“Ms.” doesn’t show marital status, while “Mrs.” refers to a married woman.
Ms.
Doesn’t reveal marital status. Used for any woman.
Mrs.
Used for a married woman.
Miss
Used for an unmarried woman, often a girl.
History
“Ms.” was proposed in 1901 and popularized in the 1970s.
Use
Ms. is the default in business writing when you don’t know a woman’s preference.
Mr.
Doesn’t indicate marital status for men.
Titles compared
Ms. is a title for women that does not indicate marital status. Mrs. traditionally refers to a married woman. Miss traditionally refers to an unmarried woman or girl. Mr. is used for men regardless of marital status. Ms. is the default in business contexts when a woman’s preference is unknown.
- Mrs. and Miss originate from Mistress, which meant a woman of authority and was shortened over time.
- Ms. was suggested as a neutral title as early as 1901, and spread in the 1960s and 1970s with the women’s movement. Gloria Steinem’s Ms. magazine launched in 1972.
- Mx. is a gender-neutral title used by some people and adopted in the UK for official forms.
Usage
Use the title the person prefers. If unknown, use Ms. or the full name. In formal letters, “Dear Ms. Lastname” is the safe choice. In the US, Mrs. is also used with the husband’s surname or the woman’s own surname by preference. The US government style recommends Ms. unless the person prefers otherwise.
Titles compared
Ms is a title for a woman regardless of marital status. Mrs is traditionally used for a married woman. Miss is for an unmarried woman. Ms became popular in the 1970s.
Usage
Use Ms if you do not know preference. Follow the person’s choice.
Meanings of the titles
Ms. is a title for women that does not indicate marital status, so it is suitable when marital status is unknown or irrelevant. Mrs. is used for a married woman, traditionally with her husband’s surname, and Miss is for an unmarried woman, usually younger. Mr. is used for men in all cases.
Usage guidance
Ms. became popular in the 1970s through the feminist movement, after Gloria Steinem named her magazine Ms. in 1972. Style guides such as the AP recommend Ms. unless the woman has stated a preference. Business writing usually uses Ms. A widow may keep Mrs. Use the title a person says they prefer, and use Dr. or other earned titles where they apply. In the United Kingdom, Mx. is a gender neutral title in official use.
Based on data from Merriam-Webster and the Associated Press Stylebook
