ms or mrs in cover letter

How to Address a Cover Letter in 2024

Yes, how you address your cover letter matters.

After all, this is the first thing the recruiter reads when going through your cover letter, and yes, there is a right and wrong way to do it.

In this article, we’re going to teach you how to address your cover letter in such a way that you leave a positive impression on any recruiter!

• How to address a cover letter to a recruiter? (Casual or formal)
• What title to use when addressing the hiring manager
• How to address a cover letter without a contact person/to a company
• How to address a cover letter without an address
• How to address a cover letter in an email

How to Address a Cover Letter To a Recruiter (Casual or Formal)?

As we already mentioned, the way you address your cover letter is important because it is the very first thing recruiters see upon opening your cover letter. 

A well-formulated cover letter address means that you care enough to research the company (i.e. to find the hiring manager’s name and title) and that you show attention to detail. 

As such, you should always put some research into who you’re addressing your cover letter to and do so in a formal way.  

And yes, the formal part is important too. The recruiter isn’t your best friend - you want to maintain a sense of professionalism.

If this is how you address the recruiter in your cover letter:

• What’s up Hiring Manager
• Hi there Hiring Team

Then you say goodbye to the job.

Now, you’re probably wondering, how can I find out whom to address my cover letter to?

That’s what we’re about to teach you:

Who Am I Addressing My Cover Letter To?

Here are some tricks to find the full name of the hiring manager: 

• Check the job listing. The job listing may have information about the recruiter or the department doing the hiring. Make sure to read through the entire job listing, as it might not be at an entirely obvious place.
• Check the company website. Some websites feature the names of the hiring managers or heads of departments that may go through your cover letter. Alternatively, LinkedIn is another place where you can look for this information.
• Check the company’s LinkedIn. You can look up who works in the company you’re applying for on their LinkedIn page.
• Ask around. Do you have friends that work for the company? They could provide you with valuable inside info.

To avoid making a bad impression, head over to our guide on cover letter mistakes to learn about what NOT to do when writing your cover letter.  

Addressing a Cover Letter With a Name

By now, you have probably found the hiring manager’s full name and gender. With this information available, it’s best to address the hiring manager formally, as follows: 

• Dear Mr. Brown,
• Dear Miss Fitzpatrick,
• Dear Mrs. Lockhart,
• Dear Ms. Walters,

If, for some reason, you are unsure about the person’s title, gender, marital status, or preferred pronouns, just address them using their entire name to avoid any mistakes. For example:

• Dear Alex Brown, 
• Dear Blair Fitzpatrick,
• Dear Jesse Lockhart,
• Dear Madison Walters,

Addressing someone with a title 

Now, if you found out that the hiring manager has a professional or academic title, then it’s more appropriate to address them using that title. If, for example, the hiring manager has a Ph.D., then it’s more respectful to address them as “Dr. Last Name,” instead of “Mr. Last Name.”  

Here are some professional titles and how they’re abbreviated: 

• A professor is Prof. 
• A reverend is Rev. 
• A sergeant is Sgt. 
• Honorable is Hon. 

If, however, you are uncertain about how a title is abbreviated, then avoid it altogether. 

Here are a few examples to give you an idea: 

• Dear Prof. Welsch,
• Dear Director Smith,
• Dear Rev. Owen,

Dear Dr. Leonard,

When addressing women and you don’t know their marital status, always go with Ms., because it doesn’t comment on marital status. Some women prefer not to be addressed with Miss or Mrs. even when they’re married, so sticking with Ms. is the best choice. 

Want to learn more cover letter tips ? Our guide has all you need to ace your cover letter!  

How to Address a Cover Letter Without a Contact Person

It might happen that, no matter how hard you search, you can’t find the name of the hiring manager or department head that will read your cover letter.

In that case, you can address your cover letter to the department, faculty, or the company.

• Dear Software Development Hiring Team,
• Dear Customer Service Department Hiring Team,
• Dear Head of the Literature Faculty,
• Dear Director of Marketing,
• Dear Human Resources Recruitment Team,

Alternatively, if you don’t have enough information either about the department or the team, you can opt for addressing the cover letter directly to the company’s hiring staff, as follows: 

Dear [Company Name] Hiring Team 

Dear [Company Name] Recruiting Staff

If all else fails (meaning, you don’t know the name of the department head or even the exact department, in addition to the recruiter) then you can use one of the good, old-fashioned:

Dear Hiring Manager,

...but NOT the impersonal and way outdated “To whom it may concern” and “Dear Sir/Madam.” 

Starting a cover letter can be challenging. Our guide can show you how to start a cover letter that will get you results from the get-go. 

How to Format the Company’s Address

Before you reach the salutation, you have to make sure that the header with the recipient’s contact information is formatted correctly. 

It might not be the deciding point of whether you’ll secure an interview or not, but it will cost you points if it’s off. 

So, the first thing you want to do is add your name and surname on the upper left side of the cover letter. Underneath, you should write your professional title (if applicable), your email , and your phone number . 

Now, after you’ve also added the date, you should leave one more space and add the recipient’s contact information and, most importantly, the company’s address. 

It should look something like this on your cover letter: 

When You Can’t Find the Company’s Address 

Some companies might have several addresses listed (as per their branches, for example), or even none at all. 

Since an application that doesn’t have an address line could end up lost or misplaced, make sure you do one of the following before skipping the company’s address completely:

• Check all your resources, (pretty much like when you were looking for the hiring manager’s name) to find the company’s address. 
• Use the company’s headquarter address. This is sometimes easier to find, especially if the company has several branches. 
• Use the P.O. Box number for the company. This is not as specific as an actual address line, but if all else fails, it’s still something. 

Frequently, you’ll be asked to submit your job application (including your cover letter) electronically, or by email. In those cases, you can skip the address line altogether. 

Here’s how you’d go about addressing a cover letter in an email.

How to Address an Email Cover Letter

If you’re sending your job application through email, chances are you’ll need to format your cover letter in the body of the email, or as an attachment along with your resume.

First and foremost when you’re addressing a cover letter in an email is the subject line, which should be between 6-10 words long. 

Considering that hiring managers receive countless emails daily, you want to make sure that yours is a job application immediately. And the way to do that is straight through the subject line, which should indicate exactly the position you’re applying for and your name so that it’s easier to find through the recruiter’s swarmed mailbox. 

Here’ what we mean by that:

• Subject Line:   John Doe - Software Development Job Application 
• Subject Line: John Doe - Job Application for Marketing Manager Position   
• Subject Line: John Doe - Stock Manager Job Application 

Afterward, if you’re including your cover letter in the body of the email (as opposed to attaching it as a document), begin by using a salutation, add space, and start your letter. 

If someone referred you for the position, make sure to mention that in the subject line of your email as well as in your opening paragraph.  

So, let’s see how all the above plays out in practice: 

Subject Line: John Doe - Carl Jacob’s Referral for Software Developer

I was very glad that Mr. Jacobs, a long-time partner at your firm who also happens to be my mentor from college, referred me for the Software Developer position. 

Do you want your style, personality, and overall personal brand to shine through your application? With Novorésumé, you can match your cover letter with your resume to make a lasting impression! 

Key Takeaways 

And that’s all there is when it comes to addressing a cover letter! You should feel much more confident in doing so by now. 

Either way, let’s go over the main points we covered throughout the article: 

• Your cover letter address should be formal and well-researched. Don’t address the hiring manager with “hey,” “what’s up,” “hi there,” or even the old-fashioned “Dear Sir/Madam” and “To Whom It May Concern.”
• Always try to find the hiring manager’s full name and professional title through the company’s website, LinkedIn, by calling, or by asking someone who works there.
• If you know the hiring manager’s name, go with “Dear Mr./Miss Last Name,” but if you’re unsure about their gender, marital status, or preferred pronoun, just address them using their full name.
• If the recruiter has a professional or academic title, it’s more appropriate to address them using their title.
• If you can’t find the contact person’s name, then address the department, faculty, or company (i.e. Dear Microsoft Hiring Team , or Dear Software Development Recruitment Team ).

Related Readings: 

• Do I Need a Cover Letter in 2024
• Entry-Level Cover Letter
• Cover Letter for Internship
• How to Write a Cover Letter in 2024

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What's The Best Way To Address A Cover Letter?

In This Guide:

How to address a cover letter without a name, how to enter detective mode & find the hiring manager’s name, what title to use in your cover letter greeting, how to address a cover letter for a non-gender-specific name, how to address a cover letter for a woman (with ms. or mrs.), how not to address a cover letter – common mistakes.

Should a cover letter have the same header as the candidate's resume?

No matter if you are a fresh graduate or you are on a move for a big career change, you will need a strong cover letter to enhance your chances of getting an interview and potentially a new job!

But have this in mind.

The biggest pet peeve for the recruiters is starting your cover letter with:

• Dear Sir or Madam
• To whom it may concern

OK, but how to address the cover letter then?

Short answer – be specific.

In the following article, you will learn:

• How to address a cover letter without having a name
• How to find the hiring manager’s name
• What title is appropriate for your cover letter
• Bad and good examples of addressing a cover letter

Let’s dive into it!

Upload & Check Your Resume

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We highly recommend that you try and find out the name of the contact person.

Most employers will be impressed that you have spent some extra time finding this information.

But if you are unable to find any info about the person you are about to address your cover letter  to, don’t worry.

Show that you’ve thoroughly read the job description by tailoring your resume to the specific job and company.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What company department is the job part of?
• Who will you be reporting to?

In the end, you can still use some of the following acceptable options:

• Dear Hiring manager
• Dear Finance Department
• Dear Company XYZ Recruiter
• To the Marketing Department
• Dear Head of Design
• Dear Company ABC Team
• Dear Customer Service Manager

As we mentioned, adding the name of your contact person will make your cover letter way better.

Follow our tips to avoid applying with a cover letter without a name  and significantly increase your chances of being spotted!

Addressing a specific person tells the recruiters that you’ve written the cover letter for this exact role.

Furthermore, it shows that you’ve taken the initiative to learn more about the company and its members.

There are 3 effective ways to find information about your future employer:

• Search the Company Website
• Contact the Company Directly
• Search LinkedIn

Searching the company’s website will provide you with valuable information about the cause and mission of the organization along with the team behind it.

For example, if you are about to write a cover letter for a vacant position at Enhancv, you should check the company tab in the footer of the website.

Now, you have an insight into who is working and how big is the team of your future company.

Moreover, you have a variety of names to continue your research with.

