Mrs. and Miss - is there a difference or not?

How to address a stranger in Russia? There is no universal treatment: a girl, a woman, a lady, a young lady - everyone uses these and other options in accordance with their own taste. For foreigners, things are somewhat better with this: Frozen and Frou in Sweden, Frolain and Frau in Germany, Senhorita and Senora in Spain, Mademoiselle and Madame in France, Miss and Mrs. in English-speaking countries - England, USA, Australia, Canada and a number of other . It seems that there is not much difference between these words. And nevertheless, there are nuances that are not known to everyone.

It would seem, why should we separate Mrs. and Miss so strictly? The difference in the two letters, and the questions arise mass. What is the best way to contact an unfamiliar lady? There is a large number of doubts, if it concerns not personal communication, but business correspondence.

The difference between miss and misses is that the first treatment applies to unfamiliar young and unmarried women, while the second applies only to married and widowed women. "Mrs." can be called a lady of an older age, if there is no certainty of her marital status.

When the surname is added to the appeal, you need to carefully choose between "Mrs." and "Miss." The difference is still the same - marital status. However, in this case, ladies are slightly more inclined to take offense, if an unmarried woman says "Mrs." Therefore, in any doubt, it is better to still use the "girlish" option. In extreme cases, you can apologize and do some nice compliment.

As for business correspondence, here the matter has long been easier, because more and more of the use is a neutral version of "Ms", which does not focus on the marital status of the interlocutor. While in some The cases, which will be discussed a little later, also use "Miss" and "Mrs." in official letters. There is a difference here, although in general the neutral "Ms." Or "Ms" - the presence or absence of a point depends on whether there is correspondence with a European or an American.

Nevertheless, in some cases, in a business letter, the marital status can and should be emphasized. This is done, for example, in formal invitations to events when they are intended Whole family. Then there is a transfer: Mr, Mrs and Miss, if it is a question of a man, his wife and daughter. Obviously, in such cases, the use of neutral treatment is absolutely inappropriate, it will be more organic to look exactly "Mrs." and "Miss." The difference between this and other cases is that here the emphasis on the relationship and marital status of the ladies is absolutely natural.

But, perhaps, in the future and in these cases, something neutral will be used, because in Europe the feminist moods are raging. Women are not inclined to advertise their marital status, so they consider the use of separate appeals to married and unmarried women sexism. Last year in France it was already forbidden to use the official documents "mademoiselle", which was replaced by "madam".

So, in the appeals of "Mrs." and "Miss" the difference is still quite large. And it's not in a family situation, but, rather, in relation to him around. In the future, perhaps, all the same there will be something one not only in business correspondence, but also in personal communication, but for now it remains to puzzle over what word is still better to use.