Dad’s girlfriend showed up to the letter writer’s bowling birthday party and took over. Dear Miss Manners: For my 40th ...

DEAR MISS MANNERS: For my 40th birthday, my sister planned a bowling party. She is very organized, and pre-entered the names ...

No one knew what to say or how to stop her, since we don’t really even know her, and no one wanted her to be uncomfortable.

However, we just learned that our companion intends to bring her extremely unruly “comfort” poodle -- not only to the opera, ...

Do we have to invite them to join us at a restaurant at some point? If so, may we try to “dilute” them by inviting others?

DEAR MISS MANNERS: For my 40th birthday, my sister planned a bowling party. She is very organized, and pre-entered the names of all 12 guests into the lanes (two lanes, six people at each).

In today's Miss Manners column, advice columnist Judith Martin responds to a host that would like to clean up the party.

GENTLE READER: Your confidence that you are not required to reciprocate in your apartment, though technically correct, ...

Miss Manners has sympathy for the rampant abuse of hosts when it comes to inviting extra people and dictating menus. But she ...

At 10 years old, my granddaughter sometimes hurls insults at me. Without giving her the power of knowing she can wound me, what’s the best way to admonish her?

GENTLE READER: What your friend is doing is a breach of both etiquette and friendship. But Miss Manners assures you that if you treat it as such, just once, you will not have to repeat yourself: “If ...

The scene is the drawing room at The Grove, near Wallingford; the pink and white palette ageing in a genteel manner, yet ...