TransWikia.com

What is the proper title abbreviation for addressing multiple people?

English Language & Usage Asked by Phil.Wheeler on February 28, 2021

I’m writing a letter to several recipients in the same document and want to address them correctly at the start.

Is the following correct (I suspect not) and if not, what should it be:

Dear Mr’s Jones, Smith, Bloggs and Flintstone

One Answer

The plural form of Mister is Misters, and the abbreviations Mr. and Messrs. respectively (although UK English drops the periods). The odd spelling is because "Messrs." comes from the French "messieurs". So your example would be phrased as:

Dear Messrs. Jones, Smith, Bloggs, and Flintstone

The abbreviation for addressing more than one Ms. is either "Mses."or "Mss."; note that the abbreviation "Mmes." (from the French "mesdames") is used for the pural of "Mrs."

If it's mixed between two genders, use the appropriate honorific for each set and join them with "and". So for instance:

Dear Ms. Smith and Messrs. Jones, Bloggs, and Flintstone

For addressing a married couple with the same surname, a variant may be employed.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Correct answer by Ashen on February 28, 2021

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question

Get help from others!

© 2024 TransWikia.com. All rights reserved. Sites we Love: PCI Database, UKBizDB, Menu Kuliner, Sharing RPP