Mary Killen Mary Killen

Your Problems Solved | 29 May 2004

Etiquette advice from The Spectator's Miss Manners

issue 29 May 2004

Dear Mary

Q. In recent weeks I have been the recipient of an unusually large postbag of personal letters. In order to open these with speed and efficiency, and without inflicting repetitive strain injury on thumb and forefinger, I have been forced to employ a paper-knife. The sad upshot of this has been that many of these very welcome letters have had a third slashed off them as the knife did its work in opening the envelopes. Mary, would you please remind readers to fold letters in two, not three, and with the crease at the bottom of the envelope in situations where the recipient is likely to be inundated?
Name and address withheld

A. Thank you for this useful tip.

Q. I am very short of money but do not have much time available in which to work.

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