<P> "Ms" or "Ms ." (normally / ˈmɪz /, but also / məz /, or / məs / when unstressed) is an English honorific used with the last name or full name of a woman, intended as a default form of address for women regardless of their marital status . Like "Miss" and "Mrs .", the term "Ms ." has its origins in the female English title once used for all women, "Mistress". It has its origin in the 17th century and was revived into mainstream usage in the 20th century . In the UK and the majority of Commonwealth countries, a full stop (period) is usually not used with the title; in the United States and Canada a period is usually used (see Abbreviation). </P> <P> "Ms ." began to be used as early as the 17th century, along with "Miss" and "Mrs .", as a title derived from the then formal "Mistress", which, like Mister, did not originally indicate marital status . "Ms .", however, fell into disuse in favor of the other two titles and was not revived until the 20th century . </P>

How to address a woman ms or mrs