Ms.
Encyclopedia
Ms. or Ms (UK) (normally icon when stressed; when unstressed, either icon, m, m or m)
is an English honorific used with the last name or full name of a woman
. According to The Emily Post Institute
, Ms. is the default form of address for women, regardless of marital status, in the US.
" and "Mrs.
", began to be used as early as the 17th century as titles derived from the then formal "Mistress", which, like Mister, did not originally reference marital status. "Ms." however, fell into disuse in favor of the other two titles and was not revived until the 20th century.
The earliest known proposal for the modern revival of "Ms." as a title appeared in The Republican of Springfield, Massachusetts
on November 10, 1901:
The term was again suggested as a convenience to writers of business letters by such publications as the Bulletin of the American Business Writing Association
(1951) and The Simplified Letter, issued by the National Office Management Association (1952)."
In 1961, Sheila Michaels attempted to put the term into use when she saw what she thought was a typographical error on the address label of a copy of News & Letters sent to her roommate. Michaels "was looking for a title for a woman who did not 'belong' to a man." She knew the separation of the now common terms Miss and Mrs. had derived from "Mistress", but one could not suggest that women use the original title with its now louche connotations. Her efforts to promote use of a new honorific were at first ignored. Around 1971, in a lull during a WBAI
-radio interview with The Feminists group, Michaels suggested the use of Ms. A friend of Gloria Steinem
heard the interview and suggested it as a title for her new magazine. Ms. magazine
's popularity finally allowed the term to enjoy widespread usage. In February 1972, the US Government Printing Office approved using "Ms." in official government documents.
Even several public opponents of "non-sexy language", such as William Safire
, were finally convinced that Ms. had earned a place in English by the case of US Congresswoman
Geraldine A. Ferraro
. Ferraro, a United States vice-presidential candidate in 1984, was a married woman who used her birth surname professionally rather than her husband's ("Zaccaro"). Safire pointed out that it would be equally incorrect to call her "Miss Ferraro" (as she was married), or "Mrs. Ferraro" (as her husband was not "Mr. Ferraro") — and that calling her "Mrs. Zaccaro" would confuse the reader.
In business, "Ms." is the standard default title for women until or unless an individual makes another preference known, and this default is also becoming more common socially. The default use of Ms. is also championed by a number of etiquette
writers, including Judith Martin
(a.k.a. "Miss Manners").
However, it is increasingly common, especially in business correspondence, to omit a title altogether and refer to people using just their first and last name. A man might be introduced as "John Doe" (not "Mr. Doe") or "John Doe, Senior Economist" if their position is relevant, while correspondence to a women might begin with "Dear Jane Doe", "Dear J. Doe", "Dear J. Doe, MD", etc. The reason for omitting a title is that the writer need not know the gender of the addressee, their gender is irrelevant, their preferred title is unknown ("Ms." vs. "Mrs.", but also "Dr.", etc.), or they are transgendered. It is also consistent with the generally less formal context in North American business and the Canadian rejection of titular distinctions (see Canadian Titles Debate
), compared with Europe and Asia. For example, the Canadian businessman Kenneth Thomson (see Kenneth Thomson, 2nd Baron Thomson of Fleet
), who from his father's death in 1976 until his own death in 2006 held the British hereditary peerage Baron Thomson of Fleet, remarked, "In London I'm Lord Thomson, in Toronto I'm Ken. I have two sets of Christmas cards and two sets of stationery. You might say I'm having my cake and eating it too
. I'm honouring a promise to my father by being Lord Thomson, and at the same time I can just be Ken."
(UK) states in its style guide that: "Ms is nowadays fully acceptable when a woman wants to be called thus, or when it is not known for certain if she is Mrs or Miss". 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".
Many women in the UK style themselves either "Miss" or "Mrs", but Ms is still widely used. However, in some circles the appellation Ms is now standard, for instance in business or where one may not know or find relevant the marital status of the woman so addressed. Ms may be used if the woman in question is divorced and reverts to her maiden name, and is also useful for situations such as women in same-sex relationships, particularly civil partnerships; women who are cohabiting with a partner and thus neither single nor married; married women who have kept their maiden name; and women who prefer not to reveal their marital status for reasons of basic feminism. Additionally, she may have changed her name by deed poll
and use Ms because it is neither a married nor a maiden name. Most female surgeons take on the title Ms in their profession, regardless of their marital status.
