Ms
Neutral female title
Ms is a title for a woman that doesn't indicate marital status, parallel to Mr for men.
It emerged in the twentieth century as an alternative to Miss (unmarried) and Mrs (married), becoming standard in business and formal contexts where marital status is irrelevant or unknown: Dear Ms. Johnson.
The period is standard in American English, optional in British. (Capitalized MS is the abbreviation for Mississippi or multiple sclerosis.)
Formal honorific or name
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
- addressSpeak to formally
- formalityStrict observance of convention
- salutationExpression of goodwill
politeness · deference · civility · acknowledgment · recognition · greeting · appellation · designation
Not legally wed
- independentFree from external control
- modernOf recent times
- progressiveFavoring reform and innovation
- inclusiveCovering all members
egalitarian · autonomy · privacy · noncommittal · ambiguous · universal · default · standard
- feministGender equality proponent
- equalitySame status for all
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- liberationRelease from constraint
movement · sisterhood · advocacy · rights · activism
Woman in commerce
- executiveSenior organizational leader
- managerOne who directs others
- entrepreneurOne who starts businesses
- attorneyLicensed legal representative
director · professor · doctor · representative · chairwoman · spokesperson · colleague · client
title
Formal honorific or name
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
- addressSpeak to formally
- formalityStrict observance of convention
salutation · politeness · deference · civility · acknowledgment · recognition · greeting · appellation · designation · prefix
unmarried
Not legally wed
- independentFree from external control
- modernOf recent times
- progressiveFavoring reform and innovation
inclusive · egalitarian · autonomy · privacy · noncommittal · ambiguous · universal · default · standard · contemporary
Gloria Steinem
- feministGender equality proponent
- equalitySame status for all
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
liberation · movement · sisterhood · advocacy · rights · activism
businesswoman
Woman in commerce
- executiveSenior organizational leader
- managerOne who directs others
- entrepreneurOne who starts businesses
attorney · director · professor · doctor · representative · chairwoman · spokesperson · colleague · client · applicant
- Ms. RightIdeal female partner
- Ms. Pac-Man
- m and msShell-coated chocolate pellets
- Ms. Marvel
- MS PaintBuilt-in Windows image editor
- Ms MarvelEmbiggen-powered young heroine