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If Mrs and Miss are generally used to distinguish the marital status of a female, is there or has there ever been a term with the same connotation as Miss for a male?

For instance in the following sentence what is the appropriate title you could use in the dotted space, Mr or just nothing perhaps, and why?

  • Miss Jane is 20 years old and her younger brother (...) John has just turned 18.

Note: I am nor referring to terms like bachelor, but just to titles like Mr or Miss.

  • master: a boy or young man, used chiefly as a form of address http://www.thefreedictionary.com/master – Elian Nov 08 '15 at 09:27
  • so could I say...her younger brother master John? –  Nov 08 '15 at 09:29
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    Yes if her brother was 12, maybe you could get away with it if he was just turning 18, but there's a good chance it would sound downright condescending if he was just turning 24. Good outside reading. – J.R. Nov 08 '15 at 09:33
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    I certainly wouldn't use Ms. John – not unless it was Jane's younger sister. – J.R. Nov 08 '15 at 09:36
  • So the is no 'title' for "master" with that connotation. –  Nov 08 '15 at 09:37
  • @Josh61 "her younger brother M. John" is what one could write http://www.thefreedictionary.com/m. – Elian Nov 08 '15 at 09:40
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    I don't believe there is an equivalent, and I think that may even be one of the reasons Ms. gained popularity in the 1970s. – J.R. Nov 08 '15 at 09:41
  • @Elian - there is not "master" under the "M" heading. –  Nov 08 '15 at 09:43
  • @J.R. - so what would your choice be for the sentence above, just John? –  Nov 08 '15 at 09:47
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    My choice would be to refer to Jane as "Jane," (not "Miss Jane"), so I wouldn't be vexed with this problem. – J.R. Nov 08 '15 at 09:51
  • @J.R. - true..no need to ask here for that :)) –  Nov 08 '15 at 09:52
  • @Josh61 There is, Josh. You should look up "M." http://www.thefreedictionary.com/M. That being said, I would figure the fully spelled out form is what is most commonly used... – Elian Nov 08 '15 at 10:02
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    Yes, just John. In AmE (AFAIK) "master" is totally obsolete; never used. The closest I can think of is "young man" as a form of verbal address (not a title, it is used instead of a name rather than prefixed); it is cute and amusing when addressing a 5-year-old, neutral when addressing a 12-year-old, condescending (though most apt) when addressing an 18- or 20-year-old. Often the connotation is of scolding or chastising. – Brian Hitchcock Nov 08 '15 at 10:05
  • @Elian - I can't find the word "Master" on the page where you've linked, either. That said, it is listed on this page. – J.R. Nov 08 '15 at 10:49
  • @J.R. - yes, in any case too many meanings to understand what "M. John" may refer to. –  Nov 08 '15 at 10:59
  • @Josh61 Indeed. "M." could be misinterpreted with "Monsieur"... – Elian Nov 08 '15 at 11:43
  • related: Usage of and equivalents of Sir and title for 1 year old boy – Mari-Lou A Nov 08 '15 at 12:58

2 Answers2

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Master: A title of address placed before the first name or surname of a boy as opposed to miss.

UK: master is the honorific for boys under 18 years of age
US: addressed as master only until age 8, then is addressed only by his name with no title until he turns 18

Mister (Mr.) in this case, since John has already turned 18.

Jimmy
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  • Plus it appears an informal, colloquial way to refer to a 'boy', rather then a more 'formal' way like Miss'. –  Nov 08 '15 at 09:41
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    Master is simply not used in the US, to the point where some people might not even know what you mean. – Matt Samuel Nov 09 '15 at 00:28
  • Titles in general are indeed hardly ever used except on forms you have to fill out. I never really noticed until I got my PhD. The only time people call me doctor is at hotels and on cruises. Regardless of my actual title, calling me "Mr. Matthew" can be nothing but humorous. – Matt Samuel Nov 09 '15 at 00:40
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"Miss Jane .... Master John." However, this is now old-fashioned so only appropriate if you are writing a period novel or something similar. The modern fashion is to say simply "Jane ... John."

Jenny Dunford
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