If you’re into the manners and customs of correspondence, don’t forget that a boy under the age of about 12 is referred to as a Master, and a man over the age of 18 is a Mister. It goes back to the time of guild workers. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Master vs. Mister”
Hello, you have A Way with Words.
Hi, this is Evan from Dallas, Texas.
Hi, Evan. Welcome to the program.
Hello, Evan.
Hi, how you guys doing?
All right.
Doing well. Yourself?
I’m doing great today.
Great. Well, how can we help you?
Well, I had a question.
When I used to write formal letters to relatives and family members, and when receiving them, I was told that you used the title master to a male below the age of 8 or 10, and mister for anyone above that age. And I was wondering if that is still practiced, or was that correct? And if so, is that just something that Southern people, I mean, Southern tradition?
No, I wouldn’t say it’s solely a Southern tradition, and it is a tradition that’s fading. The rule I had heard was that you say master up until the age of either 8 or 12, and then there’s nothing between 12 and 18. That’s what always confused me.
They’re not getting any mail at that time.
Yeah, probably not. And then at 18, you start referring to them as Mr. This is pretty standard etiquette, right?
Yeah, yeah. It’s definitely not a regional thing. It doesn’t culture that belongs to any one particular group.
Yeah.
So you’re a fan of that?
It’s just something that I remember as I get older now and start writing, you know, thank you cards and more, you know, letters. Because now, most people just write emails.
Right. And I’m starting to have nieces and nephews, and I was just wondering if that’s something that’s proper or if that’s fading.
It’s certainly proper. It’s proper. It’s a little formal in these informal times. My mother does it when she sends letters to my son, who is seven.
Yeah, Master Guthrie Barrett. And he feels a little flattered by it because he feels like it’s a title.
And what does that title mean, master? Because I’m sure most people don’t have masters anymore.
Yeah, it’s a variant of mister, and I believe mister goes back to the whole idea of masters in guilds, in medieval guilds. Related to the Spanish word maestro, meaning teacher, right?
Yeah, maestro.
Maestro, yeah. Or Italian like that.
Yeah, but going back to Latin then originally.
Okay, wow, thank you guys.
Well, thanks for calling.
Thanks for calling, Evan.
No problem.
Thank you for answering that.
You have a great day.
Sure thing.
Bye-bye.
This is a show about language and how we use it. We’ll take your questions on any subject, 877-929-9673. Email words@waywordradio.org.
