding ring?
- Who was more rude … their guest or their teen son?
- This teacher wants out of school showers
- How to avoid the family gossip
- It's an "adults only" wedding, but she's bringing her grandkids!
- Knowing when to help … and when not to
- She's stuck on the gift-giving merry-go-round
- No, she and her brother aren't identical twins!
- Are grandparents expected to shell out big bucks for a baby grandchild?
- Dealing with guests who think they own the place
- Why do people ignore email messages?
- Her step-daughter isn't so sweet at 16
- Saying no to helping friends move
- How can she toast a groom she dislikes?
- He doesn't feel right about forwarding along her resume
- Navigating around aisle blockers
- Don't criticize her minimalist décor
- Can they ask for cash instead of wedding gifts?
- Can she skip her granddaughter's over-the-top 1st birthday party?
- Responding to rude bloggers
- Time for co-workers' 'skinny' jabs to stop
- What should a gentleman always carry?
- She doesn't want her future in-laws on her honeymoon
- Who should RSVP for a kid birthday party -- parent or child?
- What's the best response to compliments on her looks?
- Is she my partner, significant other or … what?
- She wasn't flirting with her friend's husband!
- She's proud to be a full-time mom
- Quit questioning her personal style
- Bridesmaid wants to make amends for inappropriate and drunken behavior
- She's pregnant and having food issues -- should she not attend social functions?
- How do I tell him I have no time for chit chat?
- It says "No gifts" ... but what does that really mean?
- This bridesmaid is going broke!
- How to leave your hairstylist
- Do parents pay for their daughter's wedding?
- A nursing mom has to deal with prying co-workers
- A priest walks into a bank … and wants to be addressed properly
- The proper use of handkerchiefs
- How can I politely quit my book club?
- Using "Ms." in business correspondence
- I'm broke and can't afford my friends' weddings
- What about facebook etiquette?
- Dealing with a nosy roommate
- Handling the 'what's your net worth' question
- Her grandmother's dying process isn't their business
- What about stroller etiquette?
- Is it okay to register at my mom's store?
- It's not polite to stare … or to chastise strangers
- Does my daughter really have to say "No, sir"?
- I'm not really probing, but where is the line drawn?
- Our destination wedding is none of their business
- How to best 'spin' an employee's resignation
- Dealing with rude salespeople and rude customers
- What to do with food that's tough to swallow?
- How can I get them to stop snooping at my PDA?
- Was it rude to send a shopper to the back of the line?
- Why do people stare at my special needs daughter?
- Sorting out wedding guest list issues
- Foul language here, there and everywhere!
- How can I get my friend back?
- Who do I offend at my wedding … my conservative relatives or gay friends?
- Is it asking too much for our exchange student to help with chores?
- My child's disability has nothing to do with my parenting!
- Can I correct my boyfriend's bad manners?
- They're in Europe on vacation but my home isn't a hotel!
- Why the special VIP treatment at kids' dance party?
- When does asking for little changes in your meal become too much?
- Shouldn't baby's arrival be a private event?
- How to properly throw a joint birthday party
- Why is this family friend parenting my niece?
- Do I really have to formally address my mother-in-law?
- First a wedding, then a baby shower?
- When a thank you card isn't enough
- How do I respond to those critical of me teaching my kids manners?
- Am I expected to prepare special meals for picky guests?
- Shouldn't parents handle their children's monetary gifts accordingly?
- Politely confronting child on his annoying behavior
- Don't I have a say in the party I'm hosting for her?
- Are we expected to get another gift if the first is a failure?
- Should the in-laws be invited after they've ignored me?
- Should you send 'thank you' notes for bereavement gifts?
- When kids refuse to give up their rooms for guests
- Handling negative attention and criticism unorthodox to my religion
- Socializing for the shy and uncomfortable
- How should adults conduct their disagreements?
- Should the printed invitations mention the couple's wedding website?
- When "the more, the merrier" is not the host's reply
- Do I invite everyone from my kid's class?
- She handled my cell phone without asking
- Who's being rude here?
- How soon is too soon for love?
- Did I blink and miss his marriage proposal?
- On throwing a baby shower for mom-zilla
- Should the one who plans the vacation receive the choicest room?
- You may not have wanted me to know this…
- When the digital revolution meets the dinner table
- Are we stuck with the gifts we receive?
- On teens and all matters private
- Do wait staff deserve a "please"?
- The curse of the Christmas baby?
- Just because personal information is available online, are we required to share it with others?
- Can I refuse to take "no" for an answer?
- Grunting! Screaming! Is this the jungle or the gym?
- Doing the bridesmaid shuffle
- Is his sloppy appearance an ethical shortcoming?
- Oh, save us from the drama queen!
- On new babies and overbearing relatives
- Why am I "crazy" for doing what I love?
- Her semester abroad stunk -- how can she tell people this?
- Turning down (sales) 'party' invitations
- He's the worst at remembering names so he just doesn't introduce me …
- Is it too late to send our wedding thank you notes?
- Is being polite always the answer?
- They're caught returning a wedding gift … what to do?
- What's the proper way to sneeze?
- Why would an unmarried woman sport a wedding band?
- They're whining about our wine!
- What's wrong with arguing in public?
- Which wedding 'traditions' are worth upholding?
- Does a lady clean her plate?
- How do I deal with unsolicited attention?
- As our friends begin their families, how can we keep the original gang intact?
- Help! A friend has invited herself along on our father-daughter trip
- How can we get grandma to come around more?
- On serving a full meal at kids' birthday parties
- What's with married men not wearing rings?
- A lawyer says enough with the jokes
- How do you deal with unannounced guests?
- On having old flames at weddings
- When cash-poor friends leave you with the bill
- How does one run a 'polite' campaign?
- Should she insist on paying for some dates?
- Who should pay for the wedding?
- Her money matters are none of their business!
- Students object to school mascot fund
- Getting the engagement ring you really want
- Apartment manager bemoans nosy residents
- Put that foraging co-worker in his place
- Can she be mother of the bride AND matron of honor?
- How can I keep my kids from being spoiled?
- Internet café dos and don'ts
- When a family rolls out the unwelcome wagon
- Working all night and getting morning phone calls
- Her date orders her dinner … then what?
- Better to give than receive?
- On addressing your elders
- How do I tell them he's not my spouse?
- We can't afford gift-giving
- When will this knitter button her lip?
- Who should walk me down the aisle?
- Baby's gender is none of their business
- When guests won't leave; politely turning down panhandlers
- Customers talking on cell phones; responding to nosy questions
- Honoring "no gifts" requests; coping with bad table manners
- Saying no without feeling guilty
- My landlord did my laundry
- It's not their business whether I wear a bra
- Ladies' night is just for the ladies
- She isn't invited to the wedding …
- Is there a nice way to kick a bridesmaid out of the party?
- How can I tell my parents their military daughter has a gal pal?
- On dealing with unwanted hugs; is it "physics" or "science"?
- Don't change your baby where we have to eat
