If you don't know if someone is a Mrs or a Miss, can you just write Ms?

Question

In correspondence etc.

Answer 1

yes it should be okay - they would probably tell you when they write back (if applicable)

Answer 2

Yes, that is the protocol since they came up with the Ms thing.

Answer 3

If she is over 25 then Miss is kind of inappropriate anyway since it's for younger women. I would use Ms. Most married women use Ms. in business too.

Answer 4

Yes. Don't listen to K; it is offensive to make assumptions about people's marital status, which is what s/he is advising you to do.

Answer 5

if you know the womans first name.. then don't write either of the above.. then address the letter.. let's assume her name is Susan Brown.. then you write... Dear Susan Brown...

and you sign with .. yours sincerley as you know her name..

yours faitfully only if you write to someone a company and you don't send it to anyone in particular.. but if you know the womans first name.. write to her as i said and not Ms or Mrs...

otherwise if you don't know, write Ms if you don't know her first name... xx

Answer 6

Yes

Answer 7

dear jane doe............

Answer 8

NO - it is VERY VERY VERY offensive.

Use Miss.

Answer 9

Yes.  I think that was Gloria Steinem's one contribution to culture, the indeterminate, relationship-neutral form of address if one doesn't know her marital status.  As nauseating as I find most radical feminism, I have to agree that it is silly to tag women as either married or unmarried.  It is none of our business.    In a similar way I have been married but I have never worn a wedding ring.   Like whose business is it anyway?   Be glad you are male and don't have this kind of problem.

Answer 10

Yes, it is a perfectly acceptable compromise.

Answer 11

yeah-i think that's what you write when you aren't sure lol

Answer 12

Yes. Ms is used in official correspondences too, so it's the safest.

Answer 13

That is absolutely the proper way to do it.

Answer 14

Good question!

Personally if i don't know if a woman is a Miss or Mrs i will write either Ms or i will write 'to whom it concerns' which i think is very polite anyway.

But there is a standing joke with the Ms title, because basically lesbians use it, so you may insult. Or better yet could you not do some research/detective work and find out if the lady you're writing to is either a Miss, Mrs or Ms...

Answer 15

yes you can write Ms- some women dont wanna reveal if they are married or not so they generally anyways use Ms