The next step is checking Enhancv in the world’s leading platform that connects professionals – LinkedIn.

Some of those names look familiar, aren’t they?

Clicking on each of the profiles will give you even more valuable information about company members and their roles.

As it’s clear from the image, Volen is one of the founders of Enhancv, and he will probably be part of the hiring process in some way.

But let’s say you are applying for the position of a content writer .

Then, Kaloyan is your focus contact, since he is responsible for the content production and management at the company.

This is how easy researching your content person is!

But how to proceed if your future employer is not part of LinkedIn?

Just contact the company directly. Explain that you’re applying for a job and would like to address your cover letter to the correct person. Alternatively, you can email the company.

In most circumstances, such as when you know your future employer well, it is appropriate to use “Dear”.

For other cases follow these tips:

• For people who you know well on a first-name basis, use their first name only. For a business associate or acquaintance, you should use their first name if you have met them more than once.
• For potential employers, it’s appropriate to use Mr., Ms., or Dr., and add the name afterward.
• If you are unsure of the appropriate greeting, use Mr./Ms./Dr. [last name] or Mr./Ms./Dr. [first name, last name] as the safest option

Do you know that nearly 1 percent of Americans (1 in every 109 to be precise) have a unisex name?

Parker, Blake, Taylor are all popular neutral gender names. And the list goes on…

Let’s imagine the following situation:

You researched the company’s website and LinkedIn profile but still don’t know who will be your contact person. Furthermore, you have contacted your future employer to ask directly.

The answer – your resume and cover letter will be reviewed by Taylor Smith.

How to avoid any mistakes if you are not sure whether your contact person is a man or a woman?

Address your cover resume with gender-neutral greetings:

• Dear Human Resources Manager
• Dear Hiring Manager

By doing that, you will be on the safe side.

There are 2 common ways to address a woman, depending on whether she’s single or married, and based on the information you have:

• Ms. – “Ms.” followed by her last name is appropriate if you are not sure if she is married or not. Moreover, this also applies if you are uncertain if she holds a specific title such as a doctorate.
• Mrs. – “Mrs.” followed by the woman’s last name is typically used for married women.

Note that, even if you know a woman is married, it is safer to use “Ms.” as opposed to “Mrs.,” as the latter may be offensive in some circumstances.

As we mentioned, the biggest mistake is starting your cover letter with “to whom it may concern”.

Since the goal of your cover letter is to impress the hiring manager and secure a job interview, personalizing the greeting is valuable.

Using “to whom it may concern” is outdated and creates the feeling that your cover letter is not created for the specific position.

The same goes for “Dear sir or madam”.

It also sounds out of place in the 21st century and we highly recommend avoiding it.

Always try to find a way to customize your greeting so that it addresses the specific person.

Should a cover letter have the same header as the candidate's resume?

Relying on our many years of experience, we can say that the best approach is matching the headers of your resume and cover letter.

Don’t forget that resumes and cover letters go hand in hand.

While it is acceptable for the header of your resume or cover letter to share more information than the other, the personal details shared between the two should be the same.

Even if your summary is quickly scannable, recruiters might struggle to make sense of all the data you’re sharing with them, especially if your resume is 2-3 pages long.

That’s why a cover letter is a valuable addition to it, as it is easier to read with all information structured into paragraphs.

Learn more about all similarities and differences between resumes and cover letters in our detailed guide here!

Now, you should feel well equipped to address your cover letter regardless if you know your contact person or not.

Let’s sum it all up:

• There are 3 effective ways to find information about your future employer – search the company website, check LinkedIn, and contact the company directly.
• Dear Head of Design and so on.
• All greetings above are applicable if you are not sure of the gender of your contact person too.
• There are two common greetings for women – Ms. and Mrs.
• You should always avoid using “To whom it may concern” and “Dear Sir or Madam”.
• Unification of your resume and cover letter header is preferable.

What did you think of this article? Is there anything that we missed? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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• Cover Letters

How to Address a Cover Letter With Examples

Options for Addressing a Cover Letter

• Letter Without a Contact Person
• Non-Gender-Specific Names

What Title to Use

• Address an Email Cover Letter
• Review a Sample Cover Letter

Before You Send Your Letter

One of the trickiest parts of writing a cover letter comes at the very beginning. Much of the time, you won’t know exactly who will read your letter. How do you address your cover letter when you don’t have the contact person’s name and/or gender ?

First of all, try to find out the name of the contact person. Some employers will think poorly of an applicant who does not take the time to learn the hiring manager’s name. Also, take care not to assume that you know the gender of the recipient based on the name. Many names are gender-neutral, and some hiring managers may identify as a gender other than male or female.

It’s also possible that you’ll do your research and still be unable to figure out to whom you are addressing your letter. In that case, it's better to be safe and use a generic greeting . It's also acceptable to start a letter without a greeting and start with the first paragraph of your letter .

You have a lot of options when addressing your letter. Learn more about the possibilities before you make your choice.

How to Address a Cover Letter Without a Contact Person

There are a variety of general cover letter salutations you can use to address your letter. These general cover letter salutations do not require you to know the name of the hiring manager.

In a survey of more than 2,000 companies, Saddleback College found that employers preferred the following greetings:  

• Dear Sir/Madam (27%)
• To Whom It May Concern  (17%)
• Dear Human Resources Director (6%)
• Leave it blank (8%)

Do keep in mind that terms like "To Whom It May Concern" may seem dated, so the best options may be either to use "Dear Hiring Manager" or not to include a greeting at all. Simply start with the first paragraph of your letter.

How to Address a Cover Letter for a Non-Gender-Specific Name

If you do have a name but aren't sure of the person's gender, one option is to include both the first name and the last name in your salutation, without a title that reveals gender:

• Dear Sydney Doe
• Dear Taylor Smith
• Dear Jamie Brown

With these types of gender-ambiguous names,  LinkedIn  can be a helpful resource. Since many people include a photo with their profile, a simple search of the person's name and company within LinkedIn could potentially turn up the contact's photograph.

Again, you can also check the company website or call the company’s administrative assistant to get more information as well.

Even if you know the name and gender of the person to whom you are writing, think carefully about what title you will use in your salutation.

For example, if the person is a doctor or holds a Ph.D., you might want to address your letter to “Dr. Lastname” rather than “Ms. Lastname” or “Mr. Lastname.” Other titles might be “Prof.,” “Rev.,” or “Sgt.,” among others.

When you address a letter to a female employer, use the title “Ms.” unless you know for certain that she prefers another title (such as “Miss” or “Mrs.”).

“Ms.” is a general title that does not denote marital status, so it works for any female employer.

How to Address an Email Cover Letter

Hiring managers get a lot of emails each day. Make it easy for them to scan your email and follow up by including a clear subject line and a signature with your contact information. It's important to address the email cover letter correctly, including the name of the person hiring for the position if you have a contact, to ensure that your letter gets noticed.

Subject Line of Email Message

Never leave the subject line blank. There is a good chance that if a hiring manager receives an email with no subject line, they’ll delete it without even bothering to open it, or it could end up in their spam mailbox. Instead, write a clear subject indicating your intentions.

List the job you are applying for in the  subject line of your email message , so the employer knows what job you are interested in. They may be hiring for multiple positions, and you will want them to identify the position you’re interested in easily.

How to Address the Contact Person

There are a variety of  cover letter salutations  you can use to address your email message. If you have a contact person at the company, address the letter to Ms. or Mr. Lastname. If you aren’t given a contact person, check to see if you can  determine the email recipient's name .

If you can’t find a contact person at the company, you can either leave off the salutation from your cover letter and  start with the first paragraph  of your letter or use a  general salutation .

How to Format the Salutation

Once you have chosen a salutation, follow it with a colon or comma, a space, and then start the first paragraph of your letter. For example:

Dear Hiring Manager:

First paragraph of the letter.

Body of Email Cover Letter

The body of your cover letter  lets the employer know what position you are applying for, and why the employer should select you for an interview. This is where you'll sell yourself as a candidate. Review the job posting and include examples of your attributes that closely match the ones they are looking for.

When you're sending an  email cover letter , it's important to follow the employer's instructions on how to submit your cover letter and resume.

Make sure that your email cover letters are as well-written as any other documents you send.

If you have attached your resume, mention this as part of your conclusion. Then finish your cover letter by thanking the employer for considering you for the position. Include information on how you will follow up. Include a closing, then list your name and your  email signature .

Your email signature should include your name, full address, phone number, email address, and  LinkedIn Profile URL  (if you have one) so it is easy for hiring managers to get in touch.

Firstname Lastname  Street Address  (optional) City, State Zip Code  Email  Phone  LinkedIn

Sample Cover Letter

This is a cover letter example. Download the cover letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

Sample Cover Letter (Text Version)

Mary Garcia 12 Rogers Avenue Townville, New Hampshire 03060 555-555-5555 mary.garcia@email.com

February 17, 2021

Franklin Lee

CBI Industries 39 Main Street Townville, New Hampshire 03060

Dear Mr. Lee:

I was excited to see your ad for the operations assistant position in your Townville offices.

I have five years of experience as an operations assistant/associate. In my most recent role at ABC Corp., I fulfilled orders, resolved customer issues, ordered supplies, and prepared reports. In previous roles, I’ve done bookkeeping, data entry, and sales support. Basically, anything your department needs to run smoothly, I can do – and most likely, I already have experience doing it.

My other skills include:

• Strong communication skills, in person, in writing, and on the phone
• Excellent attention to detail and organization skills
• Top-notch customer service
• Experience in the industry and passion for the product
• Adept at all the usual professional software, including Microsoft Office Suite

I’ve included my resume for your review. Please contact me if you have questions or would like to schedule an interview. Thank you for your consideration.

Signature (hard copy letter)

Mary Garcia

Review Cover Letter Samples: It’s hard to write cover letters from scratch. To make life easier – and to make sure you don’t forget any of those pesky formatting rules —start by reviewing cover letter samples . Sending an email version instead? Look at a few examples of email cover letters to get started.

Customize Your Cover Letter: Why personalize your cover letter every time you apply for a job? Because even similar job titles have different requirements. The goal of a cover letter is to show the hiring manager that you’re the best candidate for this particular job. Customizing your cover letter will help you emphasize your skills and experience and how they fit with the job requirements .

Spell-Check Names: Before sending your cover letter, make absolutely sure that you have spelled the hiring manager’s name correctly. That is the kind of small error that can cost you a job interview.

