Where Did “Mr.,” “Mrs.,” and “Ms.” Come From?
Modern etiquette standards are nowhere near as formal as they used to be, but some things still hold true: Honorific abbreviations such as "Mr.," "Mrs.," and "Ms." are commonly used to address someone with respect. You might use one of these honorifics when you're first introduced to someone, and you
don't want to assume a first-name familiar relationship. An honorific also comes in handy for in-laws, business partners, and fictional characters such as Mr. Magoo and Ms. Pac-Man. In general, "Mr." refers to men, "Mrs." to married women, and "Ms." to women regardless of their marital status. But this usage...
