[HPFGU-OTChatter] Another question for the Brits on the list

[hells]

From: Carol <justcarol67 at yahoo.com>

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!

Hells:

It depends on the woman herself. In my experience, I have rarely come across someone who calls themself 'Ms'. Usually it is just 'Miss'. However, my daughter has a teacher at the moment who goes by 'Ms' but she lets the children call her 'Miss'. 'Mrs' is only used when they are actually married. The 'Ms' is so underused round here that all the parents call her 'Mzzzzz Whatshername' and find it a bit weird and secretly mutter about whether she is embarrassed she couldn't find a bloke, or if she gets on the other bus.

Hope that helps.
Hells