Notes on tipping.
Short essays — 600 to 1,200 words each — argued from numbers. Not a content mill, not a daily blog. New post when there's actually something to say.
Tipping fatigue in 2026 — what the data actually shows
Pew says 72% of Americans feel tipping is expected in more places than five years ago. Bankrate says the share of people who "always tip" at restaurants fell from 77% to 65%. Both can be true at once — here's how.
Auto-gratuity, explained — and what to do when it's wrong
The 18–20% line on the bill for parties of six or more is the most-misunderstood line item in American dining. Where it comes from, what's legally required, and the script for asking it off.
Why I tip on the pre-tax total
It's about 80 cents per meal. It's also about how the tax system works, what the server actually earned, and what the bottom-line number on the bill is actually for. The case for the pedant's choice.
The 20% default — where it came from and why it stuck
In 1955 the standard was 10%. In 1985 it was 15%. By 2010 it was 20%. The number has been ratcheting up for seventy years; the ratchet doesn't reverse. A short history.