Is it okay to address the Assistant DEAN by her first name?

[yalla22]

She is an MA (not md or phd) so i'm not sure how to address her in this letter ? Would it be better to write dear sally or dear ms.last name ?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[ICCONFETTI]

i would go with dear ms. last name.

 

[DrShambach]

Not sure how it works at your school, but at mine we refer to dean's formally as "Dean Whatever-your-last-name-is (not literally)." Dean is her title, so I would probably go with that.

 

[Robizzle]

Like stated above, Dean ____ or Ms. _____

 

[yalla22]

Like stated above, Dean ____ or Ms. _____

Well she isn't dean but rather technically assistant DIRECTOR.

 

[premedgirl07]

Maybe she's married?

No need to be politically correct and use Ms.

Always use Mrs. unless you know she is not married.

Political correctness was old 5 years ago.

 

[Law2Doc]

She is an MA (not md or phd) so i'm not sure how to address her in this letter ? Would it be better to write dear sally or dear ms.last name ?

It's never correct to use a first name professionally unless they have previously told you to, or sent you correspondence where they signed with their first name. It matters not what degree they have -- they are not dear sally.

 

[FLsurf05]

Always use Mrs. unless you know she is not married.

Um, I don't know if you are being serious about that, but I'm pretty sure that is the opposite of what you are supposed to do. I have read (in etiquette books and things like that) that you should always use Ms. unless you know that she is married. OP, I would just say "Dear Ms. Lastname," and you'll be fine. If the director was a man, you would definitely say Mr., right? So I think Ms. is the correct greeting in this case.

 

[A Tree]

Only use the first name if they have given you the opportuniy--for instance signing an email by first name.

 

[LolaGene]

Maybe she's married?

No need to be politically correct and use Ms.

Always use Mrs. unless you know she is not married.

Political correctness was old 5 years ago.

I dont think it is about being pc to use "Ms." It could be annoying for someone if she is called MrsX when she is not married, especially if she is a generation ahead. Who knows if she is sensitive about not being married. I know it sounds a little outdated but better be safe. Call her Ms. is you know she is not a Dean. If she is a dean, even assistant dean, call her Dean X

 

[univscience]

She is an MA (not md or phd) so i'm not sure how to address her in this letter ? Would it be better to write dear sally or dear ms.last name ?

do you call everybody else who doesn't have an md or phd (quite condescending, imo) by his/her first name? it's either dean or mrs, miss.

 

[zek]

Mrs=married
Miss=unmarried
Ms doesn't denote a marital status. It's kind of like Mr.

It also doesn't have anything to do with political correctness since it's been around a lot longer than people have been going nuts with political correctness.

 

[Law2Doc]

Mrs=married
Miss=unmarried
Ms doesn't denote a marital status. It's kind of like Mr.

It also doesn't have anything to do with political correctness since it's been around a lot longer than people have been going nuts with political correctness.

Actually "Ms." is what you use these days for professional people who are unmarried or if you are not sure. "Miss" has become politically incorrect as it has young girl connotations, which professional women don't seem to like.

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

Women.

Forget the Ms. versus Mrs. debate. All they're going to hear is "hey you old fattie" and they will activate PMS ability (150 mana cost, +40% crit strike, +350 dmg, 10 second Rampage) and destroy you off the face of the earth.

 

[PEN15]

Women.

Forget the Ms. versus Mrs. debate. All they're going to hear is "hey you old fattie" and they will activate PMS ability (150 mana cost, +40% crit strike, +350 dmg, 10 second Rampage) and destroy you off the face of the earth.

👍

 

[Guile]

Women.

Forget the Ms. versus Mrs. debate. All they're going to hear is "hey you old fattie" and they will activate PMS ability (150 mana cost, +40% crit strike, +350 dmg, 10 second Rampage) and destroy you off the face of the earth.

Your WoW jokes never get old.

