The distinctions between Miss, Ms, and Mrs have deep historical roots and modern implications. While men uniformly use Mr regardless of marital status, women's titles often change based on whether they are married. Miss traditionally denotes an unmarried woman, Mrs a married one, and Ms serves as a neutral alternative that does not indicate marital status.
What Is the Difference Between Miss and Ms?
Miss is conventionally used for unmarried women, while Ms can be used by any woman regardless of marital status. The traditional titles Miss and Mrs have been criticized as sexist because they define a woman by her relationship to a man. Ms avoids this by not revealing marital status, though some critics argue it lacks meaning.
Historian Dr Amy Erickson has challenged this criticism, noting that Ms has a historical pedigree as an abbreviation for Mistress in the 17th and 18th centuries. She stated: "It's curious that the use of Ms is often criticised today as not 'standing for' anything. In fact, it has an impeccable historical pedigree since it was one of several abbreviations for Mistress in the 17th and 18th centuries."
Origins of the Titles
Mrs, Miss, and Ms all derive from the word 'Mistress', while Mr comes from 'Master'. However, these titles did not always indicate marital status. Until the mid-18th century, Miss was used only for girls, and adult women were typically called Mrs regardless of marital status.
Dr Erickson explains: "Until the 19th century, most women did not have any prefix before their name. Mrs and, later, Miss were both restricted to those of higher social standing. Women on the bottom rungs of the social scale were addressed simply by their names." For example, a housekeeper might be Mrs Green, while a scullery maid was just Molly, and a laundry woman was referred to as Tom Black's wife or Betty Black.
Why Some Women Choose Ms
In 2017, the BBC interviewed women who prefer Ms. Helen Hall, 51, from Scarborough, said: "I started to use Ms for two reasons. Beyond the age of 25, Miss feels rather undignified. Also, I began to resent having to reveal my marital status." She added: "When organisations see me listed as Ms, they always call me Mrs Hall. I don't correct them, as I don't want to make a big deal of it."
Jennie Jonasson, 51, from Montreal, Canada, shared: "I go by Ms. When my husband and I received an invoice addressed to Mr and Mrs, I sent it back with the Mr and Mrs scratched out and wrote: 'Mr [husband's surname] and Ms Jonasson'. Mrs and Miss to me are dinosaur terms that belong in the Downton Abbey era!"
Modern Usage and Personal Preference
Today, the choice between Miss, Ms, and Mrs is often a matter of personal preference. Ms is widely used in professional and formal contexts to avoid specifying marital status. While less common than Miss or Mrs, it remains a valid and increasingly accepted option. Understanding the history and implications of these titles can help individuals make informed choices about how they wish to be addressed.