In editorial work Mss. can be confusing, however, since it is also the abbreviation for "manuscripts (by)".
is an English honorific used with the last name or full name of a woman
Woman
A woman , pl: women is a female human. The term woman is usually reserved for an adult, with the term girl being the usual term for a female child or adolescent...
. According to The Emily Post Institute
The Emily Post Institute
The Emily Post Institute was created by etiquette author Emily Post in 1946. The organization, located in Burlington, Vermont, provides etiquette experts and advice to news outlets and other corporations. The authors at the Emily Post Institute write books and columns, conduct seminars and...
, Ms. is the default form of address for women, regardless of marital status, in the US.
Etymology
"Ms.", along with "MissMiss
Miss is an English language honorific traditionally used only for an unmarried woman . Originating in the 17th century, it is a contraction of mistress, which was used for all women. A period is not used to signify the contraction...
" and "Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs or Mrs. is a honorific used for women, usually for those who are married and who do not instead use another title, such as Dr, Lady, or Dame. In most Commonwealth countries, a full stop is not used with the title...
", began to be used as early as the 17th century as titles derived from the then formal "Mistress", which, like Mister, did not originally reference marital status. "Ms." however, fell into disuse in favor of the other two titles and was not revived until the 20th century.
The earliest known proposal for the modern revival of "Ms." as a title appeared in The Republican of Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
on November 10, 1901:
The term was again suggested as a convenience to writers of business letters by such publications as the Bulletin of the American Business Writing Association
Association for Business Communication
The Association for Business Communication is the primary academic organization for the field of business communication scholarship, research, education and practice...
(1951) and The Simplified Letter, issued by the National Office Management Association (1952)."
In 1961, Sheila Michaels attempted to put the term into use when she saw what she thought was a typographical error on the address label of a copy of News & Letters sent to her roommate. Michaels "was looking for a title for a woman who did not 'belong' to a man." She knew the separation of the now common terms Miss and Mrs. had derived from "Mistress", but one could not suggest that women use the original title with its now louche connotations. Her efforts to promote use of a new honorific were at first ignored. Around 1971, in a lull during a WBAI
WBAI
WBAI, a part of the Pacifica Radio Network, is a non-commercial, listener-supported radio station, broadcasting at 99.5 FM in New York City.Its programming is leftist/progressive, and a mixture of political news and opinion from a leftist perspective, tinged with aspects of its complex and varied...
-radio interview with The Feminists group, Michaels suggested the use of Ms. A friend of Gloria Steinem
Gloria Steinem
Gloria Marie Steinem is an American feminist, journalist, and social and political activist who became nationally recognized as a leader of, and media spokeswoman for, the women's liberation movement in the late 1960s and 1970s...
heard the interview and suggested it as a title for her new magazine. Ms. magazine
Ms. magazine
Ms. is an American feminist magazine co-founded by American feminist and activist Gloria Steinem and founding editor Letty Cottin Pogrebin together with founding editors Patricia Carbine, Joanne Edgar, Nina Finkelstein, and Mary Peacock, that first appeared in 1971 as an insert in New York magazine...
's popularity finally allowed the term to enjoy widespread usage. In February 1972, the US Government Printing Office approved using "Ms." in official government documents.
Even several public opponents of "non-sexy language", such as William Safire
William Safire
William Lewis Safire was an American author, columnist, journalist and presidential speechwriter....
, were finally convinced that Ms. had earned a place in English by the case of US Congresswoman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Geraldine A. Ferraro
Geraldine Ferraro
Geraldine Anne Ferraro was an American attorney, a Democratic Party politician, and a member of the United States House of Representatives. She was the first female Vice Presidential candidate representing a major American political party....
. Ferraro, a United States vice-presidential candidate in 1984, was a married woman who used her birth surname professionally rather than her husband's ("Zaccaro"). Safire pointed out that it would be equally incorrect to call her "Miss Ferraro" (as she was married), or "Mrs. Ferraro" (as her husband was not "Mr. Ferraro") — and that calling her "Mrs. Zaccaro" would confuse the reader.
