Privacy

[shatri]

Someone told me that in formal letters, we can't use "Miss" or "Mrs"anymore, because it would be a violation of the privacy. Is it true? Should we always write "Ms" ? Could you give me some more information about this?
Thanks
Shatri

[Anglika]

Welcome to the forums.

Some people really do have some weird ideas! Pay no attention to this kind of silly statement.

There is absolutely nothing wrong in using the correct title, if you want.

[riverkid]

I don't think that such considerations are silly, Anglika. Some women resent being categorized either as unmarried or married, as if they derive their identities from having caught a man.

If a woman wants to stick with Mrs or Miss that's fine too. I'm sure that they will inform you. Ms is simply a neutral term and as such it works well.

[buggles]

I don't think that such considerations are silly, Anglika. Some women resent being categorized either as unmarried or married, as if they derive their identities from having caught a man.

If a woman wants to stick with Mrs or Miss that's fine too. I'm sure that they will inform you. Ms is simply a neutral term and as such it works well.

As general rule, it's perfectly acceptable to use Miss or Mrs. if you know that the lady in question is either of those two. However, if you don't know anything about the lady to whom you're writing then using Ms makes sure you don't offend her.

Buggles (Not a teacher)

[mykwyner]

I agree with Riverkid. The first rule of formal writing to strangers is: Do not risk offending them! If there is a one in one hundred chance that your reader will be offended by a term, don't use it. Stick with the neutral "Ms."

[shatri]

Are you sure that a new Law on privacy which obliges to use "Ms"doesn't exist? So it was simply an invention of my always "Better-informed"colleague! Next week I'll see her again...
Good night
Shatri

[Anglika]

I never said that you should not consider the feelings of the person being addressed.

What I said was that there is no law of privacy requiring the use only of "Ms" when addressing a letter to a woman. The very idea is completely ludicrous.

[riverkid]

I never said that you should not consider the feelings of the person being addressed.

What I said was that there is no law of privacy requiring the use only of "Ms" when addressing a letter to a woman. The very idea is completely ludicrous.

I don't think that there was any issue regarding a law of privacy, Anglika. Perhaps this is a pond divide thing. BrE seems go more for the titles whereas in NA, they're not such a big deal.

[Anglika]

Addressing anyone at all is an invasion of privacy on that basis.