Re: You have a word for it?

Dennis Paul Himes wrote:
... The convention I learned
is that "Mrs." is used for a woman who is using a husband's surname, and
"Miss" is used otherwise.  So a divorced woman who kept her married name
would be "Mrs.", and a married woman who kept her maiden name would be
"Miss".

In Britain at least, male surgeons (re)gain the title 'Mr.' on qualifying
(relating to their historical development from barbers :) ).  This raises
quite specific difficulties for females.  For example, a lady who as a
medical student was Mrs. Jones, nee Smith, might practise at first under the
name 'Dr. Smith' or 'Dr. Jones'.  Once she qualified as a surgeon, however,
'Miss Smith' would be the only strictly correct option available to her.  I
have known female physicians, as well as surgeons, who have used their
maiden name professionally (with 'Miss') and their married name socially
(with, er, not sure ... probably 'Mrs.').  There are probably other
solutions being used out there, though.

In short: I agree with Dennis. :)

Jonathan.

P.S. Is the under-representation of females among active CONLANG members a
fact about conlanging or about mailing lists?

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