When writing academic papers, many people encounter words that are confused with other words. These are also called commonly confused words. If this happens, the quality of the paper can be negatively impacted. Academic writing requires clarity to convey arguments effectively. Words like “Miss” and “Ms.” are often misused. People don’t know when to use which spelling, but it’s essential to know the difference.
Definition of “Miss vs. Ms.”
Both “Miss” and “Ms.” are considered polite forms of address, but the most appropriate title will depend on the context and the preference of the woman being addressed.
Miss
… is a title used to address young, unmarried women.
Ms.
… is a title that does not indicate a woman’s marital status.
It is crucial to look at the context to be able to distinguish between these two terms. “Miss” is only used when referring to a woman who has not been married. It is also often used for younger girls and teenagers as well. “Ms.”, on the other hand, is a term that doesn’t indicate marital status so it can be used both for married and unmarried women.
Using the word “Miss”
Traditionally, “Miss” is a title used for unmarried women. However, it can also be used to refer to young girls in formal settings.
“Miss” as a title
Unmarried women were traditionally referred to with the title “Miss”. For example, teachers often use “Miss” in the classroom. If you are unsure about a woman’s marital status and it feels too invasive to ask, “Miss” can sometimes serve as a default.
Examples
- Can I help you, Miss?
- Miss Smith is my math teacher this semester.
- Miss Johnson will be your guide today.
Tip for using “Miss” correctly
Including alternative terms for “Miss” can diversify writing, eliminate redundancy, and express thoughts with more nuance. Here are three synonyms for “Miss” with sample sentences.
| Synonyms | Examples |
| Girl | The Miss ran across the playground. |
| The girl ran across the playground. | |
| Mademoiselle | Miss Dupont, your table is ready. |
| Mademoiselle Dupont, your table is ready. | |
| Young lady | Miss, please pick up your toys. |
| Young lady, please pick up your toys. |
Using the word “Ms.”
“Ms.” is typically used when not sure whether the woman referred to is married or not. The title is increasingly becoming the go-to option for this purpose to avoid making assumptions about marital status.
“Ms.” as a title
“Ms.” as a title can also be used in a variety of contexts. For example, “Ms.” is the default form of address for women in professional environments, regardless of marital status. It’s considered neutral and appropriate in business correspondence, meetings, and emails.
Examples
- Ms. Smith is the CEO of the company.
- Please forward the email to Ms. Davis.
- Ms. Johnson will give the presentation tomorrow.
Tip for using “Ms.” correctly
It’s always helpful to use synonyms of “Ms.” in your writing to avoid repetition and improve your language skills. Here, we’ll share three synonyms of the word “Ms.”, along with some examples to help you understand how to use them in your writing.
| Synonyms | Examples |
| Ma’am | Would you like a refill, Ms.? |
| Would you like a refill, ma’am? | |
| Madam | Ms., your car is ready. |
| Madam, your car is ready. | |
| Maiden | Ms. Smith will be joining us for dinner tonight. |
| The Maiden Smith will be joining us for dinner tonight. |
Test yourself!
Practice sheet
To improve your understanding of the difference between the words “Miss” and “Ms.”, please fill in the blanks in the ten sentences provided below. After completing the sentences, you can move on to the second tab to check your answers and ensure your comprehension.
- ____ Thompson is the principal of the elementary school.
- ____ Williams, can you please turn off the lights?
- ____ Lee is getting married next month.
- ____ Martin is the new head of the marketing department.
- ____ Clark, your table is ready.
- ____ Edwards is hosting a charity event this evening.
- Please pass the message to ____ Johnson.
- ____ Anderson, would you like coffee or tea?
- ____ Roberts, you left your keys at the front desk.
- ____ Peterson is an expert in climate change.
- Ms. Thompson is the principal of the elementary school. (Professional setting)
- Miss/Ms. Williams, can you please turn off the lights? (Individual preference & context)
- Miss Lee is getting married next month. (Currently unmarried.)
- Ms. Martin is the new head of the marketing department. (Professional setting)
- Miss/Ms. Clark, your table is ready. (Depends on age of the woman in a restaurant setting)
- Ms. Edwards is hosting a charity event this evening. (Professional setting)
- Please pass the message to Ms. Johnson. (Professional setting)
- Miss/Ms. Anderson, would you like coffee or tea? (Individual preference & context)
- Ms. Roberts, you left your keys at the front desk. (Neutral context)
- Ms. Peterson is an expert in climate change. (Professional setting)
FAQs
Use “Miss” for young, unmarried women or when the individual prefers it, often seen in educational settings for younger girls. Use “Ms.” in professional settings, when marital status is unknown, or when the individual prefers not to be identified by marital status.
In elementary schools, “Miss” is often used, especially for younger or unmarried teachers. In middle, high schools, and higher education, “Ms.” is generally the standard, regardless of marital status. Always consider the teacher’s own preference when in doubt.
“Miss” is traditionally used for young, unmarried women and is common in elementary educational settings. “Ms.” is used in professional contexts and when marital status is unknown or irrelevant. Both are titles to address women, but they are used in different contexts and convey different information.
- “Miss” is used for unmarried women, often younger girls.
- “Mrs.” is used for married women.
- “Ms.” is used regardless of marital status and is common in professional settings.
Each title serves to address women but is appropriate in different contexts and conveys different information about marital status. You can also check out our Miss vs. Mrs. article.
