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Sync Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

Proper Usage...

0Hi, 02br
02br
00I am writing a letter to a certain person, a female.02br
02br
00I was going to use "to whom it may concern", but I have been advised to actually address the letter to the recipient - let's just say her name is 01i00Shirley Jones.02i02br
02br
00Now, my question is this: if I am unsure if Shirley is married, do I use Miss., Mrs., or Ms.?02br
02br
00Which one is most appropriate?0-
  

Top answer

0Hi Sync,02br 02br 00Welcome to the forums. " if you don't know, and I would use it anyway for a business letter. )02br 02br 00There are several threads that address this - here is just one.

— BarbaraPA

  • 0Hi Sync,02br 02br 00Welcome to the forums.
  • " if you don't know, and I would use it anyway for a business letter.
  • )02br 02br 00There are several threads that address this - here is just one.
  • [00Post]26946[/post]0-
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17 Answers
0
0Hi Sync,02br
02br
00Welcome to the forums. 02br
02br
00The short answer is to use "Ms." if you don't know, and I would use it anyway for a business letter. (Never use "to whom it may concern" if you know the person's name.)02br
02br
00There are several threads that address this - here is just one. [00Post]26946[/post]0-
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Sync12cite12br
10Hi, 12br
12br
10I am writing a letter to a certain person, a female.12br
12br
10I was going to use "to whom it may concern", but I have been advised to actually address the letter to the recipient - let's just say her name is 11i10Shirley Jones.12i
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0
0 What's about Madam?0-
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0
0Thank you both for your timely responses!02br
02br
050010id2
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Spinnaker12cite10What's about Madam?12br
12blockquote
10Well, if I was unsure of the persons ***, I could use "Dear Sir or Madam".02br
02br
00But since I know her name, it would be inappropriate, I think, to address her as "Madam Shirley"!02br
02br
050010id3
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0Most assuredly not! "Madam" has (in the U.S.) become associated with running a house of prostitution. You should be very careful how it's used.0-
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Grammar Geek12cite10Most assuredly not! "Madam" has (in the U.S.) become associated with running a house of prostitution. You should be very careful how it's used.12br
10Really? I didn't know that and just learned this sentence.12br
12br
12blockquote
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0
0 01blockquote
01cite10Spinnaker12cite11blockquote
11cite20Grammar Geek22cite22br
20Most assuredly not! "Madam" has (in the U.S.) become associated with running a house of prostitution. You should be very careful how it's used.22br
22br
20Really? I didn't know that and just learned thi
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0 I know it exactly from there!0-
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Grammar Geek12cite10Most assuredly not! 11font10"Madam" has (in the U.S.) become associated with running a house of prostitution.12font10 You should be very careful how it's used.12br
10Aaaahhh, very interesting... is that the reason why you say "Excuse me ma'am" and not "E
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