Carefully Proofread Your Letter: Whether you're sending an email or uploading or attaching a printable cover letter, it's important to make sure that your cover letter and resume are written as well as any other business correspondence. If you can, have a friend proofread before you hit send, to pick up any typos or grammatical errors.

Saddleback College. " Your Resume is Your 1st Interview ," Page 14. Accessed Feb. 17, 2021.

• Career Advice
• Cover Letters

How to Address a Cover Letter

The beginning of a cover letter typically includes a salutation to the person who will be reading it—most likely the hiring manager. This important first line, written in the proper format, makes a positive first impression and can help you land an interview with a potential employer.

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Cover Letter Address Template

Download a free cover letter address template in MS Word format.

Cover Letter Address Template:

[Full Name]

[Email Address]

[Contact Number]

[LinkedIn Profile/website link]

[Name of the Company or Institution receiving your cover letter]

[Subject Line]

[Cover letter body.]

[Insert name]

A step-by-step guide to addressing a cover letter.

How to address the hiring manager.

Find the name of the hiring manager..

While it's important to address the hiring manager directly in your cover letter, oftentimes a job ad won't mention a contact person, especially if it's advertised through a recruiter. Fortunately, you can often find out who the hiring manager or head of the department is with a quick internet search. If all else fails, use "Dear Hiring Manager."

Address hiring managers by name if possible.

Always address the hiring manager directly by using Mr. or Ms. followed by their last name. Furthermore, using Ms. instead of Miss or Mrs. will avoid offending a female hiring manager, particularly if you don't know her marital status.

For example:

"Dear Mr. Smith"

"Dear Ms. Smith"

If you're unsure about the gender of the hiring manager, use both their first and last names.

"Dear Taylor Smith"

"Dear Jordan Newton"

Use the correct title.

Generally, using a professional title conveys respect and should always be used when the hiring manager has one, such as Doctor, Professor, Sergeant, Reverend, etc. You can shorten the title for brevity.

"Dear Dr. Smith"

"Dear Prof. Einstein"

"Dear Sgt. Newton"

"Dear Rev. Parker"

Address unknown hiring managers by their job title.

When you don't know the name of the hiring manager, the most acceptable salutation to use is "Dear Hiring Manager." Although you're not addressing someone directly, it still conveys professionalism and attention to detail. Avoid using the antiquated "To whom it may concern."

"Dear Customer Service Hiring Manager"

"Dear Sales Team Hiring Manager"

Note: Use a comma after your salutation, followed by a space and the body of your cover letter.

How to address an e-mail cover letter.

Include a subject line..

Hiring managers receive tons of emails so it's important to include a clear subject line indicating which job you are applying for.

Subject Line: Job application for sales manager position.

Address the hiring manager.

Start off the body of your email with the hiring manager's name or use a general salutation.

Dear Mr. Smith, OR Mr. Smith,

[Cover letter text...]

Include your name and contact details.

Lastly, sign off your email with your name, email address, phone number, and LinkedIn profile or website link.

Samantha Phillips

[email protected]

+09 012 029 9234

www.samanthaphillips.com

Common cover letter address mistakes:

• Make sure that you've addressed your cover letter to the right person, and that their name is spelled correctly.
• Do not use "Hello," "Hey," or "Hi," as this could come off as too informal.
• Do not use outdated salutations like "Dear Sir," "Dear Madam," or "To Whom it may Concern."

Additional Resources.

• Best Cover Letter Generators .
• Best Cover Letter Tips .
• Common Cover Letter Mistakes .
• Best Resume Builder .
• Skills to Put on a Resume .
• Best Font for Resume .
• How to Prepare for a Job Interview .

Common Cover Letter Mistakes

How do I address a cover letter?

Always address the hiring manager directly by name . If you don't know the hiring manager's name, do some research or use a general salutation.

How do I address a cover letter to a PHD (doctor)?

If the hiring manager has a professional title , always put the title in front of their name, e.g. "Dear Dr. Einstein."

How do I start a cover letter?

It's important to start a cover letter with a greeting or salutation .

What is a good cover letter address format?

Addressing the hiring manager by name shows professionalism and establishes a connection. If you don't know their name even after doing a Google search, use a general salutation like "Dear Hiring Manager."

How do you address a cover letter to an unknown recipient?

It's acceptable to use a general salutation like these:

• "Dear Hiring Manager."
• "Dear Sales Team Hiring Manager."
• "Dear Customer Service Hiring Manager."
• "Dear IT Department Hiring Manager."

Related Articles:

What is a hiring manager, the 12 best cover letter tips for 2024, action verbs for resumes, cv vs. resume, how to write a cv.

Business Letter Writing: Mrs, Miss or Ms?

How should you address a woman when you write a letter or email to her? Will she be offended if you write “Dear Madam” or “Dear Mrs + surname”?

Over the last few years, there have been some changes in standard greetings, and here are some general guidelines to help you choose between the three standard titles: Mrs, Miss, Ms.

Mrs, Miss, Ms?

The old distinction between married (“Mrs + surname”) and unmarried (“Miss + surname”) is generally irrelevant in business letters. As it doesn’t matter if a woman is married or not, use “Ms + surname”. Ms is pronounced (Mizz) and is used for all women.

For example:

“Dear Ms Jones”

If you are replying to a letter in which the woman has written her name as “Mrs + surname”, then it is fine to reply to her using “Mrs + her surname”.

“Dear Mrs Jones

Thank you for your letter…”

However, as explained above, if you receive a letter where the first name and surname are given, reply with “Dear Ms + surname”.

“Dear Ms Jones”.

We don’t generally write “Dear Miss + surname” to women – unless they have already written to you and ended their letter with this title. So if you receive a letter from a woman who has signed it “Miss + surname”, you can also use “Miss + surname” in your reply.

“Dear Miss Jones

Thank you for your enquiry about …”

If you are writing to a person in a company whose name you don’t know, you can start with “Dear Sir / Madam”. (This is because you don’t know if you’re writing to a man or a woman.)

“Dear Sir / Madam

I’m enclosing my CV for your attention…”

If you know for sure that the person is a woman (but you don’t know her name) you can write “Dear Madam”.

Avoid these other mistakes

1. Don’t write “Dear Mrs” on it own without any name afterwards. Remember: after titles like Mr, Mrs or Ms, we need a surname.

2. Don’t write “Dear Ms”, “Dear Miss” or “Dear Mrs” followed by the first name.

3. Don’t write “Dear Madame”.

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Sender's Address in a Cover Letter

Salutation in a cover letter, if you know the person's name:.

When applying for a job, it is very important to know the name of the addressee and address him/her personally.

Dear Ms / Miss / Mrs / Mr / Dr + Nachname

Example: Dear Mr Miller

Dear first name + surname

Example: Dear Chris Miller

If you don't know the person's name:

If despite all efforts you cannot find out the addressee's name, the only possibility is to use one of the following salutations:

Punctuation after the Salutation

In British English, don't use any punctuation mark or use a comma.

Example: Dear Mr Miller or Dear Mr Miller,

In American English, use a colon:

Example: Dear Mr. Miller:

Ms, Miss or Mrs?

• Mrs – to address a married woman
• Miss – to address an unmarried woman (rarely used now)
• Ms – to address a woman whose marital status you don't know; also used to address an unmarried woman

Note : The abrreviations Mr, Mrs etc. are usually written without full stops (Mr) in British English and with full stops (Mr.) in American English.

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Proper Title to Address a Woman in a Cover Letter

Tips for business letter salutations.

Your cover letter may be the first form of communication you have with an employer. Addressing the cover letter properly can help you get a pass to the next stage of the job search process, but knowing how to address the letter correctly is important. It is particularly important when the letter is addressed to a woman. There are many ways to address a woman, depending on whether she's married or single, and based on the information presented in the job posting.

Whenever you are uncertain about how to address a woman in your cover letter, you can rely on using "Ms." followed by her last name. This helps avoid the mistake of referring to her incorrectly with "Miss" or "Mrs." This salutation also applies when you are uncertain if she holds a specific title such as a doctorate, advises Western State Colorado University's Career Service. If she holds a doctorate, the salutation is "Dr." followed by her last name, and it takes precedence over "Ms.," "Miss" or "Mrs."

Use "Miss" to address a woman in a cover letter if this is how she's referred in the job posting. For instance, "Dear Miss Smith." It is also the typical form used to address a woman when you know she is not married. If there is any uncertainty at all, refer back to using "Ms."

Use "Mrs." followed by the woman's last name in a cover letter if this is how she's referred in the job posting. "Mrs." is typically the form used for women who are married. When you are uncertain whether she is married or has kept her maiden name, refer back to using "Ms."

In some instances, you may have contact with an employer before having the chance to send a cover letter. She may tell you to call her by her first name. In this type of situation, address her by her first name in your cover letter as well. Other instances where the first name basis can apply in a cover letter is when there is email correspondence that's already begun and in each instance, she has signed off on it with her first name when writing to you.

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Wendy Lau entered the communication field in 2001. She works as a freelance writer and prior to that was a PR executive responsible for health care clients' written materials. Her writing experience include technical articles, corporate materials, online articles, blogs, byline articles, travel itineraries and business profile listings. She holds a Bachelor of Science in corporate communications from Ithaca College.

Ms., Mrs., Miss or Mx: When to Use Which?

Table of Contents

Miss, Ms., Mrs., and Mx. are not interchangeable terms. Addressing someone with the wrong title can be offensive, so it is important to know the difference between these four prefixes. The guide below will describe how they have been used historically and how to use them now. Here’s a general guideline: If someone tells you they prefer a certain title, then that’s the one that you should use to address them.

“Miss”, when prefacing a name, has been a title of respect for a female child and an unmarried woman. It’s been used by itself (as a term of address) or combined with a name, a descriptor of a prominent characteristic, or something that the person represents.

Miss Sarah Green  won the science fair.

Excuse me,  Miss . You dropped your bag.

Aren’t you  Miss Jacobs  from the library?

You’re certainly  Miss  Congeniality today.

Traditionally, in formal settings, people would use “Miss” along with an unmarried woman’s last name, regardless of how well they know the woman in question. It was also used when it was unknown if the woman was married or not. The title was used for women in positions of authority, like teachers or supervisors. In settings like this, it was considered polite to continue using the “Miss” title and use the addresses first name only when invited.

In present-day use, “Miss” is considered more appropriate for young women. The connotation of “Miss” as a woman who is not married is loaded by today’s standards because many women don’t want to be addressed in a way that eludes to their marital status. 

Note: In some regions, “Miss” appears with a first name, as a sign of respect or fondness. But when coupled with a full name, “Miss” can also be used as a forerunner to reprimanding, especially when used in reference to a child.

