Partner...just mean spouse?

[dotty03]

My boyfriend recently was filling an application and under the do you have a partner section put "no"...so i asked why...his response being that by "partner it meant married"...

i thought to mean, do you have a hubbie or wife, they use spouse as a term...and that was why they say partner/spouse...for the option of people in relships who are unmarried as well as those who are married...

so can all u learned ABers tell me..true or false...does the word "partner" just mean spouse?..

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[pie+mash]

No it does not. This has come up as a matter of discussion quite frequently here on AB. Will look up the link and post it here.

Partner is a term universally used to mean the 'other' person in your life be it common law husband/wife, (a term no longer used), spouse, live in lover/mistress, two gays living together ditto lesbian, boyfriend or girlfriend and yes even husband or wife YUK hate the term to me it is a business term only, not how most (not all) refer to the person most dear to them in their lives!!

[Hellion]

That about sums it up Pie+Mash

[pie+mash]

Heres one:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/People_and_Plac es/Question262243.html

Think it all started with homosexuals referring to the other person in their lives, and has spilled out to all and sundry

[Rock'n'Roll]

When we send out invitations to our union get-togethers,we state the members name and "partner" or friend. If your in a long term relationship he should have put 'yes'

[dotty03]

Ive recently joined AB so didnt know it had been asked here alot....was a genuine query so thanks for clearing it up pie+mash....

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[pie+mash]

Please IAP do not take offence at my last comment, I assure you I did not mean it to sound like I was blaming gay people for using this word.

My sincere apologies if it looks that way. I was just letting off steam about the use of the word Partner.

P+M

[Rock'n'Roll]

I don't really mind the word partner. What's the alternatives?
Sounds much better than 'soul mate' I suppose at a pinch we could use the old stand by " other half" :)

[DotH]

Morning Dotty

nice t see you on here again, just to avoid confusion i am not you and you are not me , ok, incase someone aske lol

Dotty
xxxxx

[pie+mash]

A while back even adults i.e. over 25 yrs of age to those collecting their pensions referred to them as boyfriend or girlfriend (yes I know that they were men & women) but it didn't seem odd then, other people knew as to the reference. Nobody said "Bit old to call her/him your girl/boy friend". It was accepted that they were referring to someone of whom they were in a relationship with.

I think that the reason forms/documents now pre-print 'partner' is to cover all aspects of a relationship, so as not to cause embarrassment for the applicant for whichever their live-in man/woman is to them legally or otherwise.

[pie+mash]

In reference to Rock'n'Roll's invites, most pre-printed wedding/party/soire�/gala etc cards (where the host(ess) would fill in the blanks, the most used by such would be:

(in the case of not knowing the invitees 'partner's' name etc)

Mr & Mrs Piemash request the pleasure of
Miss frillyknickers & Guest

Covered a multitude of sins!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rock'n'Roll]

Pie+Mash
Shessh! I stand corrected. "Guest" is what we use these days. That was the old invites I referred to. And I'm the section sec who worded the new invites. Senility must be racing in.

[pie+mash]

That's quite all right/allright/alright RnR!!!!

Senior moments happen to us all ROFL

I just hope I have not offended IAP, as he has not returned??

dotH ---is there a dotty02 as well??

Not that we didn't notice, you never give out that many kisses LOL ;>))))

[pie+mash]

Thanks for replying IAP, I can go and enjoy my lunch now!

Have a nice day both of you xxx