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  3. [solved] Mrs or Ms, sorry if it is a Leslie

[solved] Mrs or Ms, sorry if it is a Leslie

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  • L Lost User

    I think most people are happy if you start with a formal address, even if it is not their preferred choice. I guess you have the same issue in German with Frau and Fraulein (apologies for the missing umlaut(s)).

    L Offline
    L Offline
    Lost User
    wrote on last edited by
    #15

    In German I'm safe (more or less), it will be always "Frau", independed of her status (married or not, what else). "Fräulein" (usually used in past for not married woman) disapeared since at least two decades and is now not very welcome by the young ladies (Fräuleins ;P ) BTW: You are a great help to get me more familar with english

    It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question

    L 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • L Lost User

      In German I'm safe (more or less), it will be always "Frau", independed of her status (married or not, what else). "Fräulein" (usually used in past for not married woman) disapeared since at least two decades and is now not very welcome by the young ladies (Fräuleins ;P ) BTW: You are a great help to get me more familar with english

      It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question

      L Offline
      L Offline
      Lost User
      wrote on last edited by
      #16

      0x01AA wrote:

      You are a great help to get me more familar with english

      Thank you. I just wish I could speak as much German (or Spanish or Greek) as you speak English.

      L 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • L Lost User

        How should I address a woman in a business letter / mail: Mrs or Ms? [Edit] And of course in Business relation, I don't know whether she is married or not (and what other light or dark things she is doing) [Edit] [Edit1] This is no joke question! [Edit1] Btw. For this, Wiki is something too much theoretical. I like to have pragmatic solution from real people here :-D

        It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question

        OriginalGriffO Offline
        OriginalGriffO Offline
        OriginalGriff
        wrote on last edited by
        #17

        It's a little complicated, but... If you don't know and she hasn't told you, then I'd start with Ms unless she comments, or says "call me Sue". It's a "marital status neutral" term like Mr, so it's less likely to give any offence.

        Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay... AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

        "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
        "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

        L 1 Reply Last reply
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        • L Lost User

          0x01AA wrote:

          You are a great help to get me more familar with english

          Thank you. I just wish I could speak as much German (or Spanish or Greek) as you speak English.

          L Offline
          L Offline
          Lost User
          wrote on last edited by
          #18

          I always cross compare my words with Google translate :-O Shows, that I'm cheating ;) Also the other languages we speak here, I'm not really great on them. Italian more or less Zero. Even my wife is Italien, misunderstanding (miss understandig) pre programmed :laugh: French I had to learn in School, I Praxis it then and when with our customers, but I don't like really to hear me speaking French (Pronunciation I think ok, but my vocabulary is limes zero) I have no bigger Problems with german/french/Italien... the later two I'm weak. But English!!! it is a big Problem for me. I'm following CCC daily but I never had any clue how to solve it :(

          It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question

          J 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

            It's a little complicated, but... If you don't know and she hasn't told you, then I'd start with Ms unless she comments, or says "call me Sue". It's a "marital status neutral" term like Mr, so it's less likely to give any offence.

            Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay... AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

            L Offline
            L Offline
            Lost User
            wrote on last edited by
            #19

            Thank you very much. Does it means Mrs could have been offence?

            It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question

            OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • L Lost User

              Thank you very much. Does it means Mrs could have been offence?

              It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question

              OriginalGriffO Offline
              OriginalGriffO Offline
              OriginalGriff
              wrote on last edited by
              #20

              Probably not - but it's similar to the Frau / Fraulein in German: some ladies object to assumptions of marital status so it's "safer" to use neutral terms. German went all "Frau", English moved more away from "Mrs" to the new "more feminist" "Ms".

              Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay... AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

              "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
              "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

              D 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • L Lost User

                How should I address a woman in a business letter / mail: Mrs or Ms? [Edit] And of course in Business relation, I don't know whether she is married or not (and what other light or dark things she is doing) [Edit] [Edit1] This is no joke question! [Edit1] Btw. For this, Wiki is something too much theoretical. I like to have pragmatic solution from real people here :-D

                It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question

                J Offline
                J Offline
                jschell
                wrote on last edited by
                #21

                0x01AA wrote:

                How should I address a woman in a business letter / mail:

                Jane Doe,
                It has come to our attention that you want to buy the
                Acme Manufacturing Plant and we would be happy to
                discuss terms.

                Sincerely,

                L 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • J jschell

                  0x01AA wrote:

                  How should I address a woman in a business letter / mail:

                  Jane Doe,
                  It has come to our attention that you want to buy the
                  Acme Manufacturing Plant and we would be happy to
                  discuss terms.

                  Sincerely,

                  L Offline
                  L Offline
                  Lost User
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #22

                  A good solution. But name somebody by his/her Name even it is pre/sur is very personal... at least in german speaking europe; I'm aware, we are too conservative :-O

                  It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question

                  R 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • L Lost User

                    A good solution. But name somebody by his/her Name even it is pre/sur is very personal... at least in german speaking europe; I'm aware, we are too conservative :-O

                    It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question

                    R Offline
                    R Offline
                    Ron Anders
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #23

                    Hey hey mama, :cool: No, just go with Ms. and you'll generally not come under condemnation. Those who would prefer being called Mrs. will usually tell you politely where those who prefer Ms. might burn your house down for the wrong salutation.

