Asking Eric: I texted him many useful tips and never got a word of thanks
Despite my efforts to be helpful, my friend takes it for granted. Was cutting him...
Advice
Asking Eric: I texted him many useful tips and never got a word of thanks
I just cannot stand people who take everything for granted.
Miss Manners: My mom won’t apologize for stepping on my thoughtful entrees
My mom brought New Year’s Eve leftovers to my dinner party and doesn’t get why...
Ask a real estate pro: Sage advice regarding themes from your 2025 questions
Whether real estate-related legal questions are about relationships, tackling financial hurdles, or making decisions about...
Asking Eric: My daughter wants me to give up my hotel room on her wedding weekend
My daughter -- the bride -- wants me to give her friend my hotel room...
Miss Manners: Would I have been wrong to ask these women to leave the church service?
These women were disruptive and badly behaved in church. Even their companions seemed disgusted by...
Asking Eric: She’s no longer welcome after her shocking outburst at poker night
She's impolite, and putting my guests and my husband through this embarrassment is too much.
Miss Manners: How can I make my friend stop playing with her food?
One of my friends endlessly plays with the food she does not want to eat....
Asking Eric: She knows her gifts make me anxious, but she won’t stop
My sister still insists on buying gifts for everyone. This makes me feel guilty and...
Miss Manners: Answers about my past leave me sounding either rude or cocky
How do I respond to inappropriate questions without seeming evasive or arrogant?
Asking Eric: I feel like I’m on the outside of this big group of friends
I've grown close to two women who are part of a larger group of friends....
Miss Manners: These days, people take offense to nearly everything – including compliments
A reader laments to Miss Manners about a change in society in which simple compliments...
Asking Eric: They’ve gone off the rails with their wedding registry
They're in their 60s, and they've have gone off the rails asking others to re-equip...
Asking Eric: My son has a fiancee now, but we don’t want to ditch his ex-girlfriend
My son has gotten engaged to a wonderful woman, whom we dearly love. But when...
Miss Manners: Maybe I should pretend I forgot about her wedding?
I was in my friend’s wedding a year ago, and now her anniversary is coming...
Asking Eric: My stepson waits until I’m gone, then brings more stuff to store
My husband's son is going through a divorce and we allowed him to store some...
Miss Manners: You won’t believe the useless ‘gifts’ my wealthy, hoarder friend gives me
She's been my friend since childhood and now she's a narcissistic hoarder who won't stop...
Asking Eric: My wife won’t forgive my mom, and it is affecting our marriage
Five years on, my wife still says extremely hurtful things about my mother. The friction...
Ask a real estate pro: Can HOA make me take down holiday decorations?
A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: Can the HOA force me to remove...
Miss Manners: Am I obligated to tell her that we aren’t coming to her party?
My husband says there's no polite way out of this potluck and that we must...
Asking Eric: We excluded her from the cruise, and she’s going to find out
There is one friend that is going to feel personally excluded. And to be honest,...
Miss Manners: Mom asked if we liked the fancy mattress, so I said ‘no’
What do we do next time we visit? Saying that we’ll stay in a hotel...
Asking Eric: My husband starting dressing like a cowboy and it makes me uncomfortable
He would never comment on my clothes, and I want to respect his choices, but...
Miss Manners: Should I just give up on being a friendly neighbor?
Should I just give up on this woman? Shouldn’t a friendship be somewhat of a...
Miss Manners: A shopper asked me to hold her place in line. I said no
The woman behind me in the checkout line asked me to save her place, and...
Asking Eric: How can I trust my 12-step sponsor after her indiscretion?
During a meeting of my addiction group, my sponsor revealed personal information about another sponsee...
Asking Eric: My wife won’t stop snooping through private papers in my office
My wife rummages through my office, where I have confidential information about parishioners.
Miss Manners: We spend thousands on this millionaire couple’s wedding. They didn’t return the favor
We were very generous when this millionaire couple got married. But when it was their...
Asking Eric: I got yelled at for raising concerns about this inept politician. Are we stuck with him?
A reader brought concerns about a local councilman, but was berated by somebody who disagrees....
Asking Eric: I’m horrified that he let a young girl sleep over in his bedroom
We live with my significant other's 36-year-old son. Recently he let a friend's young daughter...
Miss Manners: My friend uses me to help him meet women
My platonic male friend uses me to help him meet women when we are out....
Asking Eric: After years of insulting me, he’s acting like I’m the mean one
I have no desire to tolerate my brother's insults, so I cut ties with him....
Ask a real estate pro: How can we get neighbor to deal with constantly barking dog?
A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: How can we get our neighbors to...
Miss Manners: What should I say to a snide comment about my Christmas decorations?
I'm proud of my decorations. My sister said it looks like Santa threw up on...
