Miss Manners: People seem annoyed when they mistake me for someone else

MISS MANNERS by Judith Martin, Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I participate in an organization with quite a few members. Apparently, I resemble one of the leaders of the organization. I am frequently mistaken for this person, although I don’t think we really look alike.

Usually, people apologize when they address me by the other person’s name, but occasionally people seem put out, as if I were trying to trick them or act as an impersonator.

What is the polite way to tell people I am not the other person without raising their hackles? Sometimes I almost feel like they expect me to apologize!

GENTLE READER: Your final exclamation suggests that you doubt your own assessment that anyone could be so irrational as to blame you for their mistake.

But Miss Manne