Miss vs. Ms. vs. Mrs.: What’s the Difference? Minted’s Guide to Using Them Properly

Mrs. is the title given to women who are married or were married at one time. Pronounced missus, this title is typically used to show respect to married women or when addressing a woman of authority.

Miss is the title given to young women, and is typically used for women and girls who are under 18. It can also be used to reference any unmarried woman, although more mature unmarried women may prefer Ms.

Think of Ms. as the closest equivalent to Mr. It is a catch-all title, and is most commonly used when you’re unsure of a woman’s marital status. It can also be used for a single woman when “Miss” feels too juvenile, or a woman who was married but is now divorced or separated. Finally, it is also commonly used to refer to married and unmarried women in professional contexts, or in contexts in which their marital status is unimportant.

It is pronounced mizz (like quiz).

Mx. is a gender-neutral title that can be used for nonbinary guests of all ages, as well as those who use they/them pronouns. Pronounced mix, it can apply to people who are single, married, separated, divorced, or widowed.

Mrs. is the proper title for a woman who is or was married, whether she has taken her spouse’s last name or not. If you know that the woman you’re addressing is married, Mrs. is the way to go.

• Married, same last name: Mr. and Mrs. Maleki
• Married, different last names: Mr. Alex Scott and Mrs. Katie Jacobs
• Widow: Mrs. Martha White

You can comfortably use Miss when addressing girls and young unmarried women. At a certain age, Miss can start to feel too young—if you’re addressing an unmarried woman over the age of 25, Ms. is the way to go.

• Miss Gonzalez
• Miss Rebecca Goldstein

Because Ms. doesn’t necessarily indicate marital status, it is a great neutral title for addressing the women on your guest list. Ms.should be used if you’re unsure whether a guest is married or if she’s unmarried and over the age of 25.

It is also a safe bet to use Ms. when addressing women who are separated from their husbands or are divorced, even if they have not changed their last name.

• Unmarried couple: Mr. Matthew Bennett and Ms. Brittney Souza
• Divorced woman: Ms. Jessica Neely
• Unmarried woman: Ms. Wetherell

When addressing someone who is nonbinary or uses they-them pronouns, use the title Mx. Even if someone identifies with a specific gender, you may still use Mx., especially if you’re unaware of the recipient's preferred title.

Like Ms., Mx. can be used regardless of marital status.

• Married couple with the same last name: Mrs. and Mx. Callahan
• Couple with different last names: Mr. Jeorge Rodriguez and Mx. Olivia Smith
• Unmarried person: Mx. Taylor Johnson

If you’re mailing a wedding invitation to a guest who is a judge, use the title “The Honorable” and list him or her first, followed by the name of their partner if they have one.

• Wife is a judge, husband is not: The Honorable Sonya Patel and Mr. Niven Patel

If a guest is a medical doctor or has a Ph.D., it’s appropriate to address the envelope using the title "Doctor.”

• Husband is a doctor, wife is not: Doctor Michael and Mrs. Sabrina Lee
• Wife is a doctor, husband is not: Doctor Sharon and Mr. Erik Sheffield
• Both partners are doctors: The Doctors Alfonso or Drs. Sonia and Carlos Alfonso

For guests with military titles, spell out the titles in full. If both guests have military titles, then list the guest with the higher rank first. When addressing the wedding invitation envelope, indent the second line if both titles don't fit on one line.

• Wife has a military title, husband does not: Captain Sarah Chao and Mr. Jason Chao
• Husband has a higher military title than wife: Lieutenant General White and Captain Ojeda
• Both partners have the same title: Colonels Joanna and Marcus Gallary

If you are inviting a guest who is an attorney, you do not need to use "Esquire" or "Esq." when addressing their wedding invitation. Although you can if you know that the title is important to them.

It depends. Typically, brides who change their last name after the wedding go by Mrs. since it indicates they share the same last name as their husband (e.g., "Mr. and Mrs. Wong"). You can also go by Ms. if you'd prefer your title not to be associated with your marital status. If you're keeping your maiden name, you have options: You can go by Ms. or Mrs.

When each member of the couple uses a different last name, use Ms. as their titles and list each name in alphabetical order by last name, as in "Ms. Kristin Hampton and Ms. Sarah Lee." However, if you know the couple prefers Mrs., use that title instead.

If both partners use the same last name, use Ms. as their titles and list each name in alphabetical order by first name, as in "Ms. Christine Azoveda and Ms. Stacey Azoveda." Again, if you know the couple prefers Mrs., then use that title instead.

Traditionally, a woman’s name preceded a man’s on an envelope address when spelling out both first names, as his first and surname were not separated (for example, Mrs. Jane and Mr. John Kelly). If only the last name was being used, typically you’d list Mr. and then Mrs. (for example, Mr. and Mrs. Kelly).

Nowadays, either order is acceptable.

After a divorce, if a woman keeps her married name, you can either use Mrs. or Ms. to address the guest, followed by her first name and married name. If she is using her maiden name, then use Ms. along with her first name and maiden name. It’s always best to find out what she prefers to go by.

Because Miss refers to young unmarried women, it is never appropriate to use it to address a woman who is divorced.

If a guest is separated but not divorced, she is likely still using her married last name. If this is the case, then you can either use Mrs. or Ms. to address the guest. As always, though, it is best to find out what she prefers.

Traditionally, a widow retains her husband's name until she remarries. Regardless, when addressing an invitation to her, you can use Mrs.