Miss vs. Ms. vs. Mrs. vs Mx.
Sometimes the English language can prove to be really tricky even while using some of the most basic words or salutations. Take example of Mrs. Ms. And Miss. Well, which one should you use and when?
It may sound very simple but sometimes, in some particular place they might be a bit confusing. This is why in this post, I will be telling you everything you need to know about these three words.
Let’s get started.
| Ms. | Mrs. | Miss |
|---|---|---|
| It is used to to address any woman irrespective of her marital status. | It is mainly used to describe any married woman. | It is used to address young unmarried women or girls under the age of 18 |
| E.g., Will you please take a seat Ms. Annie? | E.g., My name is Mrs. Sarah Smith. | E.g., Where are you going miss? |
Miss
One can use this prefix to address young unmarried women or girls under the age of 18. Although any unmarried woman is nothing but a Miss, but it may not be appropriate to use it for women of certain age and the ones who are divorced. This is where Ms. is the better option.
Ms.
This is perhaps the best way to address any woman irrespective of her marital status. It came into use around 1950s when man women wanted to be known for something outside of their marriage. Many consider it as the female equivalent of Mr. and can be used in any setting to refer to an adult woman. Even in a business setting a married women can be referred to as Ms. When you are not sure if a woman is married, it’s safe to go with Ms.
Mrs.
This word is mainly used to describe any married woman. Nowadays, a lot of women wish to keep their last name instead of taking their husband’s. We can refer to these women as Mrs. Just like we can address a widowed woman out of respect. Usually, it accompanies the title of the husband when you can see both the first and last name but in today’s time, this practice is becoming very outdated.
Mx.
Mx., Honorifics act as neutral alternatives to titles such as “Mr” and “Ms”.It’s similar to “lady.” It doesn’t mean marital status. Like the other titles included here, “Mx. Usually used with a person’s name as a sign of respect.
According to Merriam-Webster, “Mx. The term is often used by non-binary people. But, like the other honorifics described here, it’s not a one-size-fits-all title – some people may not like it, or like it at all, while others accept it completely, so it’s best to ask, just as you would about a person’s pronoun.
Will I Be Ms. or Mrs. After I Get Married?
This depends completely on you. Usually, most brides change their name after wedding and they go by “Mrs.” This is because they share a surname with their spouse. But when you keep your maiden name, one can go by “Ms.” instead of “Mrs.”
Miss, Mrs. or Ms.: Which Should I Write on Wedding Invitations?
When the guest is a child, you can use “Miss.” But if she’s an unmarried adult over the age of 18, then it is better to go with “Ms.” If the guest is married and you know her chosen title, it is better to write that. But when there is a doubt, you can always go for “Ms.” as it is the safest and most appropriate choice.
Conclusion:
So, I believe now, you don’t have any confusion about using Ms. Mrs. Or Miss. However, if you do have some query feel free to mention them in the comments section.
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