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Osee Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary

Address mother-in-law by Mom in person or in letter

I am wondering, in Canada or USA, how will you guys address your mother-in-laws in person or in letter? Thanks.
  

Top answer

Depends on the relationship. If it is a good relationship it will generally be on a first name basis. If the relationship is cold, the mother-in-law will generally call the man by first name and he will reply with Ms.

— Cwtch

  • Depends on the relationship.
  • If it is a good relationship it will generally be on a first name basis.
  • If the relationship is cold, the mother-in-law will generally call the man by first name and he will reply with Ms.
  • Smith or Mrs.
  • Smith.
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10 Answers
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Depends on the relationship. If it is a good relationship it will generally be on a first name basis. If the relationship is cold, the mother-in-law will generally call the man by first name and he will reply with Ms. Smith or Mrs. Smith. ( Of course, only if her last name is Smith).

I've had 2 mother-in-laws. The present one is a good relationship and I call her by her first name.
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Hi Cwtch, welcome to these forums. And thank you for your useful comment. BTW, by any chance, do people here (Canada, USA, or British) address their mother-in-laws by Mom?
cwtchDepends on the relationship. If it is a good relationship it will generally be on a first name basis. If the relationship is cold, the mother-in-law will generally call the man by first nam
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Yes, if they have a very good relationship.

And thank you for the welcome. I'm having fun.
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Hi,

Coming from a British background, I said 'Mum'.

Clive
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I've had more than my share of mothers-in-law, due to my ex-husband's interesting situation. Two have been called by their first name (including the current husband's mother) and one was "Mom." Now that I'm no longer married to her son, I do tend to call her by her first name, but I have no trouble referring to her as "Mom" when speaking to other ex-family members. However, it took me a while to
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It depends on the family and how people prefer it. If someone were being very formal - Mrs X - it's fair to assume the relationship is a rather unfriendly one. Mom/mum would show a close relationship. First name is most common in the UK and you can't judge how good/bad the relationship is. They might not like each other, or they might be very close, or anything in between.
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Ha, I saw something common in different cultures. In China, even after the divorce, a lot of people still call their parent-in-laws by mom or dad.
Grammar GeekI've had more than my share of mothers-in-law, due to my ex-husband's interesting situation. Two have been called by their first name (including the current husband's mother) and one was "Mom." Now that I'm no longer
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Coming from a Non-native English speeker's background, I see no difference between mom and mum.
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I call my mother-in-law "Mom," but even after all these years neither of us is completely comfortable with it. She announces herself on the phone as "Mom D." (the initial of her surname). My husband, on the other hand, calls my mother by her first name.
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Things are very different in China. Basically, we always address parent-in-laws by mom or dad. This addressing can not tell you the relationship being good or bad. Mrs X and first name has no place in China.
nona the britIt depends on the family and how people prefer it. If someone were being very formal - Mrs X - it's fair to assume the relationship is a rather unfriendly
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