It has happened to every woman . You are rushing down the sidewalk with six different things on your mind. And who do you run into? Your former boss. Not only do you not expect to see him, but you also do not expect him to be wearing an unflattering new toupee. Your reaction to him at that moment says a great deal about your ability to deal with an important challenge. By saying the wrong thing, you could hurt someone's feelings, and you could also offend someone who could give you a job recommendation one day. By saying the right thing, you may shore up the self-confidence of a fellow human who may not be feeling entirely comfortable in his own skin. We have all said the wrong thing -- or not known what to say -- in an important or awkward social situation.

We won't promise that you will never put your foot in your mouth again, but with the advice provided in As a Lady Would Say you will be better prepared to say the right thing than ever before. As a Lady Would Say differs from other etiquette books in that it not only offers suggestions for the correct thing to say in more than 125 social situations, but it also gives examples of the wrong thing to say. When a lady notices that another lady has stuffed her skirt into her panty hose, for instance, she does not say, "Darling, you are mooning everyone at this shindig." Here is advice on what to say when your credit card is rejected at a restaurant, when someone asks you if your jewelry is real, or when someone mistakes your baby girl for a baby boy. As a Lady Would Say will prepare you for a lifetime of opportunities to say things that will make others feel better about themselves. Book jacket.