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by Andy Is Wicked Married to Penal Colony on January 14th, 2006

Andy Is Wicked Married to Penal Colony

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When addressing a letter to a long time widow that never remarried, would one use Miss, Mrs., or some other title?

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  • by MyKinKStar on January 21st, 2006

    MyKinKStar

    A married woman is either Mrs. John Smith or Mrs. Mary Smith, while her husband is alive. Upon his death (or divorce), she is now only Mrs. Mary Smith.

    Though it's my preference, many women still don't like Ms, so don't use it unless the person has referenced themself with it before. I don't like Miss, but it usually only ever comes from a stranger, so is no big deal.

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  • by Anonymous on January 18th, 2006

    Anonymous

    Generally you should use Mrs. as you would have whilst her husband was still alive. Although he may be dead, in a way she's technically still his wife, and I have never heard of anyone using any other term of address in this situation. Ms. is a term more often used by divorced women, and as such could be interpreted as slightly offensive.

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  • by postmuffin on October 12th, 2006

    postmuffin

    As a widow myself, I prefer Ms, but that is because I am a younger widow. Older women seem to prefer Mrs. But the correct answer is Mrs - she is still married to him.

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  • by Farino on January 16th, 2006

    Farino

    Miss is incorrect because it means that the lady is and always has been unmarried. Mrs is incorrect because it is the title of a wife. So the only alternative is to use the title that some women today prefer to be equal to men and have a title that doesn't give away whether you are married or not: 'Ms.'

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