Another question for the Brits on the list

[Geoff Bannister]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Carol" <justcarol67 at ...> wrote:
>
> I'm editing a manuscript by a non-native English speaker who wants to
> use British English but is making lots of errors, one of which is
> referring to an unmarried teacher as Mrs Somebody. (Sctually she
> spells it the American way, "Mrs."). I'm wondering whether British
> English uses "Ms" or whether unmarried women are always referred to as
> "Miss," as they were in the U.S. before feminism came along.
> 
> Carol, who should have posted her request this morning and hopes to
> get some quick, authoritative answers!

Geoff:
First, I don't quite see your point about spelling "Mrs.' with the full stop; 
that IS the UK way. I thought that "Mrs" and "Mr" were US variants.

UK English uses "Ms" but, in a school situation,almost all pupils would 
probably say "Miss" unless they knew that the teacher was married - and 
the teacher would still be addressed as "Miss" if her name was not 
included. "Ms" has never widely caught on in casual conversation as 
much as I believe it might have in the US.