[solved] Mrs or Ms, sorry if it is a Leslie
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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.
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
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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.
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Thank you very much. Does it means Mrs could have been offence?
It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question
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!
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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
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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,
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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
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.
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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
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
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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
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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
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
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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:
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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.
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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
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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
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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
-
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
Mz
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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
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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
-
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
Simple solutions are: Just use their first name Dr/Prof (overstating their qualifications/flattery never does any harm!) Lady/Highness - good for grovelling/being sarcastic However we really need a modern, polite term to address a person of any gender/martial status with or without a name. Bit like the old 'Dear Sir' Perhaps Dear Hum (as in Human) Dear Sap (as in Homo Sapiens and has the benefit of annoying any Neanderthals still around) or my favourite Dear XYX - covers nearly everyone
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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
You seem to have left out Miss. Also, for a while they were working with Mx., which would also encompass Mr. so it wouldn't be gender specific.* How ironic that, in current times, it's now become quite the converse - people insisting upon gender titles - even if it's one they change on a daily basis, or as the mood strikes them.
Oh Brave New World !
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
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Like I said, it depends on who this person is, and your relationship to her. But I think you should be safe with "Ms".
Richard MacCutchan wrote:
But I think you should be safe with "Ms".
This is correct, as I was taught in far too many English Composition courses over the eons. Alternatively, you can skip the salutation entirely and instead simply state her full name, e.g. "Dear Susan Jones." These days you'll find more and more official correspondence (bills, etc.) use this approach.