Thanks for the invitation,  Miss Janet . We’ll see you tonight!

Miss Tamara Jasmine Hunter ! Get in here right now!

Traditionally, “Mrs.” has been a title of respect for a married or widowed woman . Just like the use of “Miss”, it appeared with names and characteristics. Sometimes the title included their husband’s first and last name. This tradition is becoming less common however, as women usually like to be addressed by their own name.

Mrs. Vanmeter  was my seventh-grade English teacher.

Address an envelope to  Mrs. Richard Vaughn .

In professional (and otherwise formal) situations, when addressing a married woman , and when speaking to a woman in a position of authority, it was customary to use “Mrs.” along with their last name. Again, it was appropriate to wait for the invitation to drop the formal title before using their given first name.

Mrs. White  is an amazing nurses aid.

In modern times, “Mrs.” is used less and less frequently, particularly in professional settings. Although, it still appears as a preference on most official forms and documents.

What if you didn’t know whether someone is married or not? Unlike “Miss” or “Mrs.”, “Ms.” does not indicate a woman’s marital status, so it became a good choice when you didn’t have that context. The title became used in the 1950s and grew in popularity during the women’s movement of the 1970s, as “Ms.” seemed an acceptable alternative to “Mister,” which is a title of respect for both unmarried and married men.

It’s wonderful to meet you,  Ms. Ruiz .

The prefix “Mx.” was added to  Merriam-Webster Unabridged  in 2016 (although it appeared in print as early as the late ’70s.) The designation functions as a gender-neutral substitute to titles like “Mr.” and “Ms.” And—similar to “Ms.”—it does not indicate marital status. As with the other titles covered here, “Mx.” is typically used in conjunction with a person’s name, as a sign of respect. 

This is  Mx.  Ward, and they head up the bookkeeping department.

According to Merriam-Webster, “Mx.” is most often used by individuals who identify outside of the gender binary. But, like the other titles described here, it’s not an all-purpose title—some people may not like it or prefer no title at all, but others may fully welcome it—so it’s best to just ask what someone prefers.

It should be stated that Mx. remains uncommon in the United States, although a certain surge in its use has been taking place.

Selecting “Miss” or “Ms.”

“Miss” and “Ms.” both apply to women who are not married or whose marital status is not known. Whichever you use should depend on the preference of the person you’re addressing. If you’re not sure, consider “Ms.”; it’s a more acceptable option as it’s marital status-neutral. Funnily enough, some newspaper editors avoid the issue altogether by omitting titles and referring to men and women by their full names instead. However, newspapers will usually retain the titles if they appear in a quote.

In the game of love, track star Sydney McLaughlin just struck gold. She announced her engagement to Andre Levrone Jr. with a heartfelt letter to her “future husband.” –  E! Online

“I love kids and I love when they experience that a-ha moment and watching the light bulb go off,” said Mrs. Chasse. “I like what I do and I like knowing that I’m making a difference in the future so it’s fun, it’s rewarding.” –  NBC Connecticut

To use “Ms.”, you’ll apply the same rules as you would for “Miss” and “Mrs.” and couple it with a person’s name, or use it all on its own as a form of address. There are differences in pronunciation, however, between those two titles, which are explained below.

How to pronounce them

The pronunciation of each of these titles depends on geographic location. Starting with the easiest: “Miss” rhymes with “this” in all geographical regions.

However, “Mrs.” might sound like “mis-iz” or “mis-is” in the North or North Midland parts of the United States, yet  Southerners might pronounce “Mrs.” as “miz-iz” or even “miz.” And, making things more difficult, “Miz” is also the pronunciation of “Ms.” Therefore, in the South, “Mrs.” and “Ms.” may sound similar if not identical.

Finally, “Mx.” can sound either like “mix” or “mux.” You’re more likely, though to hear it spoken out loud in the UK than in the US because the term is  more widely known and used there .

American vs. British: Crossing the Pond

In  British English , you might see “Mrs.” spelled out as “missus” when in print, though this is not common in American English.

Related: British versus US Spellings.

Asked when he will take George to his first football match, the Duke replied: “I don’t know, I’ll have to pass that by the missus , see how I can get away with it. At the moment, being only 22 months, it’s a little bit early.” –  The Guardian

Another big difference is punctuation—Brits don’t use a period after Mrs. or Mx., but Americans do:

Even before the whole truth comes out, Mrs de Winter changes a menu without consulting Mrs Danvers, taking charge of Rebecca’s old empire. –  The Independent

In November High Street lender Metrobank started to offer the “ Mx ” prefix on its forms. –  BBC News

While most people use titles like “Miss”, “Mrs.”, “Ms.”, and “Mx.” to show respect, you can run the risk of offensiveness if you don’t use them right. So it pays to know how each one works. As a reminder: It’s always best to adhere to a person’s title and pronoun when you address them. This way, you’ll be able to build empathetic relationships with the people in your life.

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Ms. vs. Mrs. – What’s the Difference?

Home » Ms. vs. Mrs. – What’s the Difference?

Using the correct title when writing a letter is a sign of respect, and it can avoid embarrassment for both you and your addressee.

The only problem is that there are many titles from which to choose, and it is not always clear which one is most appropriate.

Titles for women, in particular, are confusing for many writers. When writing to a man, you can usually address him as Mr. and not worry about it. For women, though, the choice is much more difficult—you have to decide whether to use Miss, Ms., Mrs., or ma’am .

What is the Difference Between Ms. and Mrs.?

In this post, I will compare Ms. vs. Mrs. I will outline the appropriate contexts in which to use each of these titles, and I will use each of hem in a few example sentences.

Also, I will show you a memory tool that can help you decide whether to use Mrs. or Ms. in your own writing.

When to Use Ms.

Just as Mr. can be used for both married and unmarried men, Ms. can be used for both married and unmarried women. Ms. should also be followed by the person’s surname, like Ms. Frizzle .

It is important to note, however, that Ms. is not the same as Miss , which is a title for a young, unmarried woman. Ms. is pronounced mizz , so that it rhymes with fizz , when spoken out loud.

For example,

• Battison graded very harshly at the start of the term, but relaxed her standards when she realized that no one liked her.
• Knowles married Mr. Carter, but decided to keep her own surname.
• Arbus, a New York native, started photographing street style in the 1980s for The Village Voice as a way to meet the cool downtown crowd. – The New York Times

In business writing, it is best to default to Ms. By doing this, it doesn’t matter if a woman is married, divorced, temporarily separated, etc., because this title is used regardless of those circumstances.

However, if it is known that the woman is married, it is perfectly acceptable to use Mrs. (see below).

When to Use Mrs.

Mrs. is always followed by the woman’s surname, like Mrs. Robinson .

• Our English teacher, Mrs. Platte, brought her husband to the varsity basketball game.
• Ellie addressed the Christmas card to Mr. & Mrs. Harmon and dropped it in the mailbox.
• Clinton’s friends at the Justice Department chose not to subpoena Mrs. Clinton’s friends from the State Department and the campaign. – National Review

Other Titles

Ms. and Mrs. are not the only titles for women in English. Ma’am signals respect when the woman you are addressing is older than you, but it is normally reserved for spoken conversation. Mrs. or Ms. , followed by the woman’s surname, would be a better choice in a letter or e-mail.

If a woman has another title, like Dr. , always use it unless specifically instructed otherwise, especially in professional contexts.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Use Mrs . when you know for sure a woman is married. Use Ms. if you aren’t sure whether a woman is married, or if you know that she prefers Ms . over Mrs. Use Miss only for young, unmarried women, and even then Ms . is probably a better choice in formal settings.

Since Mrs. is used for married women, and both Mrs. and marriage contain an R, you should always be able to remember when to use Mrs.

Is it Ms. or Mrs.? English has many feminine titles.

• Miss is usually reserved for young, unmarried women.
• Mrs . is used for married women.
• Ms . can be used for either married or unmarried women, and should always be used if you are unsure of the person’s marital status.

You can remember Mrs. vs. Ms. because Mrs. refers to a woman who is married, and both words contain the letter R .

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Miss, Mrs., Or Ms.: When To Use Each

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How you address a person can make a huge difference in how your correspondence is received. When you’re writing a professional letter or speaking to someone in a position of authority, it’s polite to use established formal titles to address them.

For men, their titles remain the same regardless of their stage in life or marital status as “Mr..” It can be a little trickier to distinguish whether to use Miss, Mrs., or Ms. to formally address a woman and how to differentiate between them when you don’t know someone’s background or preferences.

In this article, we’ll cover the background and history of women’s titles, as well as give you clear guidance on how to use each in your professional life.

Key Takeaways:

The title of Miss is traditionally used for younger unmarried women under 18.

The term Mrs. refers to a married woman of any age.

The term Ms. was introduced in the 1950s out of a desire that many women had to be recognized formally outside of the confines of marriage.

If you are unsure what title to use, you should do some research, ask someone they know well, or simple ask them what their preference is.

The Traditional Use of Miss and Mrs.

The emergence of ms., how to know the difference between miss, mrs., and ms., what to do if you don’t know a woman’s status, problems with miss, mrs., and ms., examples of gender-neutral options for formal titles, miss, ms., and mrs. faq, final thoughts.

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Whether you’re writing a business email to a colleague or speaking with someone you don’t know well, demonstrating the utmost respect is required. When addressing someone formally, the titles of Miss and Mrs. were initially allocated to emphasize a woman’s marital status and age. They are used in conjunction with their family name or their husband’s last name if married.

Historically, these titles are granted as an expression of respect and demonstrate distinctions between social status. However, in today’s world, they pose more complex questions.

Examples of situations to use a professional address include:

Writing a business email Sending a wedding invitation Speaking to a person of authority Addressing a cover letter Introducing yourself to a hiring manager

Once upon a time, there was only Miss and Mrs. to make the distinction between married and unmarried women when addressing formally . This duality was later questioned by people who thought it strange that a woman is dictated professionally by whether she is married.

Feminists of the 1950s-1970s deemed the term Miss as immature for adults and stated that women should have a lifetime title regardless of marriage, just like men with the title “Mr..” They constituted “Ms.” as the title to be given to unmarried adult women, specifically, but it can be used to refer to a woman at any point in her life.

While indoctrinating the term “Ms.” into mainstream society may seem like a small feat, it was a great accomplishment for the feminist movement. It was the first time that there was an all-encompassing phrase to address adult women formally. It also took a significant step away from a woman’s success status being determined from marriage by allowing them to acclaim a formal title that doesn’t pertain to their love life.

