Introducing Spouse to Coworker

Dear Dr. Dave and Dr. Dee,

What is the proper way (order of presentation) for introducing a coworker, friend, or acquaintance to your spouse? Do I introduce the coworker to my wife, or do I introduce my wife to the coworker?

Signed,

Need to clear this up

Dear Need to clear this up,

The proper order of introduction is to present your wife to the coworker. For example, you can say, "John, this is my wife, Mary." If your wife has a different last name from you, then also include her last name when she is introduced.

Next, introduce John back to Mary using John's first and last name and giving some information about him. For example, "Mary, this is John Doe, my business associate, we worked on the XYZ account together."

The fact that you are concerned about introducing your wife at all is admirable. Many wives complain about being ignored and feeling embarrassed when their husbands do not even bother to introduce them to their coworkers.