DEAR MISS MANNERS: If no one responds to your party invitation, are you required to let them know it’s been canceled?

Very often, when trying to host a gathering, I get few, if any, responses. I am beginning to lose interest in trying to provide hospitality to those around me because of this.

GENTLE READER: If no one responds to your invitation, you are evidently not giving a party. Any who accepted can be told that it has been postponed.

But while you are not obliged to inform non-respondents that the party has also disappeared, Miss Manners would advise you not to be home that night.

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, [email protected]; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.