Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

We pronounce it "missus", but it's the abbreviation for mistress.  No rude joke, there in the back.  I've known a number of whores, unfortunately not in the biblical sense, and I will nrook no disrespect towards a cradftsperson of any sort.

But adolescent or child of the maqle persuarion is referred to as "master" rather than mister.  Does he remain master until the age of majority, or until he enters into an adult relationship?

In other word, one cannot be a mistress without a mister (although he may have passed out of the picture).  Can one *really* be a mister witgout a mistress? I ask in terms of "prescriptive" proper English; we all know the common usage is otherwise.

All right, in a concession to the fellows on the Group W bench, playiing wiith your pencils.  I'm through with the twenty-seven 8 x 10 colored glossy
pictures with the circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one, so if you want to mumble and twitter, you're free to do that now, but please show some respect to those who comfort the lonely through the night.