What is a Ms. and is it a legal term?

Question

I'm sick of referring to myself as a miss, I'm a grown woman and I am an engaged to a man. Does that qualify me to use the term Ms.? I asked my Mum and she says its just for divorced women but didn't seem to think it was legal... Do I have to changed it by Deed Poll or can I just start using it?? In a few years time I will be a Dr. so I don't want to go to too much effort.

Answer 1

Legally Ms refers to an unmarried female person. As a matter of social etiquette or custom, Ms has also been used often preferentially by women who want a more independent identity from their husbands.  

Answer 2

No legal standing - it's just for women who don't want to reveal their marital status.  Nothing special needed to use it.

Answer 3

These are prefixes associated with etiquette, they have no legal bearing. You do not have to use any of them. I don't. I use my first name or first and last name.

Miss --> unmarried

Mrs. ---> married

Ms. ---> widowed, divorced

Answer 4

ur the opposite of me, i hate the term MS...i could care less whether im called Miss....im not married, but previously was...id rather just be called by my first name...but anyway..Ms came around back i believe in the 70s when women felt it wasnt fair to be addressed by Miss, indicating they were not married..so like Mr. its a title females can use and your marital status remains unknown....

Answer 5

yikes I know it is late, but is this a flashback to 1974?