Mrs. vs. Ms.: The Marvelous Mystery of Titles!

Understanding Mrs. and Ms.

In English, we use special words to call or write to women. Two common ones are Mrs. and Ms.. These words have their own history and use. Let’s learn more about them!

History of Mrs. and Ms.

Mrs. is a short form of “Mistress” and has been used for a long time. It is used for married women. It means she is someone’s wife.

Ms. is a newer word. It started in the 20th century. “Ms.” does not tell if a woman is married or not. It is used for women whether they are married or single.

How to Use Mrs. and Ms.

We use Mrs. when we know a woman is married. Here are some examples:

• Mrs. Smith is my teacher.
• We went to Mrs. Brown’s house.
• Mrs. Lee is cooking dinner.
• I saw Mrs. Johnson at the store.
• Mrs. Carter is very nice.

We use Ms. when we do not know if a woman is married, or we do not want to say. Here are some examples:

• Ms. Anderson is the new principal.
• Can I talk to Ms. White, please?
• Ms. Torres is a doctor.
• Ms. Martin gave us homework.
• I think Ms. King is a great artist.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Remember: Mrs. is for married women. If you know she has a husband, use “Mrs.”. Ms. is for all women, married or not. Use “Ms.” if you are not sure or want to be polite.

Summary

Mrs. is used for: married women.

Ms. is used for: any woman, married or not.

By using these words the right way, you show respect and good manners. Now you know how to use Mrs. and Ms. properly!