Asking Eric: She took her abusive ex back and we’re supposed to just accept him?
My niece says she's reuniting with her volatile husband, and she's insisting we accept him...
Miss Manners: I thought he was offering to pay the bill, and things got awkward
I assumed he meant that he would take care of the entire bill for all...
Asking Eric: My infirm mom is dying of a broken heart, and it’s my brother’s fault
My brother wrote a cruel letter saying our mother was a “stupid person,” that I’m...
Miss Manners: I lied about why I wasn’t drinking, and that just dug the hole deeper
I won’t even have one drink — and have found it quite rude of people...
Asking Eric: It took my friend a year to ask why I wasn’t coming around anymore
We've been friends for over 50 years, but I find our bond to be quite...
Miss Manners: Can I tell them I plan to get rid of their gift?
My clients give me Christmas gifts. When I get something I don’t need, can I...
Asking Eric: This workplace incident is hanging over me, a year later
I have frequent nightmares of being back in that toxic work atmosphere. My self-esteem is...
Miss Manners: That awkward moment when you see a smile-and-wave acquaintance out of context
What’s the proper way to greet people you never speak to but see all the...
Asking Eric: I dread going to the wedding because of the no-contact drama
A reader’s in-laws cut off contact years ago with no explanation. Now she’s facing an...
Miss Manners: Our friend does laundry while hosting us — and we think it’s all for show
Our friend, who is a busy mom, has a rude habit of doing laundry while...
Asking Eric: He submitted a letter of recommendation with my name, but I never even saw it
I agreed to submit a letter of recommendation for a good friend. But after he...
Asking Eric: My son’s holiday plan doesn’t seem fair
I really like my son’s girlfriend, but I am sad that he seems OK with...
Miss Manners: My friend’s new partner is getting a reputation as a difficult guest
I'm worried my friend's partner will become difficult and aggressive at my upcoming party. Do...
Ask a real estate pro: Can condo board keep me from renting if my credit score is barely too low?
A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: Can the condo board deny my rental...
Asking Eric: We want to leave our sons off the Christmas list entirely this year
Our sons haven't sent us a Christmas gift in 15 years. Can we feel OK...
Miss Manners: They publicly oppose my rights, then accuse me of intolerance
It’s strange that people who think I deserve fewer rights also want to be my...
Asking Eric: I didn’t know why my friends ditched me — and then I remembered Paulo
Two friends of mine stopped talking to me, and it's all Paulo's fault.
Miss Manners: I’m so disgusted by begging that I don’t tip anyone, anywhere
Why am I expected to tip and supplement a stranger’s income? If you’re not making...
Asking Eric: My husband mooches expensive meals and he ‘treats’ me to half a sandwich
My husband of 15 years has many sterling qualities. The issue? He is cheap!
Miss Manners: I don’t want to be stuck at a party with women who don’t like me
The people invited to the party are all couples, and the women don’t really like...
Asking Eric: I’m banned from their house because of what I said about the kids’ violent game
I was told I was disrespectful, but I wasn't the one punching an adult for...
Asking Eric: I posted one photo to tell people of my son’s wedding, and he made me delete it
My son claims he told me not to post on social media about his marriage,...
Miss Manners: How do I explain to other parents that I don’t want my kids making gift wish lists?
A mom won’t let her kids send Christmas gift lists, but doesn’t know how to...
Asking Eric: How do I tell them I don’t want to exchange Christmas gifts any more?
A reader needs advice on how to end a holiday gift exchange with their in-laws....
Miss Manners: This guest commandeers my kitchen to prepare the simplest potluck item
A host wants to stop a guest from taking over her kitchen to prepare a...
Asking Eric: Her Facebook behavior has goaded me into a juvenile response
I don't understand what my friend is doing, and it makes me uncomfortable around her.
Ask a real estate pro: Is it better to rent or buy when I move for a new job?
A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: When I move for a new job,...
Miss Manners: Why would our daughter refuse a surprise vacation? The tickets are nonrefundable
We are out big bucks for nonrefundable tickets for my daughter and her husband, and...
Asking Eric: He wants to bring a woman who’s not his wife home for Christmas visit
We would love for our grandson to visit for Christmas, but not with a new...
Miss Manners: My chatty co-workers are disturbing my productivity
My colleagues are not respecting office or my personal space and are interfering with my...
Asking Eric: Should our son’s stepdaughter share in the inheritance?
My son’s wife had a daughter years before she married my son. Should the daughter...
Miss Manners: My mother-in-law’s holiday-card habit is insulting, sexist
I would be somewhat insulted to be addressed as “Mrs. Husband’s Name.” Should I bring...
Asking Eric: Our time-intensive Christmas cookie tradition is unappreciated
Some family members seem unappreciative or don't even acknowledge my late mother's tradition.