Many people get confused about which title to use when addressing a woman formally, but you’ll remember it forever once you learn the difference between Miss, Mrs., and Ms.

Miss. (Pronounced like “Miss”)

While Miss was originally used to suit women of any age who were unmarried, it’s now almost exclusively used to represent the younger demographic of women. It should not be used to address adults.

It is seen as infantilizing or condescending to address an adult woman “miss” followed by her last name.

Mrs. (Pronounced like “Miz-iz”)

The term Mrs. refers to a married woman of any age. Sometimes, women who have become widowed or divorced still prefer to use this title, but it’s based on personal preference.

Ms. (Pronounced like “Mizz”)

Out of all the titles used to speak professionally to women, Ms. is the newest and safest bet if you’re unsure which title to use.

The biggest struggle when deciding which title to use when corresponding professionally with a woman is when you don’t know their status. Deciding between the complexities of formally addressing a woman can be stressful, and some people perceive it as rude to be referred to by the wrong title. Luckily there are ways to avoid a misunderstanding that creates tension.

You should never presume a woman’s status if you’re unsure. In this situation, the best action to take is using the term “Ms.” because it can apply to any adult woman. There are methods you can use for the future to better accommodate the person’s preferences.

Do research online. While it may sound a little creepy, if you’ll be dealing with a person regularly and are uncomfortable asking them whether they’re married, the internet can be a valuable source. Usually, you’ll come across some written documents where they’ve been formally addressed, and you can use this professional title in the future.

Ask someone they know well. Another tactic you can use to determine which professional title you should address is asking a friend or colleague close to them. While you may not know the person well, someone in your professional circle probably does. Ask them casually either whether the person is married or what professional title they usually use.

Ask them about their preferences. The most highly recommended method you can use to determine what titles you should use is to ask the person directly what their preferences are.

You never know what they will want to be called unless you ask. Some married women prefer “Ms.,” and other people prefer a professional title without the use of gender roles at all.

There is a troubling precedent set by differentiating women by their marital status, but not men. When the distinction between a woman’s title was limited to Mrs. and Miss, it was a demonstration that stated the pinnacle of adulthood for women as getting married.

Many people took issue with this because it insinuates that a woman’s professional or formal titles should be defined by whether or not she’s married. Feminists sought to fix this problem by introducing the term “Ms.” to be designated for adult women who are unmarried or who simply don’t want to be formally addressed as Mrs. or Miss due to their underlying connotations.

However, there are still more problematic aspects to only prescribing gender-based formal titles.

In addition to the glaring problems that defining women’s formal titles by their marital status creates, we live in a modern progressive society where gender identity norms are different from those in the early 1900s.

Most well-known formal titles include clarification of one’s gender, even for men. This poses a problem for people who identify as gender-fluid or non-binary because they’re not provided representation in the common exchange of life. Some people also prefer to use professional titles that don’t have to make a statement about their gender.

In recent years, there has been a more positive movement towards including a more comprehensive range of ways that people identify in their formal titles.

Mx. (Pronounced like “Mix”) Mx is a term that’s used to address a person formally but does not indicate gender. Although the term has been around since the late ‘70s, it’s only recently seen a rise in popularity. The title is still gaining traction in American-English. However, it is commonly used in places like the United Kingdom.

Ind. This title is used to represent the word “individual.” It is another respectful option to professionally address someone through writing or speaking, without basing the title on gender.

M*. Similar to Mx., M* serves the same function of professional acknowledgment while being gender-neutral .

Are all married women “Mrs.”?

No, not all married women use Mrs. American women often do opt to change their title to “Mrs.” after getting married, but it’s up to each individual to decide what she prefers.

If a woman changes to “Mrs.,” does she have to change her last name?

No, a woman does not have to change their last name to use Mrs. You can go by “Mrs.” and keep your maiden name. Conversely, you can go by “Ms.” and take your partner’s last name.

When addressing a couple, whose name comes first?

Traditionally, the woman’s name precedes a man’s on an envelope or in an email. The only time this was altered was if the man had a rank (Dr., Lt., etc.) and the woman didn’t. If both had a title, the woman’s name would again come first.

In today’s world, either order is acceptable, as well as including the title for each person or only for the first person (Mrs. Jane and John Smith, for example).

How do I address a letter to two women married to each other?

Like all married women, women in same-sex marriages can opt for Mrs., Ms., or whatever title they want. The best way to find out is to ask directly.

What about professional titles?

If you know that the recipient of your letter or email has a professional title, you should always use that in professional correspondence. People work hard to earn these titles, and most appreciate it when you address them properly.

When addressing a medical doctor or someone who has earned a doctoral degree, you should address them by “Dr.” in emails and letters.

When addressing military personnel, be sure to write out their full rank or use the appropriate abbreviation (Lt. for Lieutenant , for example).

The titles of Mrs. and Miss were traditionally used preceding a woman’s last name to display a form of respect. In the 1970s, the term “Ms.” was added to join these ranks by feminists who appealed for a term equal to that of “Mr.” for men.

Although using formal titles when addressing a person of authority or in business is still recommended, there are additional actions you should take to accommodate a person’s title preferences. Such as asking them whether they prefer the title of Miss, Mrs., Ms., or something else like the gender-neutral option of “Mx.”

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Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.

Matt Warzel a President of a resume writing firm (MJW Careers, LLC) with 15+ years of recruitment, outplacement, career coaching and resume writing experience. Matt is also a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR) with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing Focus) from John Carroll University.

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• Ms. vs. Mrs. vs. Miss | Difference & Pronunciation

Ms. vs. Mrs. vs. Miss | Difference & Pronunciation

Published on December 17, 2022 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on June 1, 2023.

The words Ms. , Mrs. , and Miss are all titles used to address women formally (e.g., at the start of an email ). Which one you should use depends on the age and marital status of the woman, as well as on her own preference about how she should be addressed.

• Ms. (pronounced [miz]) is a neutral option that doesn’t indicate any particular marital status. It’s most commonly used for older unmarried women and for women whose marital status you don’t know, but you can use it for any adult woman.
• Mrs. (pronounced [ miss -iz]) is used to address a married woman of any age.
• Miss (pronounced [miss]) is used to address a young unmarried woman or girl.

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Miss vs. ms., how to use ms., how to use mrs., how to use miss, what does mx. mean, punctuation with ms., mrs., miss, and mx., other interesting language articles, frequently asked questions.

People sometimes mistake Ms. for an abbreviation of Miss , since other titles are conventionally abbreviated in writing (e.g., Mrs., Mr., Dr.). In fact, they’re two different terms with different pronunciations, and Miss has no abbreviation but is always written in full.

Since both titles can refer to unmarried women, it can be difficult to decide which is the right choice. Always follow the preference of the woman being addressed, but if you’re not sure of her preference, the following general guidelines may help:

• Miss is the form always used for girls— Ms. is only used for adult women (18 or older).
• Miss is a common title for unmarried women up to roughly the age of 30.
• Ms. is generally used for unmarried women past the age of 30. It’s also a safe option for women of any age whom you are unsure how to address.
• Ms. can also be used (instead of Mrs. ) for a married woman. Miss cannot be used in this way.

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Ms. is a title invented in the 20th century to refer to a woman whose marital status is unknown to the speaker. It was embraced by the feminist movement as a way of referring to a woman without defining her by her marital status (equivalent to the masculine “Mr.”). As such, it’s often used even when the woman is known to be married.

Ms. is written with a period because it’s based on Mrs. , but unlike that word, it’s not actually an abbreviation of anything. When you say it out loud, pronounce it [miz] (not [miss]); but you should never write it as “Miz.” Ms. is always capitalized . The plural is Mss. (pronounced [ miz -iz]).

I’d like to introduce you to Mss. Andrej and Elenora.

Mrs. is a title used for a married woman. The more neutral title Ms. can be used instead for a woman whose marital status is unknown or irrelevant or who expresses a preference for this mode of address.

Mrs. is written with a period because it originated as an abbreviation of “mistress.” However, it’s now pronounced [ miss -iz] and only written in this abbreviated form. It’s always capitalized. The plural is Mmes. , short for the French “Mesdames.”

I’d like to thank Mrs. Pavel for all her support during the renovations.

Miss is a title used for an unmarried woman. It’s used mainly for young women and girls (roughly up to the age of 30); it can also be used for older unmarried women, but Ms. is more common in that context. Many young women also prefer Ms. , so it can be safest to simply refer to any adult woman with Ms. instead.

Unlike other titles, Miss is written in full and cannot be abbreviated. It’s pronounced as it’s spelled: [miss]. It’s capitalized when it’s followed by a name, but it’s also used without a specific name, in which case it’s lowercase. The plural is Misses .

May I ask you a question, miss ?

Misses Claudia and Jayendra arrived together.

Mx. is a gender-neutral title invented more recently as a way of referring to someone without specifying their gender. Like the singular “they,” it’s used to refer to someone who doesn’t identify as either male or female, or to someone who simply doesn’t want to be identified by their gender.

Mx. is primarily used in writing; when said aloud, it can be pronounced [mux] or [mix]. It’s always capitalized. Like Ms. , it’s not an abbreviation of anything in particular; it’s just formed to look like other titles of the same kind.

Most common titles used before people’s names are written in abbreviated form. The way to write these abbreviations varies between US and UK English .

• In US English , abbreviation is indicated with a period at the end: Mrs. , Ms. , Mx.
• In UK English , no period is used with such abbreviations (e.g., “Dr Philips,” “Ms Jamison”). If you’re writing in UK English, write Mrs , Ms , and Mx with no period after them.

Miss is not an abbreviation; it’s always written out in full. Because of this, it has no period in either version of English.

If you want to know more about commonly confused words , definitions , and differences between US and UK spellings , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

Confused words

• Affect vs effect
• Further vs farther
• Loose vs lose
• Whose vs who’s

Definitions

• Bear with me
• Presumptuous

US vs. UK spellings

• Burned or burnt
• Canceled or cancelled
• Dreamt or dreamed
• Gray or grey
• Theater vs theatre

Miss is a title for an unmarried woman or girl, especially one under the age of about 30 (e.g., “Miss Jones”). It cannot be used for a married woman. It is sometimes seen as slightly old-fashioned, since it defines the woman by her marital status.

Ms. is a title for a woman whose marital status is unknown, for an older unmarried woman, or for any woman in a context where you don’t want to emphasize the woman’s marital status. It’s intended to be neutral, in that it can be used for married and unmarried women alike—much like “Mr.” can be used for married and unmarried men.

