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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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  • 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

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      • 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
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        • 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
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          • 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
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            • 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
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              • 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
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                • 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

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                  • 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
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                            • 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
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                                • 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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                                  • 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

                                    B Offline
                                    B Offline
                                    Bob1000
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #35

                                    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

                                    L 1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • 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

                                      W Offline
                                      W Offline
                                      W Balboos GHB
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #36

                                      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 !

                                      Ravings en masse^

                                      "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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                                      • L Lost User

                                        Like I said, it depends on who this person is, and your relationship to her. But I think you should be safe with "Ms".

                                        J Offline
                                        J Offline
                                        jonmbutler
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #37

                                        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.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
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                                        • 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

                                          P Offline
                                          P Offline
                                          Peter Shaw
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #38

                                          Your asking this question in the Lounge.... There is about a 0.00000001% chance that your going to get anything anywhere near serious (And Iv'e probably just skewed those odds with this reply) Your not going to get a serious answer in here, not because of any offensiveness, but simply because it's the lounge. Think of this place like the "School Playground of Code Project", what happens here, stays here, and answering serious questions is not a concept easily understood. EDIT [DANG] - I retract my words.... I didn't notice there was a second page!!! :-O I'm impressed, go "The Lounge"!!!

                                          L S 2 Replies Last reply
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