Ms vs. Miss vs. Mrs

I will definitely address his next birthday card that way!

You rock!!!
 

I think you did last time too

Master and Commander.

But really... how many little girls are actually addressed as 'Miss' in normal everyday life?

I hear this said to little girls every single day, the same way I hear 'Ma'am' said to women every single day.  It's considered polite.  Not positive but I believe that could be more of a Southern thing.  I think that's why some people get offended by it...because women are addressed as 'Ma'am' in normal conversation and 'Miss' could be viewed as demeaning to an adult since it is a term used for children.  It's kinda the same thing as walking up to a grown woman and saying "Hey kid."  Like I said, I know it means something different in the UK so it doesn't bother me, but I can understand why some Americans would be peeved about the term.

Chalk me up as another fan of the older forms of address.  I was a Miss until I was married (at 30) and have been Mrs every since.  If I receive invites addressed to Mrs M HusbandLastName, then I'm quite impressed.

Master and Commander.

That is my kid to a T!!!

Chalk me up as another fan of the older forms of address.  I was a Miss until I was married (at 30) and have been Mrs every since.  If I receive invites addressed to Mrs M HusbandLastName, then I'm quite impressed.

I would not have taken you for traditional (in this case)  Don't ask me why

Now that I think about it, most kids seem to refer to their female teachers as Miss.

There are probably as many people seriously bothered by it as there are people who use personal correspondence as an opportunity to air their own personal preferences. I do not care, myself, (although, some selections from Jennie's post sound great,)  but it's hard for me to judge the former cause I KNOW some people who are the latter.

Not surprising to me that some women get seriously worked up about it as long as there are people who will, for example, on purpose address a woman by her married name after being repeatedly asked not to do that, to make some kind of a statement.

*sigh* I wish both groups of people would stand down though. How about on three...?

I honestly never think about this.  It's not exactly like it comes up that much.  The only people to call me Mrs. are the school and the bank tellers.  I don't think anyone else does.  We get Christmas cards from quite a few relatives to Mr. and Mrs. Husbands First Name Last Name.  I'm kind of whatever about it.  And I alway address cards to those people in the same way. I guess I just have bigger things to worry about.

You rock!!!
 

I think you did last time too

I did?? I don't remember that! But yaye me! 

I hear this said to little girls every single day

well, erm... i guess I've no choice but to respect your higher knowledge on this one, as you've probably lived in the US longer than I ever did, but... in my day, little girls were just called by their first name. Not Miss.   Unless someone was sending them a birthday card, or... (to get back on topic) a wedding invitation.

But really... how many little girls are actually addressed as 'Miss' in normal everyday life?

In some parts of the south, girls get called "Miss first name" by anyone who isn't a close friend or family member.  A family from Georgia moved to where I lived and I babysat their kids and I was called "Miss Rebecca" by both kids and their parents.

In some parts of the south, girls get called "Miss first name" by anyone who isn't a close friend or family member.  A family from Georgia moved to where I lived and I babysat their kids and I was called "Miss Rebecca" by both kids and their parents.

Yes, I hated being called, 'Miss Kim' by my friend's kids or kids I was babysitting. I understand that it's a sense of formality, but I hated it. I would have rather been 'Miss LastName'. When I was young I called adults Mrs (or Mr) LastName. That's what I'll teach my kids too. If the adult wants them to call them something different then they can tell them that.

Yes, I hated being called, 'Miss Kim' by my friend's kids or kids I was babysitting. I understand that it's a sense of formality, but I hated it. I would have rather been 'Miss LastName'. When I was young I called adults Mrs (or Mr) LastName. That's what I'll teach my kids too. If the adult wants them to call them something different then they can tell them that.

Me too. Heck, I called Tim's parents Mr & Mrs LastName until they told me otherwise. 

I particularly like 'Madam'. 

... Which always makes me want to pull a Patsy Stone and add "moiselle!"

The whole Ms/Miss/Mrs thing doesn't really matter much to me.  However, even though it's correct etiquette, I want to maim anyone who sends me something as "Mrs. Husband'sFirstName LastName". GAH!

This!  Although it's worse when it's Mrs. MyFirstName HisLastName, I didn't change my name and I always feel like I'm opening someone else's mail.   

... Which always makes me want to pull a Patsy Stone and add "moiselle!"

Maybe that's why I like it so much!