American
The American Heritage Book of English Usage states that: "Using Ms. obviates the need for the guesswork involved in figuring out whether to address someone as Mrs. or Miss: you can’t go wrong with Ms. Whether the woman you are addressing is married or unmarried, has changed her name or not, Ms. is always correct."In business, "Ms." is the standard default title for women until or unless an individual makes another preference known, and this default is also becoming more common socially. The default use of Ms. is also championed by a number of etiquette
Etiquette
Etiquette is a code of behavior that delineates expectations for social behavior according to contemporary conventional norms within a society, social class, or group...
writers, including Judith Martin
Judith Martin
Judith Martin , better known by the pen name Miss Manners, is an American journalist, author, and etiquette authority. Martin's uncle was economist and labor historian Selig Perlman.- Early life and career :...
(a.k.a. "Miss Manners").
Canadian
"Ms." is the default title for a woman in Canadian usage, if one is needed, as it is applicable to single, widowed or divorced women; married women who retain their maiden name, have combined their surname with their spouse's (same- or opposite-sex), or taken their spouse's surname (or changed their name altogether); and women in common-law relationships.However, it is increasingly common, especially in business correspondence, to omit a title altogether and refer to people using just their first and last name. A man might be introduced as "John Doe" (not "Mr. Doe") or "John Doe, Senior Economist" if their position is relevant, while correspondence to a women might begin with "Dear Jane Doe", "Dear J. Doe", "Dear J. Doe, MD", etc. The reason for omitting a title is that the writer need not know the gender of the addressee, their gender is irrelevant, their preferred title is unknown ("Ms." vs. "Mrs.", but also "Dr.", etc.), or they are transgendered. It is also consistent with the generally less formal context in North American business and the Canadian rejection of titular distinctions (see Canadian Titles Debate
Canadian titles debate
The Canadian titles debate has been ongoing since the adoption of the Nickle Resolution in 1919. This resolution marked the earliest attempt to establish a Canadian government policy requesting the Sovereign not to grant knighthoods, baronetcies, and peerages to Canadians, and set the precedent for...
), compared with Europe and Asia. For example, the Canadian businessman Kenneth Thomson (see Kenneth Thomson, 2nd Baron Thomson of Fleet
Kenneth Thomson, 2nd Baron Thomson of Fleet
Kenneth Thomson, 2nd Baron Thomson of Fleet , in Canada known as Ken Thomson, was a Canadian businessman and art collector who, at the time of his death, was the richest person in Canada, and the ninth richest person in the world, according to Forbes.com, with assets of approximately US $17.9...
), who from his father's death in 1976 until his own death in 2006 held the British hereditary peerage Baron Thomson of Fleet, remarked, "In London I'm Lord Thomson, in Toronto I'm Ken. I have two sets of Christmas cards and two sets of stationery. You might say I'm having my cake and eating it too
Have one's cake and eat it too
To have one's cake and eat it too is a popular English idiomatic proverb or figure of speech, sometimes stated as eat one's cake and have it too or simply have one's cake and eat it. This is most often used negatively, to connote the idea of consuming a thing whilst managing to preserve it...
. I'm honouring a promise to my father by being Lord Thomson, and at the same time I can just be Ken."
British
The TimesThe Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
(UK) states in its style guide that: "Ms is nowadays fully acceptable when a woman wants to be called thus, or when it is not known for certain if she is Mrs or Miss". The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, 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".
Many women in the UK style themselves either "Miss" or "Mrs", but Ms is still widely used. However, in some circles the appellation Ms is now standard, for instance in business or where one may not know or find relevant the marital status of the woman so addressed. Ms may be used if the woman in question is divorced and reverts to her maiden name, and is also useful for situations such as women in same-sex relationships, particularly civil partnerships; women who are cohabiting with a partner and thus neither single nor married; married women who have kept their maiden name; and women who prefer not to reveal their marital status for reasons of basic feminism. Additionally, she may have changed her name by deed poll
Deed of Change of Name
A deed of change of name is a legal document in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, which enables a single person or a family to officially change his or her name...
and use Ms because it is neither a married nor a maiden name. Most female surgeons take on the title Ms in their profession, regardless of their marital status.
Plurals
Either Mss. or Mses. may be used as the modern English plural of Ms. Alternatively, if using the traditional French plurals ("Messieurs" for Mr., and "Mesdemoiselles" for Miss) one may use "Mesdames" (abbreviation "Mmes."), which is also the plural for "Mrs."In editorial work Mss. can be confusing, however, since it is also the abbreviation for "manuscripts (by)".