Ms. vs. Mrs. vs. Miss vs. Mx. | Uses and Pronunciations

• Nov 10, 2023
• 4 min read

• Tags: English as a Second Language / ESL, Grammar, Language, Word Choice

In a world that values inclusivity, it is important to understand the proper usage of honorifics such as Ms., Miss, Mrs., and Mx. These titles are not merely linguistic conventions but carry social and cultural implications. 

A reason why everyone is confused about Mrs. vs. Ms. vs. Miss, how to use them, and whom to address them, is that they sound and spell quite similar to each other. Let’s delve into the differences, uses, and examples of these courtesy titles in this article. 

Ms. vs. Mrs. vs. Miss vs. Mx.

Ms. is a status-neutral title that can be used for women regardless of whether they are married or not. It does not indicate their marital status.

Mrs. is typically used for women who are married. It indicates their marital status. Widows can also choose to be addressed with this courtesy title.

Miss is typically used for girls and women who are not married. It is also used to address young girls who have not crossed the age of 25. 

Mx. is a relatively new and gender-neutral title that acknowledges the spectrum of gender identities beyond the traditional binary of male and female.

Let’s look at the differences between these titles one by one to make it easier for all of us.

Ms. vs. Mrs. vs. Miss

Ms.: A status-neutral option

The honorific Ms. is a title that does not directly indicate the woman’s marital status. In today’s society, Ms. has gained popularity as a way to address women who prefer their marital status not to be taken into consideration. 

Using Ms. recognizes women for who they are, rather than focusing on their marital status. If one is not sure about the marital status of a woman, using Ms. to address them can be a safe option.

For example,

Ms. Roberts is our new manager.

The book was authored by Ms. Turner.

Ms. Brown is a talented artist whose work is known worldwide.

Ms. Patel organized a party for everyone.

The award was given to Ms. Sanchez.

The lady, Ms. Dutta, was an exceptional singer.

It’s important to note that some women may choose to use Ms. regardless of their marital status to avoid any assumptions about their personal life. 

Mrs.: A title denoting married status

The honorific Mrs. is a title that traditionally indicates a woman is married and has taken her husband’s last name. It represents the marital status of a woman who uses this title. 

For example,

Mrs. Jones celebrated her 3rd wedding anniversary.

Mrs. Davis is a highly respected lady in the society.

Mrs. Smith is a well-known author.

Mrs. Taylor has been married for 15 years.

Our teacher, Mrs. Garcia, gave us a surprise test.

Mrs. Anderson and her husband are hosting a party tonight.

It is bound to create confusion about when to use Miss vs. Ms. in our heads. When referring to women, the titles Ms. and Miss. are often used interchangeably. However, there is a subtle difference between the two. 

Miss: A title denoting unmarried status

The honorific Miss is a courtesy title traditionally used to address or refer to an unmarried woman or a girl. 

The main difference between the two is that Miss conveys the idea of being unmarried, while Ms. is a more neutral and inclusive term.

For Example,

Excuse me, Miss You forgot your bag.

Can you ask Miss Dutta to join us for the conference?

Miss Stark is our beloved teacher. 

Excuse me, Miss, do you know where the nearest pharmacy is?

I would like you to meet Miss Daisy, our new math teacher.

Miss Cooper is organizing the charity event.

A woman who is separated from her partner might not wish to be addressed as Mrs. anymore. Similarly, an unmarried woman may prefer not to be referred to as Miss. Using Ms. recognizes women, for who they are, rather than focusing on their marital status.

Mx. | use and examples

Mx. is a relatively new title that acknowledges nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and transgender individuals. Mx. is becoming more commonly used in official and legal contexts to provide a gender-inclusive alternative to Mr. and Ms. 

The key difference between Mx. and Mrs. vs. Ms. vs. Miss is that the Mx. is a gender-neutral courtesy title that can be used instead of a masculine or feminine honorific. While Ms., Miss, and Mrs. are courtesy titles that are used traditionally to address women based on their marital status. 

For Example,

We would like to introduce Mx. Kim.

Mx. Carter and their partner will be hosting a charity event.

Mx. Jones is a dedicated journalist.

Our principal, Mx. John, is an avid reader.

We gave a gift to our neighbor, Mx. Singh.

Mx. Nathan got his driving license. 

Miss vs. Ms. vs. Mrs. vs. Mx. pronunciation

The pronunciation of Miss vs. Ms. vs. Mrs. vs. Mx. can be understood in the following ways:

• Miss is typically pronounced as “miss” with a short “i” sound

It rhymes with ‘kiss’

• On the other hand, Ms. is commonly pronounced as “miz” with a short “i” sound as well

It rhymes with ‘is’

• Mrs is typically pronounced as “missiz”

It rhymes with ‘miss’ and ‘is’ together

• Mx is typically pronounced as “mix”

It rhymes with ‘six’

To avoid mistakes while using courtesy titles and other grammatical errors, you can take the help of our professional editing and proofreading services.

To understand more about grammar-related topics, keep reading! 

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Tanvi

With a foundation in Life Sciences, Tanvi enjoys curating technical writing tips tailored for ESL students. When she's not translating complex concepts into bite-sized nuggets, she can be found playing with dogs or painting landscapes.