Nicholas Martin

5 days ago | washingtonpost.com | Judith Martin |Nicholas Martin |Jacobina Martin

, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinDear Miss Manners: What is a polite way to refuse a hug with friends or strangers? What to do when my proffered handshake is batted away and a hug pursued instead? Some men, especially, seem to want to hug me because of my large chest, and it seems more like sexual assault than a friendly gesture. And there are certain women (whom I do not consider friends) who have behaved badly to me in the past, and I do not want them to touch me.

6 days ago | washingtonpost.com | Judith Martin |Nicholas Martin |Jacobina Martin

, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinDear Miss Manners: I was taught by my mother and grandmother, who practiced what they preached, that condolence letters are to be acknowledged. Their practice was to answer every condolence letter with a return letter. It could be long or short, but at the very least it should express gratitude for the sender's thoughtfulness.

1 week ago | washingtonpost.com | Judith Martin |Nicholas Martin |Jacobina Martin

, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinDear Miss Manners: When hosting a cocktail hour, how does the hostess gracefully navigate the quantity of food served? For example, if the cheese platter is reduced to a few bites, should the hostess be constantly monitoring and replenishing it, even if the planned “hour” has passed? I certainly don't want to appear stingy with guests. But bringing out more food seems to encourage lingering and drifting into dinner time and beyond.

1 week ago | washingtonpost.com | Judith Martin |Nicholas Martin |Jacobina Martin

, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinDear Miss Manners: There is a relatively nice person who works near me in a busy financial office. They are talented and smart, but they have an annoying habit of interjecting a constant stream of unsolicited advice and warnings about health into every single conversation. They will warn me of the plastic in tea bags as they watch me make a cup of tea, or the danger of using medical-grade masks to avoid viruses.

1 week ago | washingtonpost.com | Judith Martin |Nicholas Martin |Jacobina Martin

, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinDear Miss Manners: A friend, who professes to love me, behaved irrationally on a two-day visit to my house. He says he is always in a lot of pain due to fibromyalgia, neuropathy and a tendon missing in his shoulder. I have two disintegrating discs pressing on nerves in my lower back, which is very painful. During his visit, I waited on him hand and foot while he lollygagged on a sofa.