                    L 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • L Lost User

                      How should I address a woman in a business letter / mail: Mrs or Ms? [Edit] And of course in Business relation, I don't know whether she is married or not (and what other light or dark things she is doing) [Edit] [Edit1] This is no joke question! [Edit1] Btw. For this, Wiki is something too much theoretical. I like to have pragmatic solution from real people here :-D

                      It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question

                      K Offline
                      K Offline
                      kmoorevs
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #24

                      Yes, the name Leslie can be a tough one, being an androgynous name, like Pat, or Jordan. If you know the first name, it's best just to address them as such and leave off the last name...unless you live in the Southern US, where it is proper to put a Mr. or Ms. before the first name, usually for older folks. So either Leslie, or Ms. Leslie...unless it's a guy, then it's Leslie, or Mr. Leslie, or just Les, depending on how well you now him...but don't call him Ray! :laugh:

                      "Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse

                      L D 2 Replies Last reply
                      0
                      • L Lost User

                        I always cross compare my words with Google translate :-O Shows, that I'm cheating ;) Also the other languages we speak here, I'm not really great on them. Italian more or less Zero. Even my wife is Italien, misunderstanding (miss understandig) pre programmed :laugh: French I had to learn in School, I Praxis it then and when with our customers, but I don't like really to hear me speaking French (Pronunciation I think ok, but my vocabulary is limes zero) I have no bigger Problems with german/french/Italien... the later two I'm weak. But English!!! it is a big Problem for me. I'm following CCC daily but I never had any clue how to solve it :(

                        It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question

                        J Offline
                        J Offline
                        Jon McKee
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #25

                        0x01AA wrote:

                        But English!!! it is a big Problem for me. I'm following CCC daily but I never had any clue how to solve it :(

                        Don't feel bad. English is my first language and most of the time I can't do the CCC :laugh:

                        L M 2 Replies Last reply
                        0
                        • L Lost User

                          How should I address a woman in a business letter / mail: Mrs or Ms? [Edit] And of course in Business relation, I don't know whether she is married or not (and what other light or dark things she is doing) [Edit] [Edit1] This is no joke question! [Edit1] Btw. For this, Wiki is something too much theoretical. I like to have pragmatic solution from real people here :-D

                          It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question

                          R Offline
                          R Offline
                          Ravi Bhavnani
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #26

                          It's safer to use "Ms." as it's valid for both "Miss" and "Mrs." /ravi

                          My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

                          L K 2 Replies Last reply
                          0
                          • J Jon McKee

                            0x01AA wrote:

                            But English!!! it is a big Problem for me. I'm following CCC daily but I never had any clue how to solve it :(

                            Don't feel bad. English is my first language and most of the time I can't do the CCC :laugh:

                            L Offline
                            L Offline
                            Lost User
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #27

                            Thank you very much for the motivational words :-D

                            It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • R Ron Anders

                              Hey hey mama, :cool: No, just go with Ms. and you'll generally not come under condemnation. Those who would prefer being called Mrs. will usually tell you politely where those who prefer Ms. might burn your house down for the wrong salutation.

                              L Offline
                              L Offline
                              Lost User
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #28

                              Thank you :cool:

                              It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • R Ravi Bhavnani

                                It's safer to use "Ms." as it's valid for both "Miss" and "Mrs." /ravi

                                My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

                                L Offline
                                L Offline
                                Lost User
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #29

                                Thanks a lot

                                It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • K kmoorevs

                                  Yes, the name Leslie can be a tough one, being an androgynous name, like Pat, or Jordan. If you know the first name, it's best just to address them as such and leave off the last name...unless you live in the Southern US, where it is proper to put a Mr. or Ms. before the first name, usually for older folks. So either Leslie, or Ms. Leslie...unless it's a guy, then it's Leslie, or Mr. Leslie, or just Les, depending on how well you now him...but don't call him Ray! :laugh:

                                  "Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse

                                  L Offline
                                  L Offline
                                  Lost User
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #30

                                  Thank you very much for your help :-D

                                  It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • L Lost User

                                    How should I address a woman in a business letter / mail: Mrs or Ms? [Edit] And of course in Business relation, I don't know whether she is married or not (and what other light or dark things she is doing) [Edit] [Edit1] This is no joke question! [Edit1] Btw. For this, Wiki is something too much theoretical. I like to have pragmatic solution from real people here :-D

                                    It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question

                                    H Offline
                                    H Offline
                                    H Brydon
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #31

                                    0x01AA wrote:

                                    How should I address a woman in a business letter / mail: Mrs or Ms?

                                    I'd go with: Dear Sir/Madam:

                                    I'm retired. There's a nap for that... - Harvey

                                    L 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • L Lost User

                                      How should I address a woman in a business letter / mail: Mrs or Ms? [Edit] And of course in Business relation, I don't know whether she is married or not (and what other light or dark things she is doing) [Edit] [Edit1] This is no joke question! [Edit1] Btw. For this, Wiki is something too much theoretical. I like to have pragmatic solution from real people here :-D

                                      It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question

                                      U Offline
                                      U Offline
                                      User 13269747
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #32

                                      Mz

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • R Ravi Bhavnani

                                        It's safer to use "Ms." as it's valid for both "Miss" and "Mrs." /ravi

                                        My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

                                        K Offline
                                        K Offline
                                        kalberts
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #33

                                        That's exactly what we learned in English class at school. Disclaimer: At least officially, we wer taught "British" English. Maybe the use of Ms is different in American English.

                                        R 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • L Lost User

                                          How should I address a woman in a business letter / mail: Mrs or Ms? [Edit] And of course in Business relation, I don't know whether she is married or not (and what other light or dark things she is doing) [Edit] [Edit1] This is no joke question! [Edit1] Btw. For this, Wiki is something too much theoretical. I like to have pragmatic solution from real people here :-D

                                          It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question

                                          R Offline
                                          R Offline
                                          Revon
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #34

                                          You said you'd written to her before, so presumably she has replied to you. How did she sign it? Ms, Mrs or Jane? First contact should be Dear Sir/Madam, or Dear Ms Doe. Subsequent contact use whatever she signs off as.

                                          L 1 Reply Last reply
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