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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

    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

    S Offline
    S Offline
    Slow Eddie
    wrote on last edited by
    #40

    If you are replying to an email/letter use the name the person signed off on the email to you. If it is Mrs. Jane Doe then use that. If it is Ms. Jane Doe then use that. If it is Jane Doe then use that. BTW you worry far too much. As long as you don't open with "Hey Bitch!" you are probably OK. :laugh:

    "Newer" is NOT automatically better, only Different. (And more complex and bug ridden when it comes to all of the "boutique" languages / frameworks out there)

    L 1 Reply Last reply
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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:

      M Offline
      M Offline
      Member 12415033
      wrote on last edited by
      #41

      I am a native English speaker. I also speak fluent Spanish and OK French. I'm trying to start Nepali, since my son-in-law is from Nepal. I studied Russian for a year, but don't speak it. English is a horrible language. There are so many exceptions and the way it is spelled will drive a Zen master insane. Change of subject. I speak fluent Spanish, but I can't imagine taking a university course in Spanish. I greatly admire any non native English speaker taking English College courses. They are amazing.

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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
        Kirk 10389821
        wrote on last edited by
        #42

        Dear AppropriateGenderPronoun, Dear Ms. X, or, just drop it: Dear Jane, or, title it: Dear CEO Jane xxx, but NEVER EVER: Dear Leader, that is exclusively reserved for NK...

        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

          S Offline
          S Offline
          StatementTerminator
          wrote on last edited by
          #43

          Serious boring answer: always use "Ms" in business communication, even for a woman you know is married. Marital status is irrelevant in business so it's best to not even make the distinction.

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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
            Bruce Patin
            wrote on last edited by
            #44

            I simply stopped using any form of salutation, especially because official ranks were involved, and those often changed. If I had to for a known female, however, I would use Ms.

            L 1 Reply Last reply
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            • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

              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!

              D Offline
              D Offline
              David Days
              wrote on last edited by
              #45

              I'm with Griff, on this one. 1. For formal letters to an individuals, it was "Mr." or "Ms." and last name. No knowledge of marital status necessary--"Miss" was already out the door (typing class from 30+ years ago) 2. For mixed groups (male, female) audience, use "Ladies and Gentlemen," (military knocked this one in my head) 3. If you're _sure_ it's going to be a male- or femal-only audience, "Gentlemen," or "Ladies,", respectively. (again, military). All of these are, at their base, built on older views on how societies work. OTOH, they generally get me through all the more common sticky wickets.

              vuolsi così colà dove si puote ciò che si vuole, e più non dimandare --The answer to Minos and any question of "Why are we doing it this way?"

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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

                T Offline
                T Offline
                TNCaver
                wrote on last edited by
                #46

                0x01AA wrote:

                This is no joke question!

                As if this will stop the silly responses. :laugh:

                If you think 'goto' is evil, try writing an Assembly program without JMP.

                L 1 Reply Last reply
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                • H H Brydon

                  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 Offline
                  L Offline
                  Lost User
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #47

                  Thank you, sounds very formal but good.

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

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                  • M Member 12415033

                    I am a native English speaker. I also speak fluent Spanish and OK French. I'm trying to start Nepali, since my son-in-law is from Nepal. I studied Russian for a year, but don't speak it. English is a horrible language. There are so many exceptions and the way it is spelled will drive a Zen master insane. Change of subject. I speak fluent Spanish, but I can't imagine taking a university course in Spanish. I greatly admire any non native English speaker taking English College courses. They are amazing.

                    R Offline
                    R Offline
                    RedDk
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #48

                    Member 12415033 wrote:

                    They

                    What ... the rays of admiration?

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                    • R Revon

                      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 Offline
                      L Offline
                      Lost User
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #49

                      Thank you. She sign pre/second Name.

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

                      1 Reply Last reply
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                      • B Bob1000

                        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 Offline
                        L Offline
                        Lost User
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #50

                        Thanks for this.

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

                        1 Reply Last reply
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                        • S Slow Eddie

                          If you are replying to an email/letter use the name the person signed off on the email to you. If it is Mrs. Jane Doe then use that. If it is Ms. Jane Doe then use that. If it is Jane Doe then use that. BTW you worry far too much. As long as you don't open with "Hey Bitch!" you are probably OK. :laugh:

                          "Newer" is NOT automatically better, only Different. (And more complex and bug ridden when it comes to all of the "boutique" languages / frameworks out there)

                          L Offline
                          L Offline
                          Lost User
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #51

                          Thank you for this. I try to avoid the one you mentioned in the last sentence :laugh:

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

                          1 Reply Last reply
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                          • K kalberts

                            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 Offline
                            R Offline
                            Ravi Bhavnani
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #52

                            Member 7989122 wrote:

                            At least officially, we wer [sic] taught "British" English.

                            Me too.

                            Member 7989122 wrote:

                            Maybe the use of Ms is different in American English.

                            'Tis the same. :) /ravi

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

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                            • K Kirk 10389821

                              Dear AppropriateGenderPronoun, Dear Ms. X, or, just drop it: Dear Jane, or, title it: Dear CEO Jane xxx, but NEVER EVER: Dear Leader, that is exclusively reserved for NK...

                              L Offline
                              L Offline
                              Lost User
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #53

                              Thanks :-D

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

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • B Bruce Patin

                                I simply stopped using any form of salutation, especially because official ranks were involved, and those often changed. If I had to for a known female, however, I would use Ms.

                                L Offline
                                L Offline
                                Lost User
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #54

                                Thank you very much.

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

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • T TNCaver

                                  0x01AA wrote:

                                  This is no joke question!

                                  As if this will stop the silly responses. :laugh:

                                  If you think 'goto' is evil, try writing an Assembly program without JMP.

                                  L Offline
                                  L Offline
                                  Lost User
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #55

                                  I think most of the answers are quite ok :-D

                                  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

                                    D Offline
                                    D Offline
                                    DerekT P
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #56

                                    Generally speaking, Leslie is male and Lesley is the female version. That used to be almost always the case; these days you occasionally find exceptions but I suspect they are often spelling errors on the part of the parent or registrar! In the UK at least it would be very strange to be addressed as Mr Fred, or Ms Susan (without a surname). Confuses the formality of a title with the informality of a first name. When we see it we generally assume the writer is not a native English speaker. We see it most in spam emails and also hear it in calls from Indian call centres... Of course, if you're writing a letter of complaint, a good salutation is the firm but simple Sir,

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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

                                      Richard DeemingR Offline
                                      Richard DeemingR Offline
                                      Richard Deeming
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #57

                                      Now to add to your worries: :) If you start with "Dear Sir/Madam", make sure you sign off with, "Yours faithfully". If you start with their name, sign off with "Yours sincerely". Yours faithfully or Yours sincerely?[^]


                                      "These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined." - Homer

                                      "These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined" - Homer

                                      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

                                        R Offline
                                        R Offline
                                        regy109
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #58

                                        You could use Dear Madam.

                                        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

                                          O Offline
                                          O Offline
                                          OrxataEnFartons
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #59

                                          I always use Ms. I don't differentiate the treatment of men depending on if they are married or not, so I do the same with women. In Spain, to call the equivalent to Mrs to a woman is something quite old-fashioned -usually it comes from seniors- and considered offensive. But could be acceptable for a teenager.

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