Mrs (or Mrs. (US usage)), is an English title used for women, usually married women, not qualifying for a higher title such as "Lady" or "Dame". The pronunciation varies regionally but is usually (IPA pronunciation: ['mɪsɪz] or ['mɪsɪs]). It is rarely spelt out; when it is, it is usually found as "missus" or "missis", though one variant, in the works of Thomas Hardy and others, is "Mis'ess". The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... A title is a prefix or suffix added to a persons name to signify either veneration, an official position or a professional or academic qualification. ... Diverse women. ... Matrimony redirects here. ... A statue of an armoured knight of the Middle Ages For the chess piece, see knight (chess). ... For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words see here. ... Thomas Hardy Thomas Hardy, OM (2 June 1840 – 11 January 1928) was an English novelist, short story writer, and poet of the naturalist movement, who delineated characters struggling against their passions and circumstances. ...

In the United Kingdom, most Commonwealth countries, and Ireland, a full stop (in the U.S. a "period") does not usually follow the abbreviated form: "I saw Mrs Price at the office talking to Mr Brown." The Commonwealth of Nations (CN), usually known as the Commonwealth, is a voluntary association of 53 independent sovereign states, the majority of which are former colonies of the United Kingdom. ... United States is the current Good Article Collaboration of the week! Please help to improve this article to the highest of standards. ...

Mrs originated as a contraction of the title "Mistress", the feminine of "Mister" or "Master", which was originally applied to both married and unmarried women. The title split into "Mrs" for married women and "Miss" for unmarried women began during the 17th Century. Contraction can mean: Contraction (childbirth), a contraction during childbirth; Contraction (linguistics), a new word formed from two or more individual words; Contraction (science), one that can occur to solid matter as it cools; Contraction mapping, in mathematics, a type of function on a metric space; Muscle contraction, one that occurs... Mistress is an old form of address for a woman. ... Mister or mister can be:- The full spelling (rarely used) of the title Mr. ... Master was once a title used in England for men of fairly high rank, such as gentlemen, priests or scholars. ... Miss is a title typically used for an unmarried woman (not entitled to a higher title). ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ...

Usage

The title may be used with the last name alone, or with the first and last name. Traditionally, the title "Mrs" was used only with the husband's full name: for example, "Mrs Joe Bloggs", for a married woman or widow. In the United Kingdom, the traditional form for a divorcée is "Mrs Jane Bloggs". In the U.S., the form "Mrs. [Maiden Name] Doe" was traditionally used, with the maiden surname in place of the first name, but the form "Mrs. Jane Doe" has since become common as well. The surname Bloggs or the full name Joe Bloggs is a commonly used placeholder name in United Kingdom teaching, programming, and other thinking and writing. ... A widow is a woman whose husband has died. ... Divorce or dissolution of marriage is the ending of a marriage before the death of either spouse. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards and appeal to a wider international audience, this article may require cleanup. ... For the musician and actor, see John Doe (musician) For the television series, see John Doe (Television series) For the childrens book by L. Frank Baum, see John Dough and the Cherub In English-speaking common-law jurisdiction, the name John Doe is used for a defendant or victim...

The plural of "Mrs", rarely used, is the French "Mesdames", pronounced in the same manner and usually written in its abbreviated form, "Mmes". In direct address, a woman with the title "Mrs" will usually be addressed as "Madam", or in the United States as "Ma'am." Madam or maam is a title for a woman. ...

Marital status

The separation of Miss and Mrs became problematic as women entered the workforce following industrialization. Women who became famous or well known in their professional circles before marriage often kept their birth names, stage names or noms de plume. Miss became a default title for celebrities (Miss Helen Hayes, Miss Amelia Earhart) but this also proved problematic, as when a married woman did use her husband’s name but was still referred to as ‘Miss’. See more at Miss and Ms.. Helen Hayes (October 10, 1900 - March 17, 1993) was an American actress whose successful and award-winning career spanned almost 70 years. ... Amelia Earhart (1897-1937?) Amelia Mary Earhart (July 24, 1897 – missing as of July 2, 1937), daughter of Edwin and Amy Earhart, was an American aviator and noted early female pilot who mysteriously disappeared over the Pacific Ocean during a circumnavigational flight in 1937. ... Miss is a title typically used for an unmarried woman (not entitled to a higher title). ... Ms or Ms. ...

