OT: HuskyNan enriches our English language!

[Kibitzer]

In a recent post, HuskyNan very casually and neatly tossed off a new word that is perfectly suited to the needs of writers of the English language.

She referred to "Mizzes Dolson, Stewart, Tuck, and Stokes. . . ." [emphasis added.]

Her introduction of the term Mizzes as the plural for the now acceptable and ubiquitous form of address Ms. was altogether creative and practical. (Mirriam-Webster, I hope you are listening!)

Strictly speaking, or writing, the formally correct plural for ladies is Mesdames, plural of Madam and I guess of Mrs., too. How utterly dumb!

Our language has lots of quirks. Mr. is short for Mister; fair enough. But what is the unabbreviated word represented by Mrs.? Missus?

And why does Ms. have a period at all? Just Ms does the job. And, thanks to Nan, Mizzes works to perfection.

 

[ThisJustIn]

I'm looking forward to the "neutral" for men -- or the two different forms that identify unmarried and married men…. I need to keep track. ;-)

 

[winlots]

Heading for the nearest air-sickness bag (PC for barf bag)

 

[HuskyNan]

I'm looking forward to the "neutral" for men -- or the two different forms that identify unmarried and married men…. I need to keep track. ;-)

Historically, an unmarried man was referred to as Master and a married man was Mister. Personally, I'm glad they dropped the Master bit. I'd have a hard time calling a man Master.

It's a waste of time to rail against history or to wish people had been more enlightened centuries ago. I'd rather spend my energy on things I can effect.

 

[Phil]

I'm looking forward to the "neutral" for men -- or the two different forms that identify unmarried and married men…. I need to keep track. ;-)

I never understood why either marriage status nor gender was necessary, so proposed just "M" as in "M Smith" , to be more formal than the bare "Smith". It didn't catch one (probably torpedoed by Michael Smith).

 

[Kibitzer]

We are treated to more wisdom from Mizzes TJI and Nan herself. As noted, the continuing evolution of our (American) English language has not always beeen either kind or fair to females, except gratuitous reference to them as "the fairer sex," meant as a sort of a compliment.

Limiting my comments to wcbb matters, I laud JS for recalling poor Shandon's errant sense of timing with his belated "this just in" posts that were really old stuff. The horde seized on the term "rising" to tell us when a player was about-to-be-but-not-yet promoted. Unfortunately, few of them can seem to differentiate between "reins" and "reigns." And all the ones who talk on airwaves seem to be obsessed with the hifalutin' sound of "differential" as in time clock vs. shot clock) when the common "difference" would do the job.

I am annoyed by the use of the term "program" to be used not only as a (bad, in my view) substitute for "team," but even for "school."

But one recent technique by news folks (TV and internet) is useful. They alert us about what news is "trending." At least we are now forewarned about the next intense batch of items about the likes of Mizzes Spears, Lohan, Cyrus, or Kardashian. Gives us time to get out our barf bags.

 

[ThisJustIn]

Heading for the nearest air-sickness bag (PC for barf bag)

Ah, stinks to have to think about the use and impact of language, doesn't it…. so sorry to upset your careful balance of denial.

Go Lady Huskies!

 

[tomcat]

Technically and correctly, Ms should not have a period, as it abbreviates nothing. However, English language convention puts a period there because Mr. and Mrs. both have periods. That makes no sense to me.

I know this only because my job as a writer requires me to use Ms from time to time and I researched it a while back.

 

[tomcat]

Actually, as I understand it, Mesdames is plural for a bunch of married women, while mesdemoiselles is the plural for single women, which is the case you cited. The abbreviation is Mlles. Current convention in a time of feminism is trending toward Mesdames as a general term.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

I am annoyed by the use of the term "program" to be used not only as a (bad, in my view) substitute for "team," but even for "school."

Do you think that there is a proper use for program, though?

