USE OF THE TITLES: MS, MRS. & MISS

USE OF THE TITLES: MS, MRS. & MISS 

 

Ms. or Ms

          The abbreviation Ms or Ms. (as a title) has evoked different opinions and arguments among people in different circles.  Some people say that Ms is a title for a divorced woman; some feel that it is a title for a woman who has children but not married; another group feel that it is used only with an ex husband’s name and others opine that it is a title used only with a woman’s maiden name.  Surprisingly, however, none of the above four opinions on the usage of Ms.is correct.

Origin of Ms. or Ms:

The idea of using Ms. or Ms as a stop-gap between Miss and Mrs. was conceived by some women back in 1901, but it was in 1961 that one Sheila Michaels, a civil rights worker in New York City, brought the title to the limelight (as a feminist who wanted women to be addressed with a title free of marital status, just as the title Mr. is to men). 

Following this movement and advocacy, a feminist magazine named Ms was established by the Feminist Majority Foundation in the United States of America, in 1971, to give further boost to the use of the title and supposed dignity to women. 

Finally, the United States Government Printing Office approved of Ms. as a

title to be used for official documents in 1972.

          Having traced how the title of Ms. originated, let us now go further to

discuss the correct ways to use it in our time.

Correct Usage of Ms. or Ms

          Ms. or Ms could be used to address any woman whose marital status is not known to us.  In fact, with the use of Ms. or Ms, one does not need to guess whether a woman being addressed is Mrs. or Miss, married or single.  It is a title that could be used for all kinds of women in the following context:

1.     For every kind of woman whose marital status is unknown.

2.     For every kind of woman whether married, single, divorced or separated.

3.     For every woman who does not insist on title of marital status.

4.     It could be used with a woman’s maiden name.

5.     It could be used with a woman’s matrimonial name

6.     It is used to address some women in political circles (as preferred title).

7.     Also used to address some women in business circles (as preferred title).

Note:   It is more fashionable these days, for enlightened women who have professional or traditional titles like Barrister, Engineer, Professor, Doctor, Honourable, Ambassador, Chief, etc, to state such titles first, before adding their marital titles in bracket (if desired).  With this trend, most unmarried or single women of such high classnow prefer to use their professional or traditional titles without indicating any marital status in bracket. 

Mrs. (as abbreviation of Missis or Missus)

          Mrs. is clearly a title used to address only married women.   Unlike Ms. which is general, the title Mrs. is never used to address an unmarried woman.  Even if a woman’s husband dies, she could continue to use the title. 

The title of Mrs.could be used with a married woman’s surname (matrimonial name) only, or with the woman’s full name or with the husband’s full name.  For example, Josephine Umuto as the wife of Mr. Emmanuel Umukoro could be addressed as follows:      

1        Mrs. Umukoro.

2.       Mrs. Josephine Umuto Umukoro.

3.       Mrs. Emmanuel Umukoro.

Miss

          Miss is not an abbreviation, but a title used to address unmarried or single

women and girls.

The title Miss could be used with an unmarried woman’s full name or with

the surname (father’s name) only.    For example, Mary Oke, the daughter of Mr.

Erhuvwu Edewor, could be addressed as:

1.     Miss Mary Oke Edewor.

2.     Miss Edewor.

Besides being used as the title of unmarried or single women, Miss is also used in

the following context:

(i)   As title of a beauty queen in a particular land or area e.g. Miss Nigeria.

(ii)  As an address for female teachers in some countries (including our

Nigeria).