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My question is about addressing and whether to use Ms. or Mrs.

I work at a real estate agency and I’m writing to the owner of a house I am contracting to sell for her. She is married, but I don’t know the status of her marriage. The house is in her name. How do I address her, as Mrs. Jane Jones or Ms. Jane Jones? She is 65 and rather conservative.

–BM, Newport, RI

Thank you for your question about addressing and whether to use Ms. or Mrs.

You got me at the fact that she is “rather conservative.” Ordinarily I would recommend that you address the letter to Ms. Jane Jones, because Ms. is universally correct. But since your client is “rather” traditional and this is a business letter, to be safe address the letter to Mrs. Jane Jones.

~Didi