Can the title Ms be used before a married woman’s name? What is the difference between the words childish and childlike? How to read the following? a) 5x6, b) 2/3. These queries are answered in the form of a conversation between two friends, Vimal and Kamal, in the conversation below:
“Vimal, I met your friend Ms Nimmi Roy at the airport two days ago.”
“She is Mrs Nimmi and not Ms Nimmi. Don’t you know that she is married?”
“I do know that she’s married. The title Ms is used before the surname or full name of a married or unmarried woman.”
“I thought that only the title Mrs should be used before a married woman’s name.”
“Most feminists and modern women prefer the title Ms to Mrs as the former doesn’t indicate the marital status of a woman.”
“That’s quite logical because only one title Mr is used before a married or unmarried man’s name.”
“If you use only the first name of a person, you shouldn’t use any title. For example, it is inappropriate to say: Ms Nimmi. When you use a title you should either say: Ms Nimmi Roy or Ms Roy. Jane is a very nice person. Ms Jane Peter is the youngest daughter of Mr Peter Jenkins. Ms Peter is in London with her parents. Ms Jenkins is the wife of Mr Peter Jenkins.”
“I like Nimmi for two reasons: The first reason is that she is very childish and the second reason is ..”
“Sorry to cut you short. Is Nimmi childish? Do you mean that she behaves like a child and in an immature way?”
“No, I didn’t mean that. She is innocent. She trusts everyone. She has all the good qualities of a child.”
“Then the correct word that describes her is childlike and not childish. The word childish has a negative connotation. Anuj talks to everyone and it is his childlike approach that has won him many friends. Deepika asks silly questions and behaves in a childish manner whenever she takes part in group discussions.”
“Nimmi is childlike and not childish.”
“Vimal, I interrupted you before you stated your second reason for liking Nimmy.”
“She is very generous in helping others. One day an old woman told her that she didn’t have sufficient money to buy medicines. Immediately, Nimmi gave the stranger rupees five hundred rupees.”
“It is incredible. You shouldn’t speak as you write. It’s incorrect to say rupees five hundred. You should say: Nimmi gave the stranger five hundred rupees.”
“Kamal, how should we read these written numbers: a) 5x6, b) 2/3?”
“5x6 is read five times six. It is incorrect to say: five into six. The word into is used to refer to the division of a number by another number. Six into eighteen equals three.”
“Really?”
“Yes. 2/3 is read two-thirds and 4/5 is read as four-fifths. Two-thirds of the teachers at this school are from Andhra Pradesh.”