Dear Abby is a syndicated advice column which was founded in 1956 by Pauline Esther Friedman Phillips and is currently written by her daughter, Jeanne Phillips. Abigail Van Buren is the pen name that has been used by both writers for as long as the column has existed. According to its publishers, the column is known for its "uncommon common sense and youthful perspective" and is read by more people than any other newspaper column worldwide. *

Pauline Esther Friedman (born on 4 July 1918) was an identical twin: her sister, Esther Pauline Friedman Lederer, who was 17 minutes older than Pauline, wrote the Ann Landers column.

As children, Pauline and Esther grew up in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughters of Russian Jewish emigrants. Pauline went by the nickname "Popo", while Esther's nickname was "Eppie". They were very close and even had a joint wedding ceremony in 1939 at the age of 21.

As competing columnists, however, the sisters did not have a happy relationship. Just a few years before Esther (Ann) died, they were not on speaking terms; it is said that they reconciled before her death, although that might be subject to question considering that Pauline (Abby) was and is suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Pauline remains married to her husband of over 65 years, Morton Phillips; it is unclear whether she understands that her sister Esther has died.

In 1960, Dear Abby published a book entitled "Dear Teen-ager" full of helpful information for the youth of America.