Miss Manners: The store manager berated me after my run-in with a noisy child
I was told "disrespecting children" would not be tolerated. But why must we all endure...
Asking Eric: He’s tired of doing all the chores while she sits around gaming
We both work full-time jobs. I'm doing everything, and she has barely lifted a finger.
Miss Manners: Should I tell them they gave me a knockoff of my signature scent?
My signature perfume is a well-known — and expensive — classic scent. Should I tell...
Asking Eric: I wish I didn’t have to hear this mockery of my parents
My parents are frugal and always have been. Why does my brother’s partner make fun...
Asking Eric: I didn’t hear from any of my family on my birthday and I’m hurt
A reader is upset about not getting a birthday message from any family member.
Miss Manners: Everybody says I just need to find the right woman. I did. She died.
I’ve been married once and don’t plan to remarry. But everybody around me seems to...
Asking Eric: The rude college student living in my home is giving me the silent treatment
Relative's daughter is living in my home, but won’t do chores, slams doors and refuses...
Miss Manners: Criticizing someone’s children can be a minefield. What do I do?
My husband's grown sons never offer to pay for anything. It annoys me greatly.
Ask a real estate pro: Is developer of new project liable for damage to our trees?
A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: A developer's project pushed animals out of...
Asking Eric: My dad is disrespectful at restaurants, so I call ahead to warn them
My dad's behavior at restaurants is distasteful. Having a direct conversation about it is not...
Miss Manners: Don’t tell me what to do. I know the rules.
It irks me when people have no regard for other guests. How can I tell...
Asking Eric: My goddaughter took advantage of my generosity. We’re no longer speaking.
She chose a dress that cost nearly 10 times what we had agreed on and...
Miss Manners: The women are having fun picking on the bride behind her back
A growing list of the bride-to-be’s “inappropriate” wedding choices has become the family’s favorite topic,...
Asking Eric: How do I evict the person living rent-free in my head?
I’m happily married with kids and grandkids. Why am I still thinking about my "starter"...
Miss Manners: I want to hang with a new crowd and not my semi-boring friend
I don't want my friend to feel bad, but he’s a bit boring. I want...
Asking Eric: We were mortified to hear how our adult kids behaved at the party
I feel like I'm walking on eggshells and biting my tongue when our adult sons...
Miss Manners: Her family missed the bus, then she chastised me on social media for it
A reader hates non-apologies, but thinks maybe it's appropriate for her friend who missed a...
Asking Eric: My daughter doesn’t want to see her dad, and he blames me for it
A reader is separated from her husband and feels stuck between him and her college-aged...
Asking Eric: My son has videos of me in a drunken rage, but he’s afraid to show them to me
A reader is working on her alcohol problem and wants to see video her son...
Miss Manners: When we go out to eat, my friend sends everything back — even coffee!
My friend has me choose the restaurants we go to, but then she's never happy...
Asking Eric: Should I tell her the real reason we didn’t go to her wedding?
We didn't attend her wedding 51 years ago, and she's still bringing it up.
Miss Manners: They’re horrified to hear how we got our puppy
I don’t want to lie, but I have found myself doing that out of fear...
Ask a real estate pro: Do I need to move concrete fence before selling my home?
A reader asks real estate lawyer Gary Singer: When I'm selling my home, do I...
Asking Eric: I know my toxic brother, the golden child, is going to come after me at this party
I am dreading the comments my brother is going to make. If I tell him...
Miss Manners: What to do when the eulogies run past your bedtime
The celebration of life is on a weeknight, and I have to work the next...
Asking Eric: It’s his mistake. Why should I pay a ‘discounted’ price for him to fix it?
They got my order wrong. Why should I be made to pay again for an...
Miss Manners: She posted online that I stole her socks. Should I post a denial?
She accused me of taking her socks. I certainly did not. Then, she posted the...
Asking Eric: I’m hiding in the bedroom while he entertains his ex-wife and her mom
My boyfriend's ex-wife comes into the house and now her mother is tagging along. Should...
Miss Manners: She was blatantly using the tablecloth as a napkin
The woman sitting next to me pulled the tablecloth up from the floor and used...
Asking Eric: She gave me a ridiculous excuse for how the rings got in her purse
My sister has been a pathological liar from the time she learned to speak. Now...
Asking Eric: As the world tries to be friendlier, service workers are getting too personal
What's a non-rude reply to a service worker who has been coached to be friendly?
Miss Manners: If it’s one person with a laptop, can I ask to share their table?
Is it rude to ask to sit at a table with only one person and...
Miss Manners: What is the proper way eat a large sushi roll without gagging?
A reader wants to know how to stuff a large sushi roll in one's mouth;...