• 4-minute read
• 21st August 2020

Writing Tips: How to Use Miss, Mrs, Ms and Mr

We use titles like ‘Miss’, ‘Mrs’, ‘Ms’ and ‘Mr’ when using someone’s first name could sound too familiar. For instance, when addressing someone you don’t know well, you might say ‘Dear Ms Turner’ rather than ‘Dear Sophie’. But there are rules about how to use these titles in your writing.

In this post, then, we’ll look at:

• Common female honorifics, including ‘Miss’, ‘Mrs’ and ‘Ms’.
• The male honorifics ‘Mr’ and ‘Master’.
• Gender-neutral titles and when you might want to use them.
• How British and American English differ in punctuating honorifics.

Read on below to find out everything you need to know.

Female Honorifics: Miss, Mrs and Ms

Traditionally, female honorifics are based on a woman’s marital status:

• ‘Miss’ refers to an unmarried woman.
• ‘Mrs’ refers to a married woman.

These are still common today. However, we don’t always know the marital status of the person we’re addressing. And some women prefer not to be defined by whether they’re married. And this led to the introduction of ‘Ms’:

We have contacted Ms Harris about her refund.

So, how do you know which term to use? We suggest:

• Using ‘Miss’ or ‘Mrs’ only when you know the person’s marital status and you know they don’t mind using these traditional titles.
• Using ‘Ms’ as a default when you don’t know the information above.

You might also hear the word ‘mistress’, which used to be the full version of ‘Mrs’. However, it now usually refers to a woman who is taking part in an adulterous relationship, so it’s best not to use this term as a formal title!

Male Honorifics: Mr and Master

The only common male honorific is ‘Mr’, which is short for ‘Mister’. As such, you should use this title when addressing any male in formal writing:

I spoke to Mr Thompson yesterday.

You may also come across ‘Master’, which is a title for boy too young to be called ‘Mr’. This is quite old-fashioned, though, so it is rare outside of very formal writing, and you’re usually better off sticking with ‘Mr’ for simplicity.

Gender-Neutral Honorifics

The titles we’ve discussed so far are all gender specific. However, many now prefer gender-neutral titles. Probably the most common of these is ‘Mx’. Pronounced ‘mix’ or ‘mux’, this title is popular with non-binary people and those who prefer not to be identified by their gender:

Mx Sampson will be speaking at the event on Tuesday.

The key is to use the person’s favoured term if you know it. So, if someone prefers to use a gender-neutral title, you should respect their choice.

British vs. American English: Punctuating Titles

We do not punctuate titles like ‘Mr’ or ‘Mrs’ in British English. This is in line with standard rules for punctuating abbreviations. In American English, though, you need to add a full stop after any abbreviated title:

UK English: Mr Selby and Mrs Lyle are waiting outside.

US English: Mr. Selby and Mrs. Lyle are waiting outside.

‘Ms’ and ‘Mx’ aren’t abbreviations, but they are punctuated as if they were in American English for consistency with similar titles:

Are Ms. Booth and Mx. Tate here yet?

‘Miss’, however, is a full word, so it doesn’t need a full stop in either dialect:

UK English: Miss Joyce will see you now.

US English: Miss Joyce will see you now.

You should now be able to use these titles correctly in your writing. But if you’d like any help using these terms, or with any other aspect of your writing, why not submit a free sample document for proofreading?