Miss Manners: Neighbor trims vines and tosses the scraps in my yard

I discovered a batch of pruned vines in my backyard. I think it’s rude of the neighbors to toss the mess over the fence.

Miss Manners: I would prefer no gift at all over participating in this horror

I abhor this annual ritual. To me, the value in receiving gifts is the knowledge that the giver took the time and effort to ...

Miss Manners: I refuse to be part of their Christmas list ritual

Miss Manners is sorry to see the end of an ancient tradition that was one of the hallmarks of civilization. As you have ...

Miss Manners: Halloween heralds my own personal horror ... my family’s Christmas wish list season

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Each year, Halloween heralds my own personal horror: the season during which my family harasses me to ...

Miss Manners: Christmas shopping is haunting my Halloween, and making me hate both

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Each year, Halloween heralds my own personal horror: the season during which my family harasses me to ...

Miss Manners: She spends all of book club talking about herself and not the book

I understand that the favorite topic of conversation for most people is themselves, but what happened to a two-way ...

Miss Manners: Is it just me or do people only want to talk about themselves these days?

I would also point out that this type of status-seeking narration is seen by foreigners as very American, meaning, shallow ...

Dear Miss Manners: Wish lists take joy out of gift-giving

Miss Manners is sorry to see the end of an ancient tradition that was one of the hallmarks of civilization. As you have ...

Miss Manners: My friends only talk about themselves

In today's Miss Manners column, advice columnist Judith Martin responds to handling friends who only talk about themselves.

Miss Manners: Why do people only want to talk about themselves?

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am always looking to meet new people and make new friends. But for the last five years or so, I have ...

Miss Manners: I’m convinced everyone has completely lost the ability to have a conversation

GENTLE READER: Yes, these are oral versions of what Miss Manners has come to think of as the modern template for expression: ...

Miss Manners: I found typos in my friend’s book, should I tell?

In today's Miss Manners column, advice columnist Judith Martin responds to the etiquette of pointing out typos and factual mistakes in a friend's nonfiction work.