Greeting a stranger/acquaintance/boyfriend's father is such a stressful experience for me that I sometimes have to remind myself that, no matter how awkward our fumbling hands/faces/bodies are as they smoosh together, it'll all be over and forgotten soon (life is rough). We ranked the best to worst greeting gestures…
Chances are that at some point in your life, you'll be asked to stand up as Maid of Honor at a friend or relative's wedding. And while the travails of bridesmaidery are vast and varied, one of the more tricky feats involved in being the Maid of Honor is planning a bachelorette party that isn't embarrassing while it's…
Sometimes you need a little space, even from the people you love. But these people — family, partners, close friends — can be the hardest to set boundaries with, because you don't want to push them away. Below, some tips for establishing those boundaries without being a jerk.
One of the worst parts of a breakup is when you come to from the initial crying and yelling and flouncing off and realize that your can opener/DVD player/French dictionary/pants are still at your now-ex's house. Or that you are unwillingly in possession of your until-recently-beloved's crap. Luckily, we have some tips…
A number of men have asked us the same question recently: if you're walking on a dark street near a lady, how can you let her know you're not a threat? So this week, we offer some tips for dudes who'd like to help women feel more comfortable in public spaces.
Sometimes, work sucks. Sometimes it sucks so much that you cry. However, showing vulnerability in front of your coworkers can potentially make work suck even more. This week, we offer tips on how to avoid that.
Back in December, we offered some tips on going to a holiday celebration of another religion. But religious services of various kinds go on all year, and different rules apply when you're in church than when you're at a Hanukkah party. Herewith, some advice on going to someone's place of worship without making an ass…
Instant messaging is kind of a no-man's-land where etiquette is concerned, inhabited by tweens and people who type like them. And yet most of us must use it — often even for work. Let's take a look at how we can do so in a less dickish fashion.
Even if you're not, say, the President of the United States, you may well be called upon at some point to give a speech or presentation before an audience. This can be super-stressful! Luckily, we've assembled some tips to help you wow anyone and everyone.
When you're a lady — even if you're smart, together, and tough — standing up for yourself can be pretty difficult. Women are supposed to smooth things over, be nice to everybody, and defuse conflict rather than cause it — so asking for anything at all controversial can seem transgressive or even bitchy. Here's how to…
A lot of personal finance advice tells you to negotiate for a lower price on everything from cars to rent. But this requires you to do two things that are kind of uncomfortable in American society: talk about money, and try to get someone to do you a favor. Here's how to make the whole thing less painful.
After we discussed helping a friend deal with a miscarriage, a reader asked us for tips on how to support a friend in the similarly sensitive situation of going through an abortion. From the decision process to the aftermath, abortion can bring up complicated emotions — but we have some advice on helping your friend…
While lots of holiday parties are mostly about fun, togetherness, and hot cider, they may also include expressions of the host's religion. Below, a few tips for attending parties of faiths different from your own — and for hosting a friendly, meaningful affair.
When someone you know has a miscarriage, it can be hard to know what to say. We have some tips for responding sensitively in this difficult situation.
During the holiday season, one event sometimes crops up that's potentially even more stressful than a long dinner with your extended family. I refer to the high-school reunion. And whether you'll be attending this year or sometime in the years to come, we have tips for you.
Everyone tells you to seek out mentors in your career, but how exactly do you do that? And how do you interact with a mentor when you get one? Never fear, we have some answers for you.
Whether you're going in for an eyebrow wax or a full Brazilian, paying somebody to rip your hair out can present some etiquette challenges. Today, we tackle those challenges head-on.
Especially now that jobs are hard to come by, a lot of people find themselves in long-distance relationships. And there's a lot of advice about to manage such relationships. But what about the rest of your life — how do you keep up with your friends when you're always jetting off to see your partner? Below, some tips…
When you're single, hanging out with coupled friends can be awkward. You don't want to break up with your friends when they enter relationships, but you don't want to be the third wheel, either. And what about "couple-y" social functions where everyone seems to have a partner? Never fear, we have tips for you — and…
A lot of social events involve, or even revolve around, alcohol. If you're sober, or if a friend or date is, this can cause some problems. Luckily, we have some tips for solving them.
