Salutation to use when addressing a female in cover letter

Question

What salutation do I use when a job posting states the employer's first and last name? The contact person's name is a female, but would I use "Miss" or "Ms" when I address my cover letter to her? Which is the standard one to use, even if she may or may not be married? since "Mrs" is for when the female is married.

Answer 1

I agree with the above poster, in Ireland most of us have stopped using Mr, Ms and Mrs as it was too formal and just address the letter to the person named.  The only time we would use this would be to our doctor and put the letters Dr before his or her name.  The one I have a problem with is referring to a complete stranger as Dear... at the start of a letter.  It just sounds strange referring to someone you don't know or maybe have never met calling them dear.

Answer 2

Use Ms. because it implies a more businesslike and grown up state for the unmarried woman.

Answer 3

Ms. It can apply to unmarried or married. Don't be overly personal in righting to someone you don't know.

Answer 4

You can also just address her as she posted her name. The salutation, in this case is not necessary, it's not wrong; just don't have to use it.

Answer 5

Can't go wrong with "Ms"

Answer 6

"Ms" is the correct form nowadays.  

Answer 7

Ms. is best because it can go either way, where Mrs. implies married and Miss implies unmarried.

Answer 8

Ms.

Answer 9

Always use Ms. when you are unsure.  Mrs. denotes married.  Miss is for someone younger than 18.

Answer 10

The previous answerers are correct.  It is Ms.  

Miss is not only used when addressing a female who is not only not married, but too young to BE married.  So, in most countries, it only applies to females who are under 18.

Mrs. will only apply when you know for a fact she is married.  Thus, we do not use this one often in business.

Ms. applied to both adult women AND married women, so this is always the default salutation.  

Men have it so easy.  They're always just a Mr.  Dang it.  

Answer 11

I believe you would use either of these 2.  I'll use Jane Smith for example:

"Dear Ms. Smith,"

- it's best to use "Ms." in all situations, unless of course you know it's a guy

or

"To Whom It May Concern:"

- the best choice if you don't know who to address

(exclude the quotation marks)