If I am hosting a cocktail party, is it acceptable to invite guests from, say, 4 to 6 p.m., so it's clear that this is not a dinner party?

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, [email protected]; ...

In today's Miss Manners column, advice columnist Judith Martin responds to whether it's OK to have an end time for an event.

Generally, if I am inviting guests for dinner, I ask them to please arrive at a certain time, with no ending time given. But ...