To be frustrated by the misunderstanding of the honorific 'Ms' ?

[ChinkChink]

Inspired by another thread.

I've come across many people who believe that 'Ms' is the honorific for a divorced woman, rather than the female equivalent of 'Mr'. People including several employers, managers, supervisors etc, plus friends and family who I'd normally regard as clued up. And many of them women.

I do welcome the introduction of the term 'Mx' as a title to be used when gender is irrelevant [almost always!] but I fear that Mx will go the same way - people will interpret it as a title for someone who is [for example] transgender.

What say you, MN massive?

If you do away with titles what would be the accepted way of addressing someone you weren't on first name terms with?

If you do away with titles what would be the accepted way of addressing someone you weren't on first name terms with?

Oi you?

My mother taught me that Ms was short for "mind your own fucking business"

If you do away with titles what would be the accepted way of addressing someone you weren't on first name terms with?

My background would have you addres people formally as FirstnameSurname. Just firstname informally.

I guess it wouldn't necessarily be practical so maybe not do away with them completely. But certainly give an option for/understand that there are people who would rather not use them at all.

Bold fail there

Ms has been around since the 16th century and is an abbreviation of "mistress", the same as with Mrs and Miss - just as Mr is an abbreviation of "mister" which came from "master" before that. So, just as we say "mister" for Mr - we don't tie ourselves up in knots and say Mrrr - why not do the same with Ms - Mistress?

If you do away with titles what would be the accepted way of addressing someone you weren't on first name terms with?

It is a bit of an odd concept, why would you not be on first name terms with anyone. Unless you're a teacher, other than telesales worker, who ever addresses you by a title and a surname?

With the exception of about 2 days after getting my PhD when friends and family took great novelty in calling me Dr Boys and asking me to have a look at their piles or ingrowing toenail, no one has addressed me by the title since.

"So, just as we say "mister" for Mr - we don't tie ourselves up in knots and say Mrrr - why not do the same with Ms - Mistress?"

Or we could just say it the way it's been said for the last 7O odd years? Just a thought.

Ms has been around since the 16th century and WAS an abbreviation of "mistress

Fixed that for you.

We need a revolt

There are lots of other options

Revd.
Prof.
Brigadier
Dowager Lord (that will fox them)
Sensei
The Honorable
Brown Owl

The only "honorifics" that mean anything are either academic - Dr, Dean or Professor - where they describe a level of learning and experience, or military - Private, NCO, Warrant Officer or Commissioned Officer - where they define an individual's rank, role and responsibilities. The rest - Revd., Right Revd., Most Revd., Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms, Mx, Sir, let alone all the Gilbert and Sullivan nonsense of royalty - are all varieties of bullshit. I refuse to use any honorifics either for myself or others and show respect by using the same manners for everyone regardless of their "rank".