Miss Manners: Aren’t you supposed to let people know when they are on speakerphone?

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Do people owe you the favor of letting you know that you are on speakerphone? It’s often difficult to tell from background sounds.

If someone else is in the room but out of earshot, then speakerphone is probably OK. But if I am telling someone something meant for only their ears, that’s a problem.

In one instance, I started talking about a secret gift, not knowing that the recipient was in the room until the person I’d called told me that I was on speaker. I’d had no idea. Should I just ask each time I’m on the phone?

GENTLE READER: One should warn the other person on the phone that they are on speaker for the same reason a good host should smooth the rug when she sees it has curled over and is likely to trip the next guest who passes by: It is less work than picking