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Social Etiquette and Good Manners/Questions

SubjectDate AskedExpert
Hostess gift for fundraiser5/21/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: Should I bring a hostess gift to a fundraiser at a private home
  A: No,this is a party strictly to raise money for some political candidate,orginization or charity. YOU ...
Personalized Anniversary Gift Etiquette5/19/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: When getting personalized gifts or party favors for an anniversary party is there an etiquette rule ...
  A: I have looked in several books and found the same information that you have. It has always been my ...
Stilton Cheese5/18/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: Is it good social etiquette to remove the crust from stilton cheese and leave it on the side of the ...
  A: as adults. Some lovers of Stilton eat every scrap,but I find the rinds to be too tough for my ...
graduation announcements5/17/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: How do I handle all of the graduation announcements from teens we barely know, are not close to, ...
  A: You are not required to do anything. An announcement is just that,the sharing of news. That you ...
Gift giving/ addressing invitations5/16/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: Is it true that you should send a separate invitation to anyone in a household 18 or older? If ...
  A: As to your first question,you do not say what the invitation is to. If it were a dance or a ...
college graduation5/15/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: Is it ok to send a card to congratulate a college graduate without including a gift?
  A: Absolutely! There is never any life event for which you MUST give a gift. Not a wedding,not a ...
Graduation Invitations5/15/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: Is it poor etiquette to send high school graduation invitations to other families who have ...
  A: Hall, Well,it is sort of pointless to send an invitation to an event that these people will ...
Daughter5/15/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: My daughter just got out to the navy after 5 years. My husband and I are use to being alone and ...
  A: There really wasn't an etiquette question in your e-mail,but I can tell that you are frustrated. It ...
Daughter5/15/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: My daughter has lived with her high school sweetheart for 4 years. They have a 3 year old daughter. ...
  A: You cannot say much of anything to your daughter about her relationship. If the guy is an abusive ...
Post Graduation Luncheon5/14/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: My wife and I recently were invited to attend a close friend's daughter's college graduation.This ...
  A: A host/ess should never throw a party that they cannot afford. In short,you are right to be a ...
Parents 50th Anniversary Party5/12/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: What is the proper wording on the invitations to request monetary gifts only? Thank you
  A: It is never acceptable to ask for any kind of a gift, monetary or otherwise on an invitation. There ...
Funerals5/12/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: My boss's father has just recently passed away. What are the appropriate gifts or customs for ...
  A: I don't know how big a company or business you work for. Generally,going to the calling hours (or ...
attire for the ballet and what to give the ballerina5/9/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: I have been dating a ballet dancer for several months now and her opening night performance is day ...
  A: A dark suit should be fine for tomorrow night. I am going to assume this isn't a black tie affair ...
Graduation (High School)5/9/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: When having an open house after the High School Graduation.....what should I put on the insert that ...
  A: What do you want the guests to know about the open house? After the ceremony please join us at 123 ...
High School graduation invitations5/8/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: I have been told that you shouldn't send a high school graduation invitation to the family of ...
  A: It is pointless to invite people who are going to be at (or in) the same graduation ceremony as ...
Politely turning down a public request for charity5/7/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: It's very awkward to turn down a request for charity especially when it's going toward a children's ...
  A: I always tell people that I have charities that are important to me and that I support. ...
yearly birthday dinner obligation5/6/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: My husband and I are invited to attend a birthday dinner every year for a friend of ours. His wife ...
  A: People should never throw parties that they cannot afford. No guest should have to 'pay for the ...
thank you notes to siblings5/4/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: My siblings and their families get together for holidays and birthdays. My oldest sister sends ...
  A: While I know some people feel as you do about thank you notes from family members,I am not one of ...
Thank you gifts5/4/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: A group of friends and I recently vacationed in Las Vegas. When we arrived at our hotel we were ...
  A: I'm on your side on this one. The hotel bungled the reservations,they needed to rectify the ...
Graduation Announcement Responses5/3/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: I have received 3 graduation announcements this week. What is the polite way to respond? Is a gift ...
  A: An announcement is just that. The sharing of such news requires no gift unless you absolutely want ...
Introducing friends5/2/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: My question is: what is the proper way to introduce a best friend to another best friend??
  A: If you walk into a room with Jane and Sue is there, present Jane to Sue. "Sue,I'd like for you to ...