I differentiate the Rutgers Women's Basketball Team as a group of women representing Rutgers University and playing basketball in any given season. The Rutgers Women's Basketball program is the entire entity of team, coaches, staff, etc. over the years. Example - the Rutgers WBB team won the 1982 AIAW national championship vs. the Rutgers WBB program has been to 2 final fours.

I am much more likely to agree that words such as differential which are overly complicated (and not always used correctly) in the jargon of sports can be tiring.

 

[pinotbear]

because Mr. and Mrs. both have periods. That makes no sense to me.

]

..me either, TC, me either...

 

[Kibitzer]

Do you think that there is a proper use for program, though?

I differentiate the Rutgers Women's Basketball Team as a group of women representing Rutgers University and playing basketball in any given season. The Rutgers Women's Basketball program is the entire entity of team, coaches, staff, etc. over the years. Example - the Rutgers WBB team won the 1982 AIAW national championship vs. the Rutgers WBB program has been to 2 final fours.

I am much more likely to agree that words such as differential which are overly complicated (and not always used correctly) in the jargon of sports can be tiring.

I really like your distinction between program and team but I won't hold my breath awaiting sports writers to pick up on it. As I understand it, a recruit may aspire to go to a good school with a strong bb program that consistently produces winning teams. That makes sense to me.

As for the flowery words, my "favorites" are the ones used to describe pitchers: "command" and "velocity." How silly.

And have you noticed the incessant use of "ensuing" as in (football) "the ensuing kickoff," after a TD and extra point. It's as automatic a modifier as "freak accident," "sprawling metropolis," or "weary rescue workers." Sort of verbal boiler plate.

The good news is that "pure shooter" seems to have faded into oblivion.

 

[meyers7]

I never understood why either marriage status nor gender was necessary,

You would if you ever mistakenly tried to pick up a Ms or Miss at a bar and ended up with a Mrs ....... or Mr.

 

[ctchamps]

I'm a step behind most of you. I'm trying to figure out how women players are playing man to man.


Regarding the topic in hand:

In one article I noticed Ms was originally the abbreviation of mistress and began to be used as early as the 17th century. The original meaning for mistress was a term for lady of the house, especially one who is head of a household. No marital status was implied with mistress. So in the 17th century, to clarify things, women were denoted by Miss, Mrs. or Ms. But Ms fell out of favor and for two centuries only Miss and Mrs. were applied.

In the meantime mistress has evolved into other meanings including a (lover), a female school teacher when added to school, a female owner of a dog and a dominatrix. There is no word for a male master but there is a word for a female master in our time. So Nan, master is out and dominatrix is in. There is a balance of genders over time at least in the universe of language . As further proof, master can be associated with mind and we can have male and female masterminds. Good to know language has gender equality with intellect.

Because of all those changes to the application of mistress, I think it is prudent Ms is no longer associated with mistress.

One further historical point. The first attempt to get a revival of Ms can be traced to the following 1901 article:

The earliest known proposal for the modern revival of "Ms." as a title appeared in The Republican of Springfield, Massachusetts on November 10, 1901:

There is a void in the English language which, with some diffidence, we undertake to fill. Every one has been put in an embarrassing position by ignorance of the status of some woman. To call a maiden Mrs is only a shade worse than to insult a matron with the inferior title Miss. Yet it is not always easy to know the facts...​

Now, clearly, what is needed is a more comprehensive term which does homage to the sex without expressing any views as to their domestic situation, and what could be simpler or more logical than the retention of what the two doubtful terms have in common. The abbreviation "Ms" is simple, it is easy to write, and the person concerned can translate it properly according to circumstances. For oral use it might be rendered as "Mizz," which would be a close parallel to the practice long universal in many bucolic regions, where a slurred Mis' does duty for Miss and Mrs alike.[4]​

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[meyers7]

I As further proof, master can be associated with mind and we can have male and female masterminds. Good to know language has gender equality with intellect.

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One of my favorite GPN songs. (yea, it has nothing to do with the topic at hand......I just like it... and it's Grace Potter )