Q Dear Miss Abigail: I have an ex-boyfriend who immediately got a new girlfriend who works within my jurisdiction. His new girlfriend is my officemate. So I took revenge by forwarding their email that says “I love you”, using the guy’s email, to all of our officemates! Yeah, I knew his password. And eventually they […]
Tag: etiquette
Hey Joe, Could You Please Clip Your Nails in Private?
Q Dear Miss Abigail: Help! How does one gently tell a young and impressionable co-worker that clipping his fingernails in staff meetings ~ and even at his desk ~ is distressing to the rest of us? Eeewwww. Signed, Grossed out by a Guy A Dear Grossed out: Staff meetings? Yuck. Hmm . . . Perhaps […]
Don’t Whistle While You Work
Q Dear Miss Abigail: I work in a small shop and one of my coworkers whistles very loudly. Many of us have asked him to stop because we think it’s rude to expose us to the awful noise. Maybe if he sees it in print he will stop. Signed, Sam A Dear Sam: Ask, and […]
How Do I Shake Hands?
Q Dear Miss Abigail: I was wondering what the proper etiquette is when a man comes up to you to shake your hand. Should you offer your hand or should he? Signed, A Shaker and a Mover A Dear Shaker: I have a few tidbits for you from Ruth Tolman’s Charm and Poise for Getting Ahead. […]
Alternatives to Waving
Q Dear Miss Abigail: Should one wave when meeting someone, or should there only be an exchange of waves at a parting? Signed, Confused A Dear Confused: Although nothing I found specifically addressing waving, the following quotes touch upon general rules for greeting others in public. They’re from a1956 book written by Frances Benton titled Complete […]
May I Present Miss So-and-So?
Q Dear Miss Abigail: When you are introducing someone to someone else, which name to you say first? For instance, is it “Debbi, this is Dr. Bailey-Graff” or, “Dr. Bailey-Graff, this is Debbi”? Signed, Debbi A Dear Debbi: I believe the following excerpt answers your question quite nicely. It’s from The New Book of Etiquette, written […]
Should Our New Neighbors Welcome Us?
Q Dear Miss Abigail: We recently purchased a home in a new subdivision. The only neighbor to come by so far to welcome us and introduced himself has been a young boy of seven. Since it’s been three weeks, I was thinking of taking the initiative and going to introduce myself. My husband thinks that […]
Hello? Anyone “At Home”?
Q Dear Miss Abigail: What was the meaning of “at home” when visitors presented a calling card? Were some people at home to visitors on designated days? Signed, Win A Dear Win: You got it, babe. Here’s a little description of this long-forgotten tradition (hoorah for us). It’s from a book titled Correct Social Usage, which […]
Tea, Anyone?
Q Dear Miss Abigail: What can you tell me about the proper way to serve tea? If this is too general, would you kindly address afternoon tea service in the home? Still too general? Perhaps you might look at the question of accompanying food service (e.g., pickled jellyfish, toast points, hot buttered brioche &c.). With […]
Odoriferous Food
This week, I’ve pulled out something completely frivolous. Let’s just say it’s in the spirit of getting back to normal. This is from Manners for Millions, which was penned by Sophie C. Hadida, who instructs her readers in the introduction to “take notes upon the points which reveal to you your own shortcomings.” While you’re doing […]