Miss Manners: I can’t be any clearer about my name

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My last name is a very common American first name. My first name, while standard, is not so common. Let’s call it Whitney Joseph.

I go by my first name, Whitney. I have always introduced myself that way. But all my life, there have been people who seem unable to address me as Whitney and instead call me Joseph, or some variation like Joe.

My job involves a lot of emails. My email signature reads “Whitney Joseph,” and I always end my emails with “Best regards, Whitney.” Yet people still address me in emails as Joseph. I usually say nothing and figure they will eventually catch on (many do). But sometimes, I am annoyed by this and want to say something.

What do I say? And how do I say it in a way that’s polite?

GENTLE READER: “It’s Whitney, actually. I know it can be confusing.”

How sad that your employer had to make a conduct code about polite emails. That you are now in fear of violating it, however, tells Miss Manners why it was necessary.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Wouldn’t it be the choice of the bride and groom as to whether they invite children to their wedding?

I have attended many weddings where children younger than 18 were not invited. Our son and his bride planned a small wedding (around 80 people) and requested no children in attendance, with the exception of the two in the wedding party. Even those two would be leaving after the ceremony to be watched by a sitter, whom the couple had hired to watch all the children.

Family members with questions about why such-and-such adults were invited, and not their little darlings, were addressed beforehand. All seemed well, and everyone agreed to comply.

Or so we thought! One couple showed up with their children in tow: the very aunt and uncle who had been questioning the no-kids policy just days prior.

The wedding planner kindly asked them if they would take their children to the sitter provided. They adamantly refused and made a huge scene. Not wanting to cause any more of an upset, we moved forward with the wedding.

Was it too much of us to expect respect for the couple’s wishes? Or was it rude of them to bring their children?

GENTLE READER: Child-free weddings, especially ones that are out of town, do indeed make it difficult for families with young offspring. But as the rules of this wedding were clear and consistent, and a sitter was provided, Miss Manners agrees that your relatives were rude to bring them anyway.

And certainly to cause a scene – especially since avoiding public tantrums was undoubtedly the idea behind excluding children in the first place.

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website www.missmanners.com.