Mx. is a gender-neutral title used in the same way as gendered titles like “Miss” and “Mr.” Like the singular “they,” it’s used for people who identify as neither male nor female, or people who simply don’t want to be identified based on their gender.

It’s written like an abbreviation , but it doesn’t stand for any longer word; it’s just designed to look like other titles used before names, with the x used much like it is in statistics , to stand for an unspecified value (the person’s gender).

Ms. is a title used before a woman’s name, much like “Miss” and “Mrs.” Unlike those terms, it doesn’t specify whether the woman is married or unmarried. It’s used as an equivalent to the masculine “Mr.” to refer to a woman without defining her by her marital status (e.g. “Ms. Gadd”).

It’s written like an abbreviation , but it doesn’t stand for any longer word; it’s just designed to look like other titles used before names. It does not stand for “Miss.” When said aloud, it’s pronounced [miz], but it should not be written that way.

Mrs. is a title used before a married woman’s name (e.g., “Mrs. Carlton”). It shouldn’t be used for an unmarried woman, regardless of her age.

It originated as an abbreviation of “Mistress,” but it’s now pronounced [ miss -iz] and should be written in its abbreviated form, not as “Mistress.”

Miss is a title used before a girl’s or an unmarried woman’s name (e.g., “Miss Saint”). It shouldn’t be used for a married woman. For older unmarried women, “Ms.” (pronounced [miz]) is often used instead, since “Miss” normally has a connotation of youth.

Unlike other similar titles, “Miss” cannot be abbreviated but is written out in full.

The word “miss” (not capitalized) can also be used as a verb or noun with various meanings related to a failure to hit something or to feeling the absence of someone or something. These meanings are unrelated to its use as a title.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2023, June 01). Ms. vs. Mrs. vs. Miss | Difference & Pronunciation. Scribbr. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/effective-communication/ms-mrs-miss/

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5 Ways to Screw Up Your Cover Letter Greeting

Dear Cover Letter Writer: You probably think the greeting of  your cover letter (the "Dear..." line) is pretty simple. After all, it has only four little parts:  the Dear, the Title (Mr., Ms., Dr., etc.), the Last Name, and the Colon [:]. How can you screw that up? Ah, we have our ways. In fact, there are at least five common mistakes people make in their cover letter greetings, any of which might affect their chances of getting an interview . Are you guilty of any of these?    Mistake #1:  Dear Miss DeVille: Should be:    Dear Ms. DeVille: WHY?   "Miss" and "Mrs." are archaic in business settings, because marital status is irrelevant. "Ms." is the business-appropriate way to address a woman – unless of course she’s earned a title such as Dr., Rev., Sgt., or Prof. Be sure to use Ms. (pronounced " miz" ) when speaking, too.

Mistake #2:  To Whom It May Concern: Should be:    Dear Mr. or Ms. Lastname: WHY?   "To Whom It May Concern" just sounds lazy and form-letterish. Check the company web site or make a phone call to find out who "Whom" is. Be the one who takes the extra step. It demonstrates your attention to detail.

Mistake #3.   Dear Sir or Madam: Should be:    Dear Mr. or Ms. Lastname:

WHY?   Let’s see… "Dear Sir or Madam" is dated, stuffy, awkward, and has the same problem as "Whom." (And don’t EVEN get me started if you try just Dear Sir .) Get a name! If you really, truly can’t find the hiring party’s name, use their job title. It’s (marginally) better to say Dear Marketing Manager than Dear Sir or Madam.

Mistake #4.   Dear Steve, Should be:     Dear Mr. Lastname:

WHY?   First names are too informal, unless you and "Steve" have already been corresponding and he has clearly set the standard of using first names only. A cover letter is a formal piece of business correspondence, so keep it formal until you've established a relationship. Many workplaces today are informal, and it's typical to move quickly to a first-name basis, but let "Steve" be the one to decide when.

Mistake #5.   Dear Mr. Radcliff: Should be:     Wait a minute... this looks fine, right?  WRONG!  It would be fine, except the guy’s name is Radcliffe with an “e.” Some folks might not notice a typo like manger instead of manager (though most will), and hardly anybody will get miffed about a comma instead of a colon. But everybody knows when their name is misspelled. Proofread, proofread, proofread — especially the recipient's name.

Summary In your cover letter greeting... •  DO use this format:  Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. Lastname: •  DON'T address women as Miss or Mrs.  •  DON'T use a generic or gender-specific greeting (find a name). •  DON'T use first names unless the employer sets the precedent. •  DON'T misspell anyone's name!

RELATED LINKS Write a Real Cover Letter, Not Just a Resume Rehash 3 Tips to Avoid a Boring, Self-Absorbed Cover Letter 6 Reasons You Won't Get Hired Without a Cover Letter Good vs. Bad: Make the Best of Your Cover Letter

Need help submitting your writing to literary journals or book publishers/literary agents?  Click here! →

How To Address A Literary Agent Or Editor In A Letter When You Don’t Know The Gender

by Writer's Relief Staff | Cover Letters , E-query Letters , Editing And Editors , Format Your Writing , Literary Agents , Query Letters , Submit Your Writing | 23 comments

Review Board is now open! Submit your Short Prose, Poetry, and Book today!

Deadline: thursday, april 18th.

When submitting your writing in the hopes of getting published, it’s important to know how to address a literary agent or editor in a cover or query letter. Should you write Dear Literary Agent? Dear Editor? Dear Pat Doe? Dear Mrs. Doe? Dear Ms. Doe? Dear Mr. Doe? How do you address a letter if you don’t know the gender of the person you are writing to?

Many writers over the years have insisted on using salutations such as Dear Mr. So-and-So or Attention Ms. Whoever or Dear Sir Or Madam . Addressing editors and agents using Mr . or Mrs . or Ms . used to be the norm. This is no longer true.

The Best Way To Address A Literary Agent Or Editor In A Letter

You should not assume the gender of the reader of your cover or query letter, no matter how certain you may be that Sue and Pat are females. And it’s not acceptable to call up a literary agent or editor and ask, “Are you a female or male?”

In order to avoid embarrassment and alienating an editor, follow what have now become industry standard rules for addressing these decision makers.

Simply use the first and last name of the editor or literary agent to whom you are sending your submission, without a Mr . or Mrs . salutation (example: Dear Pat Doe ). This technique is sometimes used for mass mailings, but because it is useful and gender-neutral, it has now become standard business protocol for professional correspondence.

Using both names for your submissions won’t be held against you. But if you address an editor or literary agent by the wrong gender, that will make you look out of touch.

In the US, gender-neutral names are becoming trendier each year. Before 1960, these names were almost nonexistent. Since then, more and more parents have turned to names such as Dakota , Drew , and Zane .

Also, when dealing with names from cultures other than your own—don’t assume. Be cautious and tread lightly because you don’t want an editor turned off by your lack of knowledge.

If you feel uncomfortable about names in general, you can always begin your letter with “Dear Editor.” Using a personal name is still considered the best option, so choose “Dear Editor” rarely (the exception to this is when submission guidelines specifically ask that submissions be sent in this way or when no name is given).

Here is a partial list of some of the names that we’ve run across over the years. Can you tell whether you should choose Mr . or Ms. when addressing your submission? Remember that the wrong assumption may cost you that good first impression.

Sam, Dale, Shemayahu, Fran, Aziz, Joel, Herm, Bobby, Sydney, Kinza, Marion, Gerry, Kerry, Joyce, Keiko, Gale, Flo, Jamie, Pupa, Thikhathali, Corey, Thabo, Zujun, and Don’t Forget . . .

For more tips on preparing cover letters, writing query letters , and following submission guidelines etiquette , sign up for our FREE e-publication for writers, delivered by e-mail. At Writer’s Relief, we want to help you get your creative writing published. Whether you’re a do-it-yourself type of writer or you’d like a little help with the process, Writer’s Relief has the expertise and the experience to help you reach your writing goals.

23 Comments

Yeah. I once talked about a publishing industry exec person named Alex like he was a guy…He was a she! I felt pretty dumb.

Actually, I haven’t had any embarrassing moments with names, but I’m glad I read this article. I’ve been so worried that I’ll use the wrong title (Mr., Mrs., etc.) that I’ve always addressed my letters “Dear FirstName LastName.” Then I’d worry that it made me look ignorant that I couldn’t determine the editor’s gender. So it’s nice to know that I’ve actually been doing the right thing all this time!

Thank YOU for all you do.

Bonnie, we’re so glad you found our article helpful!

Thanks for the tips! I just stumbled upon your website. I’ll be a return visitor.

I’m writing a cover letter to a publisher who only offers a generic title and they may distribute it to any one of a number of people with that role. So? Dear WHAT? Dear Fiction Editor? No salutation? This is a common situation with novel and magazine publisher.

Allen, in order to play it safe, “Dear Editor” would be appropriate, considering the publisher may not have a specific editor for a genre. If they do, then “Fiction Editor” or “Poetry Editor” would work.

Thanks for this. I’m wondering though, if the editor’s bio shows their photo and information stating they are a “he” or “she” shouldn’t it be okay to say Dear Mr. or Ms? Using “Dear Pat Doe” seems like we haven’t done our research on the editor, as if we don’t even care to check whether they are a man or woman. And the same thing with “Dear Editor”. I only use “Dear Editor” when I can’t find out who to direct my query or submission to.

Fay, In cases where you’re absolutely sure, then it shouldn’t be a problem. Still, in order to avoid any chance of alienating an editor or agent, consider following what have now become industry standard rules for addressing these decision makers. Using the first and last name of the editor or literary agent to whom you are sending your submission, without a Mr. or Mrs. salutation, has become standard business protocol for professional correspondence.

I’m looking for how to address a movie company for a submission. I don’t know how to address it without a name. Any advice on this issue!!!!

Diane, you can always address the position of the person you are directing the letter to (i.e. editor, agent, etc.) or use a more general address such as “to whom it may concern.”

the problem with using both first and last names is that it seems as if the names were entered through a database or a mailing list for some other automatically entered information.

Hi there, great article. My question however isn’t really answered within this article. What if the person you are sending the query letter to is a company such as HarperCollins? Who do you address it to in that circumstance, there is no given names of any kind. It is just stated on the site, the requirements. But gives no names.

Please email me or answer in here as this is a very old article. I don’t know if it is still in existence.

If there are no names given on the website, “Dear Editor” or “Dear Publisher” would work. Also, make sure that the publisher accepts unsolicited manuscripts before sending your work to them.

