Mrs.

The honorific Mrs. is a common English title used for women. It is most often applied to women who are married. This title is used when a woman does not hold another specific rank. Examples of such ranks include Doctor, Professor, President, or Dame. The title serves as a way to show social standing or marital status. In the United States and Canada, a period follows the abbreviation. In most Commonwealth countries, people usually omit the period.

Historically, the term originated as a contraction of the word Mistress. Mistress was the feminine equivalent of Mister or Master. Originally, this title applied to both married and unmarried women in the upper class. Famous writers such as Daniel Defoe and Samuel Johnson used it for unmarried women. The distinction between Mrs. for married women and Miss for unmarried women began in the 17th century. However, this split was not considered reliable until well into the 19th century. The unabbreviated form of the word lacks a standard spelling. In literature, authors might write it as "missus" or "missis" to show speech. Some writers, like Thomas Hardy, used "Mis'ess" to reflect its etymology.

Traditional usage of the title has changed significantly over the centuries. Originally, a woman used her own first name with her husband's surname. For example, Abigail Adams was addressed as Mrs. Abigail Adams in 1774. During the 19th century, a new custom became common. It became standard to use the husband's first name instead of the wife's. The writer Jane Austen provided early examples, such as Mrs. John Dashwood. By the early 20th century, many etiquette writers considered other forms incorrect. They believed forms like Mrs. Jane Smith were not proper.

These changing naming customs caused significant social debate. Many feminists, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Charlotte Perkins Gilman, objected to these rules. They debated whether the issue was the title itself or the use of a husband's name. In many other languages, the title for married women is a direct feminine equivalent. For instance, Madame, Señora, Signora, or Frau are used for married women. In contrast, the titles for unmarried women, like Mademoiselle or Señorita, are diminutives. Because of this, professional usage has shifted toward using the married title as a default. In the United Kingdom, high-ranking staff like nannies were called Mrs. as a mark of respect. This was true regardless of their actual marital status.

Divorce and single motherhood also created complex rules for the title. In the United Kingdom, a divorcée traditionally used the form Mrs. Jane Smith. In the United States, a divorcée originally kept her full married name unless she remarried. Later, some used the form Mrs. Miller Smith, placing the birth surname in the middle. Eventually, the form Mrs. Jane Miller became widely used for divorcées. This placed the title before the woman's maiden name. Etiquette experts like Emily Post even advised unwed mothers to use Mrs. with their maiden name. This was done to avoid social scrutiny before single mothers were more accepted.

As more women entered the white-collar workforce, the distinction between Miss and Mrs. became problematic. It was difficult for women to change names and titles once they established careers. Many professional women kept their birth names, stage names, or pen names. This led to the use of "Miss" as an appellation for famous celebrities. Examples include Miss Helen Hayes and Miss Amelia Earhart. However, this created confusion when married women were still referred to as Miss. This complication eventually contributed to the broader discussion regarding modern titles.

Modern usage has moved toward more personal choice and professional respect. It is now very uncommon to address a woman by her husband's first name. While some couples are still addressed jointly as Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, most women use their own names. Many married women use the form Mrs. Jane Smith, keeping their own first name. Some choose not to adopt a spouse's last name at all. In professional settings, it is considered polite to use the title Ms. This is the preferred choice in written communication unless a woman's preference is known.

Today, etiquette provides many different options for addressing women and couples. A woman might use professional titles like Dr. or Mayor instead of Mrs. Etiquette-writer Judith Martin, known as "Miss Manners," suggests specific ways to write invitations. For non-standard situations, she advises placing individuals on separate lines. In direct conversation, a woman may be addressed as Mrs. [Lastname]. One may also use the stand-alone terms Madam or Ma'am. However, these are often used for any adult woman regardless of marital status. Using Ms. [Lastname] remains a standard and correct way to address a woman.