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''Mister'', usually written in its contracted form ''Mr.'' or ''Mr'', is a commonly used English honorific for men without a higher honorific, or professional title, or any of various designations of office. The title 'Mr' derived from earlier forms of '' master'', as the equivalent female titles '' Mrs'', ''Miss'', and '' Ms'' all derived from earlier forms of '' mistress''. ''Master'' is sometimes still used as an honorific for boys and young men.

The modern plural form is ''Misters'', although its usual formal abbreviation ''Messrs''(.) derives from use of the French title ' in the 18th century. ' is the plural of ' (originally ', "my lord"), formed by declining both of its constituent parts separately.

Historical etiquette

Historically, ''mister'' was applied only to those above one's own status if they had no higher title such as '' Sir'' or ''my lord'' in the English class system. That understanding is now obsolete, as it was gradually expanded as a mark of respect to those of equal status and then to all men without a higher style.

In the 19th century and earlier in Britain, two gradations of "gentleman" were recognised; the higher was entitled to use "esquire" (usually abbreviated to Esq, which followed the name), and the lower employed "Mr" before the name. Today, on correspondence from Buckingham Palace, a man who is a UK citizen is addressed with post-nominal "Esq", and a man of foreign nationality is addressed with prefix "Mr".

In past centuries, ''Mr'' was used with a first name to distinguish among family members who might otherwise be confused in conversation: ''Mr Doe'' would be the eldest present; younger brothers or cousins were then referred to as ''Mr Richard Doe'' and ''Mr William Doe'' and so on. Such usage survived longer in family-owned business or when domestic servants were referring to adult male family members with the same surname: "Mr Robert and Mr Richard will be out this evening, but Mr Edward is dining in." In other circumstances, similar usage to indicate respect combined with familiarity is common in most anglophone cultures, including that of the southern United States.

Professional titles

''Mr'' is sometimes combined with certain titles (''Mr President, Mr Speaker, Mr Justice, Mr Dean''). The feminine equivalent is usually ''Madam'' although ''Mrs'' is also used in some contexts. All of these except ''Mr Justice'' are used in direct address and without the name. In certain professional contexts in different regions, ''Mr'' has specific meanings; the following are some examples.

Medicine

In the United Kingdom, Ireland and in some Commonwealth countries (such as South Africa, New Zealand and some states of Australia), many surgeons use the title ''Mr'' (or ''Miss'', ''Ms'', ''Mrs'', as appropriate), rather than ''Dr'' ( Doctor). Until the 19th century, earning a medical degree was not required to become a surgeon. Hence, the modern practice of reverting from ''Dr'' to ''Mr'' after successfully completing qualifying exams in surgery (e.g., Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons or the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons) is a historical reference to the origins of surgery in the United Kingdom as non-medically qualified barber surgeons.

Military usage

In the United States Military, male warrant officers and chief warrant officers are addressed as ''Mister'' by senior commissioned officers. In the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard it is proper to use ''Mister'' to refer to commissioned officers below the rank of lieutenant commander, or to subordinate commissioned officers, though the use of ''Mister'' implies familiarity compared to the use of rank title for an unknown officer. Women officers below the rank of lieutenant commander may be addressed as Miss, Ms or Mrs, as appropriate.

In the British Armed Forces, a male warrant officer is addressed as ''Sir'' by other ranks and non-commissioned officers; commissioned officers, particularly of junior rank, should address a warrant officer using ''Mister'' and his surname, although often their rank or appointment is used, for example "Sergeant Major", "Regimental Sergeant Major", or "RSM".

In the British Armed Forces a subaltern is often referred to by his surname and the prefix ''Mister'' by both other ranks and more senior commissioned officers, e.g., "Report to Mister Smythe-Jones at once" rather than "Report to 2nd Lieutenant Smythe-Jones at once".

Judges

In the Courts of England and Wales, Judges of the High Court are called, for example, ''Mr Justice Crane'' unless they are entitled to be addressed as ''Lord Justice''. Where a forename is necessary to avoid ambiguity it is always used, for example ''Mr Justice Robert Goff'' to distinguish from a predecessor ''Mr Justice Goff''. The female equivalent is ''Mrs Justice Hallett'', not ''Madam Justice Hallett''. When more than one judge is sitting and there is need to be specific, the form of address is ''My Lord, Mr Justice Crane''. High Court Judges are entitled to be styled with the prefix ''The Honourable'' while holding office: e.g., the Honourable Mr Justice Robert Goff. In writing, such as in the law reports, the titles "Mr Justice" or "Mrs Justice" are both abbreviated to a "J" placed after the name. For example, ''Crane J'' would be substituted for ''Mr Justice Crane''. Female judges are still properly addressed "My Lord", but "My Lady" is acceptable in modern usage.

The Chief Justice of the United States may be referred to as either "Mr Chief Justice", or "Chief Justice". For example, "Mr Chief Justice Roberts" or "Chief Justice Roberts".

Catholic clerics

Among Catholic clergy, "Mr" is the correct title and form of address for seminarians and other students for the priesthood and was once the proper title for all secular and parish priests, the use of the title "Father" being reserved to religious clergy only. The use of the title "Father" for parish clergy became customary around the 1820s.

A diocesan seminarian is correctly addressed as "Mr", and once ordained a transitional deacon, is addressed in formal correspondence (though rarely in conversation) as the Reverend Mister (or "Rev. Mr"). In clerical religious institutes (those primarily made up of priests), Mr is the title given to scholastics. For instance, in the Jesuits, a man preparing for priesthood who has completed the novitiate but who is not yet ordained is properly, "Mr John Smith, SJ" and is addressed verbally as "Mister Smith"—this is to distinguish him from Jesuit brothers, and priests. (Although, before the 1820s, many Jesuit priests were also called "Mr".) Orders founded before the 16th century do not, as a rule, follow this practice: a Franciscan or Dominican, for instance, becomes a friar after novitiate and so is properly titled "Brother" or, if a priest, "Father".

Permanent deacons in the United States are styled as "Deacon" or "the Reverend Deacon" followed by their first and last names (e.g., "Deacon John Jones", rather than "the Reverend Mr"). It is also customary in some places, especially in the Eastern Catholic Churches to address deacons while speaking, like presbyters, as "Father" or "Father Deacon".

Other usages

* "Mister" can also be used in combination with another word to refer to someone who is regarded as the personification of, or master of, a particular field or subject, especially in the fields of popular entertainment and sports.
* In Italian football, deference to a coach is shown by players, staff and fans referring to him as "Il Mister," or directly, "Mister". This is traditionally attributed to the conversion of the local game of Calcio to English-rules Association Football by British sailors, who would have been the first coaches.
*In the old Dutch title system the title "mr." is used for a Master of Laws (LLM)

See also

* Slavic honorifics
* Sri

Notes

References

{{Authority control

Men's social titles
Honorifics