When to use Ma'am or miss?

[buttsakk]

This one always gets me.

I always thought a lady who is older than you, call them Ma'am.
A lady who is younger, you call Miss.

Am I correct? What is the proper usage of this?!?

[The GIGGAS]

Re: When to use Ma'am or miss?

I generally go for all Ma'am.

But I think your way is good too.

[DC]

Re: When to use Ma'am or miss?

So if a girl is 2 years old than you, you will be ma'aming her?

[Knight165]

Re: When to use Ma'am or miss?

I always use ma'am.
But that comes from work.(civilians....I can't tell you what I call my co-workers )
Everyone is sir and ma'am no matter what age(adults)

But I don't think using miss or ma'am in any case would be "wrong".

M.K.
Knight165

[Stumbleweed]

Re: When to use Ma'am or miss?

I've heard some women say that "ma'am" makes them feel old. But yeah, when I'm in a service capacity and need a nameless term for a woman, I go with ma'am. "Miss" seems kinda condescending to me for some reason -- like some dickwad at a restaurant snapping to get the attention of the waitress "Miss? Miss? Can you come over here?" Unless it's a "Miss *Last Name*" thing because she's not married and/or young (rather than Mrs.). But yeah, even in that case, Ms. is probably the safe bet since you're essentially assuming a relationship status based on their age.

[CMH]

Re: When to use Ma'am or miss?

I don't use Ma'am. I always felt that a girl sees that as "being old." Even if I see an old lady, I usually go with Miss.

Of course, that's when I'm not trying to mack it to said grandma. In that case, I go with Ma.

[TimmeH]

Re: When to use Ma'am or miss?

At work, I address female customers as Ma'am.

I rarely talk to anyone I don't know outside of work, and when I do, I don't think I ever use Ma'am or Miss.

[mkharsh33]

Re: When to use Ma'am or miss?

just use the old jerry lewis, "hey lady!!!!!!!!!!"...

[mgoblue]

Re: When to use Ma'am or miss?

I always use ma'am.
But that comes from work.(civilians....I can't tell you what I call my co-workers )
Everyone is sir and ma'am no matter what age(adults)

But I don't think using miss or ma'am in any case would be "wrong".

M.K.
Knight165

Yeah, I'm not military, but I'll do this too if it's someone where it makes sense to be nice and respect them like that.

[mkharsh33]

Re: When to use Ma'am or miss?

i believe she actually wanted to be referred to as "senator" because she *worked* (cough) so hard to get there...

[Brandwin]

Re: When to use Ma'am or miss?

I had to edit this one.

Filter didn't catch it.

[Knight165]

Re: When to use Ma'am or miss?

just use the old jerry lewis, "hey lady!!!!!!!!!!"...

I could hear that in my head when I read it.

M.K.
Knight165

[buttsakk]

Re: When to use Ma'am or miss?

Good, I'm glad to see that this can be very grey.

The reason this was started was because I called a lady in her late 40's "Ma'am".

She told me that ladies younger than you, you call "ma'am". Older ladies you call "Miss".

This was exactly the opposite to what I was taught.

[buttsakk]

Re: When to use Ma'am or miss?

just use the old jerry lewis, "hey lady!!!!!!!!!!"...

I think I'll go with this.

[stewaat]

Re: When to use Ma'am or miss?

Females = ma'am
Males = sir

It's the way I was raised. I even call co-workers that as well. Close friends...sometimes. It's always thank you sir as opposed to thanks man.

If they say it makes them feel old I still call them that, they can get over it.