Why 'please' and 'thank you' might be the most important lessons children aren’t learning

We blame kids for bad behaviour, but the truth is adults have quietly stopped teaching basic manners. Without these lessons, children struggle socially, academically, and eventually in the workplace.

Miss Manners: How long should a drinks without dinner gathering last?

Dear Miss Manners: You must be really happy that the Secretary of Transportation has told us poor wretches who fly economy to ...

Miss Manners: They graciously allowed us to stay at their lake house ... we privately vowed to never return

Our friends graciously offered us use of their rustic lakeside cabin, as they no longer can travel there themselves. We had a ...

Miss Manners: Our friends’ cabin was awful, but they want to know if we enjoyed it

In today's Miss Manners column, advice columnist Judith Martin gives a polite way to respond after a reader is asked about a ...

Dear Miss Manners: ‘Golden Age’ of travel was only that way for some

Ninety minutes to two hours, the expected time to linger at a cocktail party, is also reasonable for “just drinks.” In any case, one should not stay beyond the common dinner hour of 7 p.m., even if ...
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Miss Manners: We stayed at a friend’s cabin, but it was not what we expected

We cut our stay short due to the terrible odor, primitive accommodations and insufficient space and privately vowed to never ...

Miss Manners: I’m proud of my daughters, except on their birthdays

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My two daughters (ages 23 and 34) are beautiful and talented women. They work hard and usually make me ...

Miss Manners: Must I participate in standing ovations, even if the performance was ‘meh’?

GENTLE READER: No, you do not need to stand for a “meh” performance. But Miss Manners also knows that sometimes one has no ...

Miss Manners: Do I have to stand and give a ‘bravo’ if the performance was only ‘meh’?

GENTLE READER: No, you do not need to stand for a “meh” performance. But Miss Manners also knows that sometimes one has no ...

Miss Manners: We hated our friends’ cabin but don’t want to hurt them

You were so kind to let us use the cabin. The area is beautiful and we were so happy to get away ...” Please send your questions to Miss Manners at missmanners.com, by email to ...

Miss Manners: My hints to be left alone go completely ignored by strangers

In today's Miss Manners column, advice columnist Judith Martin responds to politely avoiding small talk with strangers in public places.

Dear Miss Manners: Standing ovations seem to be getting out of hand

Dear Miss Manners: We have a small half-bathroom downstairs that is mainly used by guests. As a courtesy, I usually have period products readily available to visitors. For larger gatherings, I’ve had ...