Recently, I had a classic “facepalm” moment in class. One of my new students, in all innocence, said,
“Miss Intan tak kahwin lagi ke?”
Now, I don’t blame them. The confusion between Ms. and Miss happens all the time, among students, even among adults. So, let’s clear this up once and for all.
The Real Meaning of “Ms.”
Ms. (pronounced miz) is a professional title used for women regardless of their marital status. It’s like Mr., you use it because the person is an adult and you respect them. You don’t need to know if they’re married, divorced, single, or just not interested in sharing.
Meanwhile:
Miss = usually for unmarried women (and often sounds young or casual)
Mrs. = for married women
So when I go by Ms. Intan, it’s not to hide anything. It’s just my preferred title, short, professional, and neutral. It’s the name I use at school, in my emails, and even in meetings.
Why I Use Ms. (and why you should too)
Using Ms. removes unnecessary assumptions. I’m a teacher, not a contestant in some dating show. My job is to teach you networks, not disclose my relationship status.
And truthfully, we should normalize using Ms. just like we do Mr., it’s respectful and simple.
To My Students (and maybe even some teachers):
If you’re not sure, Ms. is always a safe bet. It shows respect, maturity, and you’ll avoid the awkward moment of being corrected in front of the whole class.
So yes, I’m Ms. Intan. And no, whether I’m married or not, that’s none of your business during lesson time.