Dear Miss Manners: I run a shop from my house. It’s mostly online, but occasionally I have customers make an appointment to ...

GENTLE READER: Setting the table in full would be Miss Manners' choice, to avoid forcing your friend to respond to others exclaiming, “You don’t have a plate.” But she wonders why ...

Even if such responses are socially acceptable as “white lies,” I’m concerned they could be more harmful in the long run.

Is it rude of me to use mine in these situations? GENTLE READER: Are you hoping that Miss Manners will say it is fine that your umbrella is channeling additional water onto the person in the seat ...