Hope this helps!

How do you address the editor if you are sending a simultaneous submission?

You would still address them by their name. If a journal requests that you notify them if your work is a simultaneous submission, you can add something along the lines of “Please note that this will be a simultaneous submission” in your cover letter.

How do you send simultaneous submissions when a lot of them have different submission guidelines?

You would simply adjust the formatting of your work to fit each guidelines. You can find more information about simultaneous submissions here: https://writersrelief.com/2013/04/25/simultaneous-submissions/

IF I DON’T KNOW THE PERSON’S NAME ON THE LIERARY AGENT.CAN I WRITE DEAR TRIDENT MEDIA,

We advise addressing the letter to the agent you are submitting for. This information should be on the agency website.

Like I’m sure you know, ‘Submittable’ is the most common portal to make online submissions to literary magazines and journals nowadays. While many journals have a box that allows you to include a cover letter, most of them do not say exactly WHAT they want the cover letter to include (besides a short biographical note). Given this, I’ve come up with a cover letter “template” that I thought was not inappropriate. However, having read this article, I’m not sure about it and am tempted to run the template by you and ask your opinion. It’d be very helpful to receive an answer. Thanks.

Template: ***** Hello,

Attached is my submission to [journal name]. It consists of [#] poems, of which [#] are my own English poems and [#] are my translations.

[50-80 word bio, per the journal’s submission guidelines]

I look forward to hearing from you.

(Note to Writer’s Relief: I sometimes skip the last three lines, often without meaning to.) *****

I suppose implicit in my question is whether it’s okay to start with ‘Hello’. I think I may have begun to write that way because I felt I was submitting my work to the journal rather than directly to the editor themselves.

That’s a good template for sending cover letters. We recommend addressing your cover letters to the editor of whichever genre you’re submitting to (i.e. the name of the Poetry Editor, if it’s available on the website). This will show the editor that you took the time to look through the journal’s website.

Thank you for these gems!

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Is a Cover Letter Necessary in 2024?

Published: April 03, 2024

Writing a cover letter can be daunting.

I’ll never forget my college career coach, who made writing a cover letter look easy. Even with her tips, I’ve always found it incredibly difficult to talk about myself and hype up my accomplishments.

While it acts as a letter of introduction, I’ve wondered if a cover letter is necessary in 2024. To find out, I spoke with two recruiters and gained insights on how to write the best cover letter for any job application.

How important is a cover letter?

Is a cover letter necessary, when to skip a cover letter, when to include a cover letter, tips for writing a cover letter, what if the cover letter is optional.

Cover letters are short letters of introduction that you include with job applications.

Typically, they are your chance to go into deeper details about your accomplishments that you might not have highlighted or had room to mention on your resume.

Tiffany Hall, a professional resume writer and founder of Resume911 , says cover letters are an important part of the job application process.

Hall says, “Cover letters can be very important. It’s supposed to sell why you, of all applicants, should get the job. The issue is that applicants use them to regurgitate what’s on their resume, and that’s not what it’s for. It should speak to what isn’t easily explained with your resume.”

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• Standard Cover Letter Template
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For example, if your resume says you’re skilled at building web pages, your cover letter is a great place to name-drop companies that you’ve worked for to create their websites.

Matthew Muehleisen, a corporate recruiter , thinks a cover letter is also a great place to show you’ve done your homework and researched a company.

Muehleisen says, “It can be what sets you apart from other candidates and applicants and is a good opportunity to show that you’ve done research on the position and company to further showcase your interest in the role.”

Knowing the importance of a cover letter still begs the question: Is a cover letter necessary in 2024?

Image Source

While a cover letter can help demonstrate your knowledge of the company you’re applying to and highlight more of your achievements, both Hall and Muehleisen agree that a cover letter isn’t entirely necessary.

Muehleisen says, “Unless it’s a requirement of the application, I wouldn’t say it’s necessary to include a cover letter. There are some roles (usually in content creation and marketing) that will ask for a cover letter as a form of a writing sample. In these instances, make sure your letter is polished and focused.”

If Hall had her way, she would eliminate the cover letter entirely, focus more on the resume, and ask for a link to an applicant’s LinkedIn profile.

According to Hall, “Most cover letters either repeat the resume or they speak to why the applicant isn’t a good fit. Neither is the purpose of a cover letter.”

Nevertheless, 74% of hiring managers still prefer applications to include a cover letter. So, it is definitely worth considering including one — even if the application says it’s optional.

If you’re looking for a new role, writing a cover letter can be time-consuming — especially if you take the time to personalize every letter you send to a hiring manager.

Although a cover letter does serve a legitimate purpose, and 83% of hiring managers read it, there are a few situations where you shouldn’t include a cover letter. Let’s take a look at those scenarios.

If You Only Have a Template of a Cover Letter

I get it. Writing an effective cover letter takes a significant amount of time.

But consider not sending one if you only have time to plug your information into a cover letter template without personalizing it before hitting submit on an application.

Don’t get me wrong. A cover letter template is a great starting point to write your cover letter. Templates often remind you to include pertinent information like the hiring manager’s title, name, and your contact information.

However, if you don’t take the time to edit the body of the cover letter and personalize it with research and your relevant experience, you risk sending the same letter as another candidate.

And considering that 48% of hiring managers spend anywhere from 30 seconds to two full minutes reading each cover letter, the chances are high that your hiring manager can spot a form letter a mile away.

Don’t send it if you don’t have the time to personalize a cover letter.

If Your Cover Letter Is Full of Critique

A cover letter is meant to explain why you’re the best candidate for the open position. However, a cover letter is not a place for you to share your ideas of how the company can improve.

Sure, every company likely has areas of improvement, and the job you’re applying for might be the role that gets a say in that, but a list of improvements might read as a critique.

You don’t want to potentially offend a hiring manager before you even get an interview. A bad cover letter can hurt a strong candidate, according to 33% of hiring managers .

Before you submit your cover letter, read through it several times to make sure it’s not a critique. If it does sound like a critique, throw it out.

If It’s Not Required

There are other instances where you shouldn’t send a cover letter. For example, if the application’s instructions specifically state that you do not need to submit a cover letter for consideration for the job.

In fact, sending a cover letter anyway can signal to the hiring manager that you don’t follow instructions. Not following instructions is also a great way to land your application in the trash bin.

The bottom line is this: If the application specifically states not to send a cover letter, don’t send it.

Of hiring managers, 74% prefer to see job applications with a cover letter apart from the resume. Knowing this, if you have the time to include a cover letter with your job application, don’t skip it.

Here are three instances when you should send a cover letter with your application.

Send a cover letter if you’re very interested in the role.

Think of your cover letter as your time to shine. Use it as a place to highlight your experiences and the qualifications that make you a great fit for the position.

Hall says, “If you can speak to why you’re a good candidate without copying your resume in paragraph form, include a cover letter.”

In other words, don’t use bullet points in your cover letter to describe your previous employment history.

Instead, talk about what you learned on the job and how your skills will help you excel in the role you’re applying for.

Send a cover letter when there’s a gap in your resume or you’re transitioning industries.

If you’re looking to transition to another industry, you should definitely include a cover letter with your application.

Speaking from personal experience, if I had only submitted a resume to my school district when I applied to be a Spanish teacher, the hiring manager would have just seen my experience in Public Health and would not have known about my skills and success in tutoring students in Spanish.

Muehleisen puts it this way, “If you’re looking to transition to a new industry or if there is a position and company you’re really excited about pursuing as an opportunity, these are the best instances to include a cover letter so that you can possibly give yourself an advantage.”

A cover letter can also help explain any gaps in your resume — especially if the gap in your employment history is beneficial to the role you’re applying for.

For example, maybe you volunteered in South America, and the role you’re applying for is for a position in Global Operations.

It never hurts to include positive, pertinent information in your cover letter.

Send a cover letter when it’s required.

The most obvious time to include a cover letter with your application is when it is required. Just like not including a cover letter when it’s not required, it shows you can follow directions.

Include a cover letter when the application asks you to submit one, which shows you can follow directions.

Plus, if the application asks for a cover letter, you can bet the hiring manager will look for it. If no cover letter is included, well, you’re sabotaging your chances of getting an interview.

Only 13% of hiring managers will consider giving a candidate an interview if they don’t attach a required cover letter to an application.

Writing a cover letter is not as painful as it sounds. There are great templates you can use as a starting point for your cover letter.

The trick with a template, though, is to make sure you always personalize the letter to your own experiences and qualifications.

Here are five expert tips to write a winning cover letter.

1. Tailor your cover letter to the job description.

When writing a cover letter, especially if you use a cover letter template, you should tailor the letter to match the job description and meet the requirements of the application.

For example, if the application asks you to attach a short cover letter, keep it brief. Your best bet is one to two short paragraphs detailing why you’re a great fit for the position.

You’ll also want to reference keywords from the job description in your cover letter. Many recruiters use applicant tracking systems that scan application packets for the best fit.

Often, hiring managers review the applications that match the keywords first.

Now, that doesn’t mean to stuff your cover letter with keywords. Instead, use them in a natural way as you discuss your qualifications.

2. Be personable with your greeting.

You might have seen the advice telling you to use “To Whom It May Concern” instead of the hiring manager’s name. This is good advice, but only if you do not know the hiring manager.

Before resorting to a generic greeting to start your cover letter, take the time to look on the company’s website and LinkedIn to find out who makes hiring decisions.

If you have contacts in your network who are familiar with the company, ask them. Taking the time to research the hiring manager and the company shows you care about the details — a quality many hiring managers look for in a candidate!

If you’re still unsure after researching the company, consider using “Dear Sir or Madam” as your greeting.

3. Be yourself.

While a cover letter is a formal introduction of yourself to a potential employer, it doesn’t need to be lacking in personality. Hall suggests sprinkling your personality in your cover letter to spark connections with the hiring manager.

Hall says, “Be your best professional self. I’m a foodie and will include references to food on my LinkedIn, and I’ve done it in a cover letter. I’ve had managers reference them, and we had a chuckle. I am also very clear about aligning myself with companies whose mission and goals I respect and can contribute to. I make sure to speak to that in the cover letter.”

Take Hall’s advice. Showcasing your vibrant personality in your cover letter can help break the ice in your interview!

4. Proofread your cover letter.

Once you’ve written your cover letter and before you hit “send,” double-check that it is free from spelling and grammar errors and that the company you referenced is the company you are applying to.

