In today's Miss Manners column, advice columnist Judith Martin responds to if declining a last-minute phone call rude.

GENTLE READER: The last time Miss Manners checked, tennis was played with a single ball, so let’s try and keep our eyes on ...

I pickled the vegetables, which were sourced from a farm stand. I baked the bread from wheat milled locally, and the bologna ...

The captain had indicated that she was going to play me, but then she didn’t. I’m not a bad player, so I am not sure why.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Someone I know messaged me about 5:30 p.m., requesting that I call them that evening as they had good news ...

Dear Miss Manners: I was on a tennis team and was eliminated during a tournament. I was supposed to play two matches: I played one and won, but then got injured and bowed out of my second match. I ...

In today's Miss Manners column, advice columnist Judith Martin responds to when "sorry for your loss" backfires.

He generally means well, so I don’t wish to embarrass him, but is there a way to graciously shut this down if I hear it again ...

I managed a weak smile that hopefully did not show my irritation, but I’d prefer to never hear this term lobbed in my ...

He generally means well, so I don’t wish to embarrass him, but is there a way to graciously shut this down if I hear it again ...

Miss Manners therefore suggests that you turn that weak smile into something that does, in fact, betray your irritation, ...