Say goodbye to abrupt departures, that awkward am-I-staying-or-going dance, and hovering anxiously (and conspicuously) near the door.

There’s an art to bidding your host adieu, even if you’re slipping out earlier than expected—and experts say it’s a skill that can serve you well at any gathering, any time of year.

Here’s exactly what to say to deliver a great goodbye.

A foolproof formula

Researchers have a name for ending an interaction: “leave-taking behavior,” which encompasses all the verbal and non-verbal ways you signal you’re saying goodbye. There are two main components of any good exit, says Amy Arias, a senior lecturer of communication studies at the University of Nevada, Reno, who specializes in interpersonal communication.

The first is an exit statement, also known as a dep

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