Miss/Mrs./Ms.

[nclib]

Option 2 for me.

First of all it is politically correct (since Mr. and Mrs. imply that men are the head of the household).

Secondly, it is simpler to address all women the same way because sometimes marital status may be unknown.

[Jake]

Yo Bitch

[Everett]

Who the bloody hell cares? I've gotten addressed as Miss, Mrs., Ms., and Mr., so I think I've got everyone here pwned. I'm not terribly offended when someone calls me by the wrong title unless they are clearly doing it to annoy me (which has only happened a few times, namely with snobby relatives who dislike me).

Mr. Everett at your service, thank you very much!

BTW, I should add that my mother does not like being addressed as "Ms.". The best thing to address her as is probably "ma'am" if you don't know her, and her first name if you do.

[A18]

Option 1 (normal)

[Joe Republic]

Option 2 for me.

First of all it is politically correct.

You consider that to be a positive thing?

Secondly, it is simpler to address all women the same way because sometimes marital status may be unknown.

So?  That's the kind of easy mistake that can be just as easily rectified within seconds.  Plus, I hate to think what kind of woman would actually be offended if somebody accidentally got their title mixed up.

[patrick1]

I usually find out their first name ASAP.  I've discussed this in  a manners thread before and there are regional differences.  When I talk to my clients I call them by their first name and I expect the same.  Mrs./Ms. Ma'am, Mister, Sir sounds condescending sometimes.

[John Dibble]

Option 1, but only in a formal situation. Otherwise I'm with patrick - get to know them on a first name basis if it's informal.

[CheeseWhiz]

I don’t really care, but I use option 1.

[Emsworth]

I prefer option 1. I hardly regard political correctness as a positive; it certainly should not affect the English language. Surely, for the radical feminists out there, there are more important things than whether people use "Ms." or "Mrs."

[dazzleman]

Option 1.

The fact that "Ms." is politically correct is a negative for me.  In addition, it is an abbreviation of nothing, which is a grammatical non sequitur.  Plus it reeks of bra-burning radical feminism.

At this point, I don't think titles matter that much.  The days when it was common to address people by titles is gone.  I am on a first-name basis with just about everybody that I know.

A few people address me as Mr. [dazzleman] when they're first doing business with me, but I usually encourage them to call me by my first name, and most do, since I have a pretty friendly demeanor.

I also agree that I'd hate to think of the type of woman who would be offended by being called the wrong title.  I don't think we need to cater to those miserable, strident, radical feminist types.

[Gabu]

I don't know, Miss/Mrs., I guess.  I hardly ever use the form of [Title] [Last Name]; if I'm talking to someone, I generally get their first name before anything else and use it exclusively.

[nclib]

Option 1, but only in a formal situation. Otherwise I'm with patrick - get to know them on a first name basis if it's informal.

I agree about first names. The point of this poll was just to indicate what to use in a formal situation.

[Speed of Sound]

I don’t really care, but I use option 1.

[angus]

I'm not terribly offended when someone calls me by the wrong title

me neither.  If a student calls me "Mister" I don't get upset, but I have colleagues who come unglued.  "You'll address me as Doctor or Professor!  I earned it!  When you get your PhD...  blah blah blah"  They're very prissy types of people.  Judgemental.  Usually Democrats.  Often assholes.  But some of us are pretty easy going.  I have a very clear which type nclib would be if he were a university professor.  anyway, where's the WHOGIVESADAMN option?!  I'm looking for it, but I'm not seeing it.  Must be something wrong with my browser.

[patrick1]

I'm not terribly offended when someone calls me by the wrong title

me neither.  If a student calls me "Mister" I don't get upset, but I have colleagues who come unglued.  "You'll address me as Doctor or Professor!"  They're very prissy types of people.  Judgemental prudes.  Assholes, usually. But most of us are pretty easy going.  I have a very clear which type nclib would be if he were a university professor.  anyway, where's the WHOGIVESAFUKK option?!  I'm looking for it, but I'm not seeing it.  Must be something wrong with my browser.

I sporadically worked for 4 years to earn this title and you will call me Dr. goddamnit.  I've come across those types- More often than not the self-important type of Profesor. The guy with the patches on his jacket and the fake British accent. 

[J. J.]

I prefer using post nominal initials personally.  Technically, you can not use the honorific "Mr." "Mrs. "Miss" or "Ms." with it.

I prefer "J. J." or my last name without the honorific.  Now, if I had an earned honorific, I might wish to you it.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I just use first names, period.

[MaC]

I think Jake had it correct.  However I think "what'up ho?" is also a good way to address women.  To be fair, calling guys "hey dickhead" is approriate too.

(if nothing else you'll get their attention)

[muon2]

When I'm calling on people's names in a formal setting, I use Mr. and Ms. There are many I call up whose status is unknown to me, and the setting can be embarassing to the person I am recognizing. I rarely find people who take offense at Ms., and if they do it's mild. I find that those who are bothered if you swap Mrs. and Miss. more common, so it's easy to avoid it.

If I'm pointing out adults to my children I generally use Mrs. and Miss. If I'm pointing someone out, it's usually because I know them, at least enough to know their names on sight. If for some reason a child gets the title wrong, adults are far less likely to be offended.

[opebo]

I just use first names, period.

Very wise.  However given these choices option number 2, obviously. 

Also it is disturbing that women still take the husband's name in many marriages.  Then again look at the sort of people who get married.

[Ebowed]

Mrs. if they're married;
Miss if they're not;
Ms. if I don't know their marital status.

[minionofmidas]

In writing, Ms.
In speaking, none of these if you can at all avoid it.

[nclib]

Also it is disturbing that women still take the husband's name in many marriages.

I agree that it's disturbing.

[Democratic Hawk]

I'm a traditionalist, so I voted first option

Dave

[dazzleman]

Also it is disturbing that women still take the husband's name in many marriages.

I agree that it's disturbing.

What is so disturbing about it?  Why should it matter to you?

And BTW, it's about 90%, and has increased in the past decade.