Pet hate - being asked for a title

System

I'm waiting for the forum user who threw her Christmas cards onto the fire one year, and another year threatened to send them all back, because people addressed her as Mrs.. (and then her husbands name)!

A one-size-fits-all title for women may solve a lot of problems.

Mojisola

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

It's simply an indicator that you are married, nothing more nothing less.

It doesn't mean you're a less of a person, less fan independently minded person....if it would make you feel like that, then that is your own insecurities shining through. Most people don't look that deeply into it tbh.

So why don't we have two terms of address for men - one for single men and one for married ones?

I think it's because we don't need to know if a man is married or not so why should we need to know that information about a woman?

System

Mojisola wrote: »

So why don't we have two terms of address for men - one for single men and one for married ones?

I think it's because we don't need to know if a man is married or not so why should we need to know that information about a woman?

I believe the splitting of Miss and Mrs according to marital status occurred way back in the 17th century. Most countries have let the former title fall into disuse and now address all adult females as Mrs, but for some reason this hasn't happened here.

I avoid using titles unless the addressee has indicated a preference. When I email a company for example, and I have a contact name, I will simply write Dear Jane Smith/John Smith. The same when addressing envelopes.

Mojisola

avogadro wrote: »

I believe the splitting of Miss and Mrs according to marital status occurred way back in the 17th century. Most countries have let the former title fall into disuse and now address all adult females as Mrs, but for some reason this hasn't happened here.

Very strange, isn't it?

pigpen

missbiggles1 wrote: »

And you still have the problem of how to address people in writing.

initial followed by surname.. or first name followed by surname..

Why is that so difficult to comprehend?

Joe Bloggs.. you've not paid your gas bill

J Higginbottom, Please contact us at your earliest convenience regarding...

For my next trick I shall build a rocket!

'earned' titles such as Dr, they can simply add the letters after their name if they so wish.. and still have no title..

Kim_kim

Dill wrote: »

It would be great if there was just one title for women, as there is for men. I'm just not convinced we've all agreed yet on what it should be :rotfl:

Ms sounds strange and has feminist connotations which not every woman wants to be associated with, Miss sounds a bit quaint and old-fashioned and Mrs is generally only used if you're married.

We could take a leaf out of the Quakers book and dispose of titles altogether. However people who have "earned" a title (Doctor, Professor, Sir..) may take issue with that!

Actually I think MS is perfect, it's 2 letters & the feminine equivalent of MR.

missbiggles1

avogadro wrote: »

I believe the splitting of Miss and Mrs according to marital status occurred way back in the 17th century. Most countries have let the former title fall into disuse and now address all adult females as Mrs, but for some reason this hasn't happened here.

I avoid using titles unless the addressee has indicated a preference. When I email a company for example, and I have a contact name, I will simply write Dear Jane Smith/John Smith. The same when addressing envelopes.

Emails are more informal but you certainly wouldn't write that in a business letter or address an envelope that way because it's totally incorrect.

missbiggles1

pigpen wrote: »

initial followed by surname.. or first name followed by surname..

Why is that so difficult to comprehend?

Joe Bloggs.. you've not paid your gas bill

J Higginbottom, Please contact us at your earliest convenience regarding...

For my next trick I shall build a rocket!

'earned' titles such as Dr, they can simply add the letters after their name if they so wish.. and still have no title..

Just as well you're not employed in a business environment then, isn't it.:rotfl:

missbiggles1

Mojisola wrote: »

Very strange, isn't it?

It isn't really strange because in English we have the term Ms which isn't an equivalent option in any European language I'm familiar with.

pigpen

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Just as well you're not employed in a business environment then, isn't it.:rotfl:

none of my customers have ever complained.