'Mrs' is only used with a woman's maiden name in limited circumstances. Before social mores relaxed to the point where single women with children were socially acceptable, the "unwed mother" was often advised by etiquette mavens like Elizabeth Post to use 'Mrs' with her maiden name as a subterfuge to make life easier for herself and her child. The use of 'Mrs' as a default for all women is occasionally employed following the custom of European countries (see below). Etiquette, also known as decorum, is the code that governs the expectations of social behavior, the conventional norm. ...

Since the term Mr does not indicate whether a man is married or not, many feminists believed that a woman's title should not indicate marital status either. For this reason, the title Ms was advocated as an equivalent to Mr, particularly in business usage. A few married women choose to forgo the use of "Mrs", particularly in professional life, even those who choose to take their husband's name. Instead, these women use "Ms" However, "Mrs" remains a popular title. Feminism is a social theory and political movement primarily informed and motivated by the experience of women. ... Ms or Ms. ...

In several other European languages, the title used for married women, such as Madame, Señora, Bean(-uasal), Signora, or Frau, is the direct feminine equivalent of the title used for men; the title for unmarried women is a diminutive: Mademoiselle, Señorita, Maighdeann(-uasal), Signorina or Fräulein. For this reason, usage has shifted towards using the married title as the default for all women in professional usage. This has occasionally been followed in England, for example, royal nannies have been called "Mrs" as a mark of respect. In German, ( ) Fräulein (literally, little woman or little Mrs. ... A nanny is defined as a childs nurse. The traditional nanny was a servant in a large household and reported directly to the lady of the house. ...

Ambrose Bierce once satirically proposed that, as a parallel to Miss, the title of unmarried men should be Mush. Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce (June 24, 1842–1914?) was an American satirist, critic, social commentator, poet, short story writer, editor, and journalist. ...

Modern social use

It is now rather uncommon for women to use their husband's first name, except in compounds such as "Mr and Mrs Joe Bloggs". The form is still used in formal invitations, and when the husband is famous or well-known in business or professional circles (Mrs Avery Fisher) or when a woman is making a particular point ("I am Mrs Norman Maine."). Avery Fisher was an audio specialist who made numerous contributions to the field of sound. ... DVD cover showing stars Janet Gaynor and Fredric March. ...

A current discussion in etiquette is the question of how to address married couples in which the wife does not choose to use her husband's name, or uses a title other than "Mrs", such as "Dr.". Etiquette writer Judith Martin ("Miss Manners") recommends addressing the couple on separate lines: Etiquette, also known as decorum, is the code that governs the expectations of social behavior, the conventional norm. ... President George W. Bush and Laura Bush stand with 2005 National Humanities Medal recipient Judith Martin. ...

Ms Jane Smith

Mr John Smith

Martin has also offered advice for referring to a lesbian couple who have adopted one surname, in the form "Mmes Alice and Carol Roe". Should they retain individual surnames, the separate-lines advice applies as above (ie. "Mmes Alice Roe and Carol Davies"). A lesbian is a female who is exclusively emotionally, sexually, and romantically attracted to other females. ...

In Australia, New Zealand and the UK, the word "missus" is commonly used as a reference to a girlfriend or partner. This is used as slang and not in a formal manner.

The term "M.R.S. degree" has been used derogatorily to denote women attending college to find a husband.^[1]

Foreign equivalents

Foreign equivalents of Mrs are:

• Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian Gospođa, (Serbian Cyrillic Госпођа) (G-đa or Gđa., Г-ђа or Гђа.)
• Czech Paní
• Danish, Norwegian and Swedish Fru (Fr.)
• Dutch Mevrouw (Mevr. or Mw.)
• Estonian Proua (Pr.)
• Finnish Rouva (Rva)
• Hungarian Asszony (limited use; more or less direct address only)
• French Madame (Mme)
• German Frau (Fr.)
• Irish Bean
• Italian Signora (Sig.ra)
• Polish Pani
• Portuguese Senhora (Sra.)
• Romanian Doamna (D-na or Dna.)
• Scots Gaelic Bean(-uasal) (A' Bh(uas).)
• Slovenian Gospa (Ga.)
• Spanish Señora (Sra.), Doña (Dña., Dª)
• Welsh Bonesig

See also

• Madam
• Ms.
• Miss
• Mr.
• Doctor

Madam or maam is a title for a woman. ... Ms or Ms. ... Miss is a title typically used for an unmarried woman (not entitled to a higher title). ... Mr. ...

References

1. ^ PBS American Experience. "People & Events: Mrs. America: Women's Roles in the 1950s", accessed July 16, 2006.