Does anyone ever use 'Mr' or 'Mrs' when addressing someone?
Discussion
It struck me today that I genuinely can't remember the last time I called someone 'Mr' or 'Mrs' and then their surname, other than being ironic (like if a friend phones up and you say 'Mr. Collins, how are you?' (which always confuses them if not called Collins... 
)
Apart from an elderly aunt who gets very sniffy if a call centre person addresses her by her christian name and corrects them, I don't know anyone who expects it.
Has it died out or are there people who still do it?
)Apart from an elderly aunt who gets very sniffy if a call centre person addresses her by her christian name and corrects them, I don't know anyone who expects it.
Has it died out or are there people who still do it?
Ari said:
It struck me today that I genuinely can't remember the last time I called someone 'Mr' or 'Mrs' and then their surname, other than being ironic (like if a friend phones up and you say 'Mr. Collins, how are you?' (which always confuses them if not called Collins... )
Apart from an elderly aunt who gets very sniffy if a call centre person addresses her by her christian name and corrects them, I don't know anyone who expects it.
Has it died out or are there people who still do it?
Good for your aunt. )Apart from an elderly aunt who gets very sniffy if a call centre person addresses her by her christian name and corrects them, I don't know anyone who expects it.
Has it died out or are there people who still do it?
cuprabob said:
Although I have a good long term relationship with my local VW dealer, the service personnel still use "Mr"
I find customer service types still address me as Mr. Mind you, I am probably twice their age 
Also, a pet hate of mine is people who introduce themselves as Mr / Mrs !
alorotom said:
While I don’t have an aversion to telephone callers using my forename I do dislike excessive colloquialisms like “mate” etc. which seems to be more the norm now.
I do get called Mr.Alorotom quite frequently though so I don’t think it’s disappearing that much.
My parents bought a Honda from a car salesman who kept greeting them as 'hi guys', which irritated them muchly - but then he probably could never remember their names, they must see dozens of people a week! I do get called Mr.Alorotom quite frequently though so I don’t think it’s disappearing that much.
In a professional capacity (e.g. when asking for a customer on the phone) or when writing a letter - sure.
Outside of school - the last time I can remember addressing somebody face to face in this manner was when I worked in a supermarket (the first couple of store managers I had were addressed Mr X and Mr Y). That was probably 25 years ago.
Outside of school - the last time I can remember addressing somebody face to face in this manner was when I worked in a supermarket (the first couple of store managers I had were addressed Mr X and Mr Y). That was probably 25 years ago.
Depends, letters yes, informal conversation, no. Although I do use the more neutral female honorific (Ms) opposed the marriage specific ones (Miss or Mrs).
I used to lived in the Philippines, it's tradition there to call everyone by their first name "Sir", so Sir Steve, Sir Fred, Sir Wayne but when calling them by their full name they'd use Mr, I.E. Mr Steve Smith or Mr Wayne Wilson. My understanding of this is that it had to do with the honorific in Tagalog (po, if memory serves) and how the Spanish and Americans translated it.
alorotom said:
I do get called Mr.Alorotom quite frequently though so I don’t think it’s disappearing that much.
In any kind of formal conversation or communication, its still Mr Cynic. The odd organisation trying to pretend to be hip might ask "Do you mind if I call you David".I used to lived in the Philippines, it's tradition there to call everyone by their first name "Sir", so Sir Steve, Sir Fred, Sir Wayne but when calling them by their full name they'd use Mr, I.E. Mr Steve Smith or Mr Wayne Wilson. My understanding of this is that it had to do with the honorific in Tagalog (po, if memory serves) and how the Spanish and Americans translated it.
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