From the category archives:
Q: While out to dinner with another couple, my husband and I were incredibly embarrassed when our friend repeatedly snapped his fingers to get the waiter’s attention. Should we have said something? A: If other people are present, it’s best to talk to the friend privately so you don’t make him feel bad in front [...]
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Entry originally appeared in Peter Post’s E Word blog for The Boston Globe. Have you ever wondered why table manners matter? One of the things I’ve learned teaching etiquette is to have a good reason for recommending a course of action. Rules for rules’ sake simply don’t work. People won’t change a behavior just because [...]
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Q: My husband’s sister swears around my kids — not the language (or example) I want them exposed to. What do I do? A: Talk to your sister-in-law directly. Say, “Jenna, you may not realize it, but the kids hang on your every word. Could you please keep down the cursing when you’re around them? [...]
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Q: How do you address a letter to someone who has retired from being a captain in the army? I want to show respect for the rank she attained but don’t know if it’s appropriate to acknowledge it after her retirement. A: You should continue using her title whenever you address a letter to her. [...]
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Entry originally appeared in Peter Post’s E Word blog for The Boston Globe. People say the darndest things. Recently, I clicked on an item titled, “18 Rudest Pregnancy Comments We’ve Ever Heard.” I was whisked off to the CafeMom website and read the piece. It’s remarkable what people will say without any forethought as to [...]
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Q: My friend sells her own handmade jewelry. She needs the business, but her items aren’t really my taste. What do I do? A: Since this is a good friend, why not purchase a piece to support her venture? Let her know that while the jewelry isn’t your style, this will be perfect for your [...]
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Q: I often enjoy exercising alone on my lunch break. Recently a coworker asked if she could join me. What I thought would be a one-time deal turned into her new routine. How can I politely tell her I prefer to work out solo? A: Speak to her directly. Acknowledge the positive and say, “I’m [...]
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Q: A woman I work with tends to go overboard when applying perfume. Some days I can hardly breathe, much less work. How can I ask her to use less without offending her? A: Make the problem about you rather than her. Say, “Nancy, I’ve recently become very sensitive to certain scents. While I think [...]
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Q: I let a friend borrow one of my dresses for a wedding. But it was returned with a broken zipper. Do I ask her to fix it? A: The borrower is responsible for the fix. First give her the benefit of the doubt: “Dana, I’m sure you didn’t notice, but the zipper is broken.” [...]
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by Rosanna Bowles Pranzo is a midday meal eaten in Italy at 1 PM. Gathering for pranzo is an important ritual for all Italians. The closest tradition Americans have to pranzo is Sunday dinner; in the U.K. it’s afternoon tea. This meal is a diverse cultural moment in which extended family members gather to be together to [...]
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The Gift of Good Manners
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