wedding5/2/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: My nephew is getting married in another state. All of his relatives live in MI and the wedding is ...
  A: The parents of the bride are under no obligation to pay for the travel expenses of their guests. ...
Graduation invitations5/2/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: My daughter is graduating from high school. Her last name is different than mine (divorce). How ...
  A: If the invitations to the party were being sent out by themselves,you and your new husband's name ...
Wedding RSVP5/2/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: Help my sister is getting married May 28th. My furture Brother-In-Law e-mailed me to let me know ...
  A: It's a little silly to send invitations to the parents and sister of the bride,doubly so since you ...
50th Birthday Trip4/27/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: I have 3 years to worry about this, but here goes. My family has begun the mini-tradition (only 2 ...
  A: The rule of thumb (which we are going to flat out ignore here in a minute) is that a host/ess may ...
dress attire for graduation4/26/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: My boyfriend will be graduating from law school in mid-May. The graduation will be indoors, in ...
  A: Elli, Don't be intimidated! You will see everything there from NASCAR T-shirts to expensive Chanel ...
weddings4/21/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. One of my best friends is getting married Sat April 22, Thank God ...
  A: Betty, Forgot you aren't on East Coast Time! Here's yeaterday's answer: Answer - Dear ...
Money spent as a bridesmaid4/20/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. One of my best friends is getting married Sat April 22, Thank God ...
  A: Whooo boy. The bride is completely out of control and I hate to say it,but you let her abuse you ...
Responding to "remarks of politeness"4/14/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: Gamble, As I was walking around school a few minutes ago, I happened to accidentally block ...
  A: Anglin, Generally some counter remark to indicate that they are the ones who should be asking ...
bar mitzvah invitation4/13/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: My son is anticipating his bar mitzvah next month. This is a formal event, with printed invitations ...
  A: Let her know that she may come to the temple if she wishes,but explain (with regret) that in order ...
Thank you notes4/11/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: My son is graduating from high school in May. I am concerned about thank you notes because his ...
  A: He can type them. If he signs his own name and makes some mention of why he is typing (or word ...
Asking someone to speak in private4/10/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: Is it rude to quietly motion to someone to leave a room if you need to speak to them in private?
  A: It depends a little on the situation,of course. If you CAN interrupt by saying to the assembled "I'm ...
husband calls someone's spouse his/her "better half"4/8/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: Gamble, When meeting acquintances' spouses, my husband says "...and he/she must be your better ...
  A: You hit the nail on the head exactly: "I have believed that when used to refer to own spouse this ...
proper gift4/6/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: My daughter is graduating next month to become an R.N. I haven't a clue as to what would be a proper ...
  A: My sister, Anne Gamble is an RN. She says a good Littmann Stethescope is something she would use a ...
Invitations4/3/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: I'm planning a 25th anniversary party for my parents. In addition to this I would like to send them ...
  A: While I appreciate what you are trying to do for your parents,you cannot give them a gift that you ...
good manners4/3/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: I want to know who should say good bye when someone is leaving on a trip. My brother in law comes ...
  A: Rosanna, Why don't you go to him? If he is leaving for half a year,there are many things to take ...
50th anniversary Open House4/3/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: My parents and their children are planning an Open house for their 50th anniversary. My dad says he ...
  A: Whomever is hosting the party pays. If the children are planning in honor of their parents,they ...
when to mail Easter card4/3/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: When should I mail an Easter card/gift to a friend? Is now too early? I was thinking to have it ...
  A: Easter is on the 16th of April this year,so anytime from today on is fine. There is no real 'rule' ...
Internet stranger4/1/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: I am on someone's E mailing list. She is a regular in a chatroom I'm often in, we say hello, but ...
  A: No,you're not wrong to feel as you do. We've gotten to a very strange place in our society. With ...
Don't want to be friends3/28/2006Amanda Gamble
  Q: Hope you can help my wife and I out. We have "friends of friends" whom we see at social gatherings ...
  A: It would hurt them terribly to hear you say in any way,shape or form that you do not wish to be ...

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Social Etiquette and Good Manners

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Amanda Gamble

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Expertise

I will answer any etiquette question you`d care to ask! I will be happy to give friendly non-judgmental advice on any situation. Certain cultures and religions that outside of my personal scope of knowledge but I usually know whom to ask when I have a question. Time specific questions may or may not get answered by your deadline.

Experience

I have been writing a daily etiquette advice column for 12 years. I have taught as well as given lectures on the subject.

Education/Credentials
Life and other institutions.

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