ChatterBank0 min ago
Ms?
Answers
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.The correct and proper usage of 'Ms' is for people who are addressing you but don't know whether you are a 'Miss or 'Mrs'. This was always considered to be the politest way of referring to someone (for example, writing a letter) without embarrassing them or yourself by assuming they're married (or not). You could also use it for yourself if you felt your marital status was irrelevant on a particular occasion. Quite often if I'm mail ordering something over the phone, I'll give my full name (first name included) but when I'm then asked if I'm Miss or Mrs, my initial thoughts are 'what's that got to do with it?' Would my money be worth more if I said I was married? I think not.
These days is seems to be used more regularly by divorced women. However, this isn't the correct way to use it and you shouldn't assume that because someone calls themselves a 'Ms' that they're divorced or separated.