 

[LizzyM]

Play it safe; go with "Dear Ms. Smith," for a woman in a professional capacity. You could use "Dear Dean Smith,", even for an ASSISTANT dean. Either would be correct. "Dear Sally" would be very inappropriate. 😱

 

[PEN15]

Mrs=married
Miss=unmarried
Ms doesn't denote a marital status. It's kind of like Mr.

It also doesn't have anything to do with political correctness since it's been around a lot longer than people have been going nuts with political correctness.

I suggest calling her Mr.

 

[notdeadyet]

Always use Mrs. unless you know she is not married. Political correctness was old 5 years ago.

This is incorrect. The opposite is true.

In formal situations, it's always best to refer to an adult woman as Ms. The term has nothing to do with political correctness, but with equal rights in the workplace.

And don't refer to a woman as Mrs. because you see a ring on her finger. Many women now do not take their husband's last name. A woman using her maiden name technically is not referred to as Mrs. (though this may change).

Women will not be offended in a professional situation if they're referred to as Ms. There is always a risk that presuming their marital status will offend.

 

[PEN15]

This is incorrect. The opposite is true.

In formal situations, it's always best to refer to an adult woman as Ms. The term has nothing to do with political correctness, but with equal rights in the workplace.

And don't refer to a woman as Mrs. because you see a ring on her finger. Many women now do not take their husband's last name. A woman using her maiden name technically is not referred to as Mrs. (though this may change).

Women will not be offended in a professional situation if they're referred to as Ms. There is always a risk that presuming their marital status will offend.

sheesh. women are so sensitive.

 

[Robizzle]

They need to make "Mz." appropriate for writing.. You guys ever use this in real life if you don't know whether to call Ms. or Mrs. and just kinda combine both into Mizz?

 

[etf]

only if you are talking to her in bed.

 

[etf]

only if you are talking to her in bed.

actually, scratch that. dean so-and-so sounds hotter 😉

 

[twohearted]

I think "dude" or "hey you" should do just fine. 🙄

 

[Wordplay]

They need to make "Mz." appropriate for writing.. You guys ever use this in real life if you don't know whether to call Ms. or Mrs. and just kinda combine both into Mizz?

I think your "Mz" is what is being referred to here as "Ms."

If I recall correctly:
Miss = unmarried
Mrs = married taking husband's name
Ms = unknown/married without taking husband's name

 

[Robizzle]

I think your "Mz" is what is being referred to here as "Ms."

If I recall correctly:
Miss = unmarried
Mrs = married taking husband's name
Ms = unknown/married without taking husband's name

holy crap, really? I always thought Ms. = Miss. I've been hiding under a rock it seems.

 

[Law2Doc]

I think your "Mz" is what is being referred to here as "Ms."

If I recall correctly:
Miss = unmarried
Mrs = married taking husband's name
Ms = unknown/married without taking husband's name

Again, Miss is never used professionally. It is politically incorrect. Use Ms for unmarried women.

 

[DrZeke]

dumbest thread ever.

How did one get this far in life and not know how to address someone in a formal situation? *SIGH*

 

[DrZeke]

She is an MA (not md or phd) so i'm not sure how to address her in this letter ? Would it be better to write dear sally or dear ms.last name ?

LOL, do you want to be a doctor so that you can automatically gain ppl's "respect" by having "Dr." in front of your name?!?

BWAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA

 

[etf]

LOL, do you want to be a doctor so that you can automatically gain ppl's "respect" by having "Dr." in front of your name?!?

BWAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA

haha, i think all women should get some kind of doctorate so that we can address you as dr., and avoid all this confusion.

 

[Writer1985]

Etiquette's a minefield. I was reading a book published in the 70s, which is when all this Ms. business seems to have started -- the main character is trying to write a late excuse for her seven-year-old and she doesn't know how to address the teacher. I think she ends up writing "Dear Teacher Smith."

 

[FemalesCANTDriv]

you should just start with the paragraph... no salutation necessary... they'll know u mean business

 

[BellyDancingDoc]

you should just start with the paragraph... no salutation necessary... they'll know u mean business

Whereas, something along the lines of "Yo Beyotch" might be considered more friendly and conversational.