Muehleisen says skipping proofreading your cover letter is a big mistake — and it could cost you the job!

Muehleisen says, “Make sure that you are proofreading prior to sending. If the cover letter feels like it is a simple cut/paste or if the job title and company name are incorrect, it may do more harm than good. So, be sure that what you’re sending is pertinent.”

5. Be cautious of AI.

AI tools, like ChatGPT or Claude, are great for helping draft content. You might be tempted to ask generative AI to write your cover letter for you. However, both Hall and Muehleisen say to proceed with caution when it comes to AI.

Hall says, “AI is coming along in amazing ways, so it may come as a surprise that my best tip didn’t include AI. I tell my clients when they’re stuck to look to their peers. You can search people by job title on LinkedIn. See how they describe themselves and pull from there. Or, hire a resume writer or career strategist to help you.”

Muehleisen agrees with her. He says, “I would hesitate to use a tool or service for a cover letter as the point should be to show your authenticity. If you are going to use AI for assistance, make sure to put your own words in as well.”

However, when you write your cover letter, whether using a template or generative AI, personalizing it is key to standing out from the competition.

If the job description says a cover letter is optional, should you send one, or can you get by without it?

That can be tricky, considering 72% of recruiters still expect a cover, even if it’s optional.

According to Muehleisen, sending a cover letter is not a bad idea. He says, “I’ve never heard of a cover letter hurting an applicant’s chances; just make sure the one you’re including is specific to the job description and posting.”

Check out these cover letter examples for more inspiration.

Experiment With Your Cover Letters

Writing a cover letter is a breeze once you get the hang of it. With today’s challenging job market, sending a cover letter with your application can make a difference in whether you get called for an interview.

I can’t make promises that your cover letter will dazzle hiring managers each time, but for the right position for you, it will.

Remember Hall and Muehleisen’s advice when you craft your cover letter. Personalization is key to success!

Don't forget to share this post!

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Properly Write Your Degree

The correct way to communicate your degree to employers and others is by using the following formats:

Degree - This is the academic degree you are receiving. Your major is in addition to the degree; it can be added to the phrase or written separately.  Include the full name of your degree, major(s), minor(s), emphases, and certificates on your resume.

Double Majors - You will not be receiving two bachelor's degrees if you double major. Your primary major determines the degree (Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science). If you're not fully sure which of your majors is primary, check CheckMarq or call the registrar's office.

Example: Primary Major: Psychology ; Secondary Major: Marketing

• Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology & Marketing

Primary Major: Marketing ; Secondary Major: Psychology

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing & Psychology

In a letter, you may shorten your degree by writing it this way:

• In May 20XX, I will graduate with my Bachelor's degree in International Affairs.
• In December 20XX, I will graduate with my Master's degree in Counseling Education.

Not sure which degree you are graduating with? Here is a list of Undergraduate Majors and corresponding degrees:

• College of Arts & Sciences
• College of Business Administration
• College of Communication
• College of Education
• College of Engineering
• College of Health Sciences
• College of Nursing  

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Melania Trump Avoids the Courtroom, but Is Said to Share Her Husband’s Anger

Melania Trump has long referred to the hush-money case involving Stormy Daniels as her husband’s problem, not hers. But she has privately called the trial a “disgrace” that could threaten his campaign.

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By Katie Rogers

Katie Rogers is the author of a book on first ladies and covered the Trump White House, including Melania Trump’s East Wing.

In January 2018, when she first saw reports that her husband had paid off a porn star, Melania Trump was furious. She jetted off to Palm Beach, leaving the president to languish in Washington. She eventually returned, only to take a separate car to Donald J. Trump’s first State of the Union address.

As a criminal trial against Mr. Trump opened on Monday , on charges that he had falsified records to cover up that sex scandal involving Stormy Daniels, Mrs. Trump did not appear. She has long privately referred to the case involving Ms. Daniels as “his problem” and not hers.

But Mrs. Trump, the former first lady, shares his view that the trial itself is unfair, according to several people familiar with her thinking.

In private, she has called the proceedings “a disgrace” tantamount to election interference, according to a person with direct knowledge of her comments who could not speak publicly out of fear of jeopardizing a personal relationship with the Trumps.

She may support her husband, but Mrs. Trump is bound to see headlines involving Mr. Trump and Ms. Daniels that could reopen old wounds. On Monday, Justice Juan M. Merchan, the judge presiding over the case, also said that Mrs. Trump could be among the potential witnesses as the trial gets underway.

All of this could put Mr. Trump on shaky ground with his wife, who has defended him in some critical moments — including when he bragged on tape about grabbing women by their genitals — and withheld her public support in others, like when she did not appear alongside him as he locked up victories on Super Tuesday.

“At the end of the day, she can make or break his candidacy,” said Stephanie Grisham, Mrs. Trump’s former press secretary who resigned on Jan. 6, 2021, and went on to write a memoir. “And at the end of the day, she could probably make or break him.”

Some of the more personally damaging details of Mr. Trump’s behavior may not come up in court. On Monday, Justice Merchan barred some testimony related to the timing of a reported affair between Mr. Trump and a former Playboy model, Karen McDougal. The National Enquirer, which has longstanding ties to Mr. Trump, bought the rights to Ms. McDougal’s story for $150,000 and then never published it — a practice known as “catch and kill.”

Jurors may hear about the relationship between Mr. Trump and Ms. McDougal, Justice Merchan ruled — but not accounts that the affair continued while Mrs. Trump was pregnant with their son, Barron. (If the court proceedings bring up Barron, whose privacy his mother fiercely guards, Ms. Grisham said, Mrs. Trump is likely to be “not happy” with her husband “all over again.”)

The trial is nonetheless all but certain to examine a timeline that Mrs. Trump would prefer not to revisit. Mr. Trump and Ms. Daniels met at a 2006 celebrity golf tournament, at a time when the Trumps had been married for a year and Mrs. Trump had recently given birth to Barron.

Mr. Trump has denied having a sexual encounter with Ms. Daniels. But prosecutors say that when Ms. Daniels looked to sell her story a decade later, Mr. Trump directed Michael D. Cohen, then his lawyer and fixer, to pay Ms. Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet. The reports of a payoff blindsided Mrs. Trump, who responded to the initial reports by getting out of town.

She canceled a trip to Davos, Switzerland, with Mr. Trump, made an impromptu visit to the Holocaust Memorial Museum, and then she jetted off to Mar-a-Lago, the Trumps’ beachside fortress in Palm Beach, Fla., where she spent part of her trip relaxing at the spa. She eventually reappeared, only to take a separate car to Mr. Trump’s State of the Union address and appear on the arm of a male military aide.

By now, allies of the Trumps say, Mrs. Trump has lumped the trial into all of the other legal problems her husband faces, and she is steelier than she was before.

Last month, she appeared next to Mr. Trump to welcome Viktor Orban , the prime minister of Hungary, during a visit to Mar-a-Lago. Weeks later, she voted alongside Mr. Trump in Florida, where she responded to a question about whether she would be campaigning more often with a cryptic “stay tuned.”

Supporters have hailed her scheduled appearance at a fund-raising event for the Log Cabin Republicans, a group of L.G.B.T. conservatives, as proof that Mrs. Trump is prepared to be more engaged on the campaign trail.

The event, scheduled for Saturday, will draw attendees who have paid at least $10,000 for a chance to interact with Mrs. Trump, according to a person familiar with the planning who was not authorized to detail it.

The event will be set up like a cocktail reception, and Mrs. Trump is expected to deliver remarks about her time as first lady and reiterate her support for her husband.

But there is one catch: The event will not be held in a battleground state or at any location on a traditional campaign trail. It will be held in a reception room at Mar-a-Lago, steps from Mrs. Trump’s suite.

The Log Cabin Republicans have been a source of income for Mrs. Trump before. According to a financial disclosure last year, Mrs. Trump received a $250,000 payment from the group in December 2022. Charles Moran, a representative of the group, said in an email that Mrs. Trump was not taking a fee from the Log Cabin Republicans for her appearance.

A spokeswoman for Mrs. Trump did not respond to a request for comment for this article, and neither did a representative for the Trump campaign.

Mrs. Trump’s allies say that she will likely appear again as the campaign continues — a sign, they say, that she realizes there is a real chance she could become first lady again — but that she is likely to be selective with her time.

For now, she is focused on Barron’s graduation from high school later this spring and preparing him for college. Mr. Trump complained repeatedly on social media on Monday that he might miss his son’s graduation because of the trial. Barron attends a private school near Mar-a-Lago and is expected to graduate in May.

Mrs. Trump’s allies say other personal issues could keep her from the campaign trail. She is said to still be mourning the death of her mother, Amalija Knavs, who died in January and was one of a small number of people in Mrs. Trump’s world who had her absolute trust. Her sister, Ines Knauss, is another confidante, but Ms. Knauss lives in New York City.

Another person Mrs. Trump trusts is Kellyanne Conway, who served as counselor to Mr. Trump in the White House; Mrs. Trump is pushing for Ms. Conway to return to Mr. Trump’s orbit in a formal capacity, a development first reported by the news site Puck . Ms. Conway, who was a confidante for both Mr. and Mrs. Trump when they were in the White House, has said that Mr. Trump cares deeply about his wife’s opinion — and, in some cases, he might even fear it.

“He listens to many of us,” she told a congressional committee in 2022, “but he reserves fear for one person, Melania Trump.”

Katie Rogers is a White House correspondent. For much of the past decade, she has focused on features about the presidency, the first family, and life in Washington, in addition to covering a range of domestic and foreign policy issues. She is the author of a book on first ladies. More about Katie Rogers

Our Coverage of the Trump Hush-Money Trial

News and Analysis

Donald Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan took a startling turn when two jurors were abruptly excused , demonstrating the challenge of picking citizens to determine the fate of a former president.

Prosecutors argued in court that with a steady stream of social media posts, Trump had violated the gag order  imposed on him seven times, urging the judge overseeing the trial to hold him in contempt.

Our reporter joined “The Daily” to explain what happened during the opening days  of the trial against Donald Trump.

More on Trump’s Legal Troubles

Key Inquiries: Trump faces several investigations  at both the state and the federal levels, into matters related to his business and political careers.

Case Tracker:  Keep track of the developments in the criminal cases  involving the former president.

What if Trump Is Convicted?: Will any of the proceedings hinder Trump’s presidential campaign? Here is what we know, and what we don’t know .

Trump on Trial Newsletter: Sign up here  to get the latest news and analysis  on the cases in New York, Florida, Georgia and Washington, D.C.