Miss or Ms

[chirpychirpy]

In what circumstances would you call a woman Miss or Ms? Or does a woman become a Ms when she reaches a certain age? Excuse my ignorance if I should know.

[sara3]

Ms doesn't really explain anything. you're a Miss if you never married. you're a Mrs when you do.

if you divorce, you're in limbo. if you're unsure when sending a letter/email, opt for Ms.

well, that's what I'd do.

[boxtops]

It very much depends on the individual. I wouldn't call anyone Ms unless they had asked me to. Miss is unmarried, Mrs is married, that's the actual rule (with the exception of cooks I believe, who are always called Mrs X historically). I tend not to use any titles, Mary Brown is the person's name. If she wants to be Mrs. M. Brown that is fine, or Ms Brown if she doesn't want people to know her marital status. I still have a very old-fashioned friend who correctly, from past usage, writes on the envelope Mrs. XXX but uses my husband's initial. How things change!

[society]

I also do the same as Sara.

[boxtops]

Ms is to me a hangover from the women's lib days when some women said it was nobody else's business to know whether or not they are married, since you can't tell this from the men's equivalent Mr. I don't know anyone who uses it from choice these days as a title.

[marval]

I always thought

Mrs. = married
Miss. = single
Ms. if requested or you don't no which

[Prudie]

I don't like Ms as it does have women's lib connotations but I do use it! I divorced 20 years ago and didn't remarry or revert to my maiden name so I now use Ms. Prefer to just use my first name when I can though as hate my surname too (wish I'd changed it back then)

[lucca]

Ms every time (if a title is really necessary) - people make judgements about women depending on their "status" as Miss/Mrs - Ms gives no info away.

[EGTB]

The Guardian, which restricts its use of honorific titles to leading articles, states in its style guide: "use Ms for women... unless they have expressed a preference for Miss or Mrs"

from the following link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ms.

[craft1948]

After my first divorce I reverted to my maiden name, and so couldn't be called Mrs **** so I opted for Ms..........nowadays I don't mind Ms or Miss......

[Greedyfly]

My mum who has been married insists on Ms - as she is now divorced. I on the other hand have never been married and see myself as a miss.

[fredpuli47]

Both my exes use Mrs but with, in one case , her maiden name and in the other her professional name. Their logic is that they have been married and have had (earned? ) that 'title' and see no reason to declare themselves as 'Miss' again in middle age !

If someone signs themself as Mary Smith, I reply addressing them as Mary Smith.If they put Ms ,Mrs or Miss by their signature I address them by that.

[Helen352]

I'm with boxtops!

[andy-hughes]

Because a man is Mister, or if a little old-fashioned - Master, it is often not possible to derive his marrital status from his title. A married woman was always Mrs., an abreviation of Mistress, as in Mistress of the house.

Som eowmen prefer not to divluge their marital status, and use Ms, and no problem as far as I can see.

I would tend to call a lady wearing a wedding ring Mrs,and Miss without, as a general rule. if a lady asked to be referred to as Ms., I would be perfectly happy to do so,

[jno]

I do the opposite, Andy: I call a woman I don't know Ms (I tend not to peer at people's hands), but change to Miss or Mrs if she says that's how she likes to be known.

[andy-hughes]

Interesting jno - and a different approach.

For the record - a quick unobtrusive glance assesses the 'ring' aspect, I don't peer at people's hands either!

[squarebear]

Miss = unmarried woman
Mrs = married woman
Ms = lesbian.

Hope that helps :-)

[wendylg]

Ms does not equal lesbian *glare*
I chose ms in my 20s as i agreed with the feminist line why should my married status affect my name