Correct usage of "Mrs."

Question

HiSuppose Sarah's husband's name is Connor and before marriage Sarah's full name was Sarah Fonda.Do you think it's correct to say Mrs. Sarah Connor? I'm asking this because I'm under the impression that you only need to use a surname (which is going to be husband's name) after 'Mrs.' like Mrs. Connor. In my view, Mrs. Sarah Connor is incorrect usage. If you think that I have it wrong then what's the difference, in terms of grammar, politeness and register, between "Mrs. Sarah Connor" and "Mrs. Connor"? Please help me with this. Thank you.RegardsJackson

Philip · Accepted Answer

Protocol for this has changed (many times?) over the years, and I think the standard has evolved "to do what you want to do, because it's your name". I rarely see Mrs. used with the husband's first name any more. In the early 70s, in the States, most of this was resolved by the adoption of the term Ms.

Blue Jay · Answer

In everyday use it would normally be Mrs. (or Ms.) Connor. You might refer to her as Mrs. Sarah Connor to prevent confusion when there is more than one lady named Mrs. Connor you could be talking about. You might also use Mrs. Sarah Connor in certain formal situations.

Jackson6612 · Answer

Thank you, Philip, Blue Jay.

So, saying Mrs. Sarah Connor isn't correct. But suppose there is no chance of confusion and there only one lady, then what would be preferred (and perhaps grammatically more correct) choice between Mrs. Connor and Mrs. Sarah Connor? Kindly let me know. Thanks.

Regards
Jackson

Fivejedjon · Answer

Jackson6612Thank you, Philip, Blue Jay.So, saying Mrs. Sarah Connor isn't correct. But suppose there is no chance of confusion and there only one lady, then what would be preferred (and perhaps grammatically more correct) choice between Mrs. Connor and Mrs. Sarah Connor?

There is no such thing as a 'grammatically correct form. It's a matter of convention, not grammar.

Back in the 1950s, my maiden aunt would have introduced this person as 'Mrs John Connor"; Her sister would have said 'Mrs Connor'. In those days, a divorced wife who kept her former husband's surname was introduced in a different way from a current wife. Nowadays, there is a fairly free choice between 'Ms Connor' (though some still prefer to be 'Mrs Connor') at the formal end, through 'Sarah Connor' to just 'Sarah' at the informal end.

As Philip wrote, 'I think the standard has evolved "to do what you want to do, because it's your name"'

When Heads of State and their entourages meet, there are probably still strict rules about how people are introduced to each other, but these rules do not affect most of us.

KrisBlueNZ · Answer

When a woman named Sarah Fonda marries a man named John Connor, it is common for her to take her husband's name as her "married name", i.e. she would become Sarah Connor, and in that case, she would normally be addressed as Mrs. Sarah Connor, although as fivejedjon says, in the past, and perhaps still in some contexts, she could be addressed as Mrs. John Connor, meaning "The missus of John Connor" I suppose.

There is no requirement that a woman must take her husband's surname when she marries. In the past it was almost universally done that way, but these days many women keep their maiden name when they marry. In that case her name would remain Sarah Fonda. Whether it would be correct to call her Mrs. Sarah Fonda, I don't know.

All just my opinion and based on my experience.

Jackson6612 · Answer

Thank you, fivejedjon, KrisBlue.

Best regards
Jackson

Fivejedjon · Answer

KrisBlueNZmany women keep their maiden name when they marry

Sometimes there are sound reasons for this.

Laura Smith might prefer to keep her original name if she were to marry Mr Nawder. The same might be true if Mary Smith were to marry Mr Christmas

Philip · Answer

Or one of my friends from way back:  Nova married a man named Cane (a dentist - no lie!)

Correct usage of "Mrs."

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