ESL, Formal, General & Business Letter Writing (English language)

Re: Ms, Mrs, Miss?

Clive — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:16:28 GMT

Hi,

There are really no "rules" for such matters. Today, women have a great deal of freedom about these choices.

Bets wishes, Clive

Re: Ms, Mrs, Miss?

Anonymous — Fri, 09 May 2008 09:50:50 GMT

Use Mrs. for widowed woman. A divorced woman can use Miss or Ms (being unmarried again).

Re: Ms, Mrs, Miss?

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:36:50 GMT

Ms (has z sound)

Miss has the s sound :)

Re: Ms, Mrs, Miss?

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:45:35 GMT

a lot is two words...not one. Another very common mistake.

Re: Ms, Mrs, Miss

Clive — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 01:03:42 GMT

Hi,

'Ma'am is something that should never be written. It's just a spoken form.

In writing, you would use the full form 'madam'. Today, that would normally be seen as very formal and quite old-fashioned. The term just survives in the standard greeting, 'Dear sir or madam'.

Best wishes, Clive

Re: Ms, Mrs, Miss

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:54:11 GMT

i know everyone is saying ms. but sometimes ma'am is ok depending on how you are writing... its neutral as far as i know... its just a contraction of madaam.... i guess ma'am is more respectful.. so again.. it depends on what ur going 4

Re: Ms, Mrs, Miss?

Grammar Geek — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 20:24:24 GMT

My dear Anon, many married women use "Ms." professionally. On the other hand, some unmarried women are just fine with using "Miss" even if they are in their 20s or 30s. Lastly, not everyone who is married wears a ring. Not everyone who wears a ring is married.

I will not beat around the bush: Your advice is not very sound.

Re: Ms, Mrs, Miss?

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:06:17 GMT

Miss is used to denote a younger girl, say under 16. Mrs is for married women and Ms is for single women. Don't beat around the bush. If there is no ring on her finger use Ms because she is most likely NOT married.

Re: Ms, Mrs, Miss?

Grammar Geek — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 02:00:14 GMT

Clive, I'm so glad you asked that!

Re: Ms, Mrs, Miss?

Clive — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 00:22:39 GMT

Hi,

any divorced woman would want to be called "mrs." Please explain briefly why you have this opinion.

Clive

Re: Ms, Mrs, Miss?

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 22:14:20 GMT

any divorced woman would want to be called "mrs."

and a widower is a man that has no wife due to death, so the only thing u could call a man is mr..

Re: Ms, Mrs, Miss?

Anonymous — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 00:27:14 GMT

I am probably giving my age, but so what! In the 1960s there was a move for women to use the title of "Ms." pronounced "mz." It is based on the fact that "Mr." does not tell whether or not a man is married. However, the titles of "Mrs." and "Miss" do tell whether or not a woman is married. But why should women have to let that be known? Afterall, men do not! Let's show equality in this idea of using titles! Therefore, to be equal and politically correct, we should all use Ms. for women.

And for another note: Prior to the correct title of "Ms." I was always taught in school that if a woman is married and her husband is living, she would use his name. Example: Mrs. John Smith. If he was deceased or if she was divorced, then she could use Mrs. Sue Smith. Of course this is now thought of as antiquated thinking.

To sum it up, remember that a woman does not need to be married to gain respect nor does she have to show whether or not she is married in her title. Everyone should use "Ms." when addressing a woman.

Woman are EQUAL!

Re: Ms, Mrs, Miss?

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 23:18:24 GMT

hi I'm katty fROm peru and you really helped me... GOD BLESS YOU

Re: Ms, Mrs, Miss?

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 14:47:17 GMT

Hey guys that really helps (Ms), to know that most of you guys think it just a neautral title, and anyone should use if they feel like, I like to use the title Ms, I think it is unique, I didn't know the meaning, I just got hooked on it!! To me it is more like to remain anonimous.

From: Anonymous

Re: Ms, Mrs, Miss?

Grammar Geek — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 18:44:24 GMT

Does anyone still use "Master" for boys? If you used it in the U.S., no one would know what to make of it. Why can't you just use Miss for girls under 16?