Q&A for How to Introduce People

Introductions give strangers something to go off of for conversation, like what they have in common or would find interesting about one another.

When people come to your house while the cleaning lady is working, alert them to this fact as they arrive. "Hi, great to see you, come in, my cleaning lady Anna is working upstairs." Or, if they are immediately in the same space, "Hey, come in, this is my cleaning lady Anna."

A significant other is any person with whom you are engaged in a romantic relationship; typically it's used in lieu of boyfriend or girlfriend, but even spouses qualify as "significant other."

Consider making a party out of it, an evening or an afternoon event. Announce that you will be introducing your fiance. Alternatively, you can just bring your fiance along on a visit to your family. If you need specific help with the words to say, just keep it simple: "Mom and Dad, this is [name], my fiance."

It depends on the setting. In your parents' home or family member's home on a social occasion, you introduce your boss to your parents. In a public or business setting, you introduce your parents to your boss. Your mother and father are referred to as "mother" and "father," followed by their names. Your boss is referred to by his name, unless he is entitled to an honorific such as doctor, professor, or the honorable.

It's up to you whether you want to introduce yourself to people. Don't necessarily expect them to remember your name, though; people easily forget those after being introduced.

You could call him your friend, close friend or just call him a friend of the family.

Unless you are introducing the former senator to an audience at a speaking engagement, or to a person of higher rank, you don't introduce the former senator; you introduce someone to the former senator. In the introduction, the former senator is referred to as "the Honorable," followed by her/his name, and if it is not known to the person being introduced, a statement that she/he is a former senator.

You would briefly introduce the person you're more familiar with. Then introduce the less familiar person in more detail.

Yes, of course, it's always polite to introduce the people you're with.

The eldest person rates the first introduction, so your mom goes first. Age should also be afforded highest respect at meal time -- having food passed to them first, going to the front of buffet lines, etc.

You don't need to mention your relation to this person if you don't want to. If you want to avoid people coming to wrong conclusions, say something like "This is Jack, a good friend and roommate."

Usually the relationship would go first, but it doesn't make much of a difference and either option can be used.

Just say "welcome to my home."

Try something like, "Now I'd like to invite Mr. Smith, who needs no introduction, to say a few words."

Introduce your friend to your boss first, using your friend's first and last name. Then introduce your boss to your friend, using your boss's last name with a formal title like "Mr./Mrs./Ms."