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2016 Postmortem

okasha

(11,573 posts)

29. Uh, no.

Reply to Bucky (Reply #28)

Tue Jul 5, 2016, 07:41 PM

Jul 2016

If you use "Sir, as in "Sir President," you are addressing him, perhaps unwittingly, as a knight or baronet. "Sir Richard," "Lady Anne."

The precise counterpart of "gentleman" is "gentlewoman.". Apparently one extra syllable is too much for American idiom.

And anyone can add new usages to the English language. Neologisms occur almost daily.

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protocol [View all] Bucky Jul 2016 OP

For the record, "Ms. President" is the best answer Bucky Jul 2016 #1

I agree. It is the proper equivalent to "Mr. President" Warren DeMontague Jul 2016 #8

Agree. Should be an option. nt DURHAM D Jul 2016 #10

I like Madame President ... zenabby Jul 2016 #16

the same reason why we say "Sir President" instead of "Mister President" Bucky Jul 2016 #22

i chose madame president drray23 Jul 2016 #2

but Madame is French. The English word is Madam Bucky Jul 2016 #3

sure madam will work. drray23 Jul 2016 #5

I can just hear some Faux News bleachjob complain: forest444 Jul 2016 #4

well maybe its a good idea then. drray23 Jul 2016 #6

Well said. forest444 Jul 2016 #11

How about we ask her, after the inauguration? Warren DeMontague Jul 2016 #7

I hope her campaign settles on whatever will piss the right off most! Native Jul 2016 #9

The Repubs think it will be Your Majesty. MineralMan Jul 2016 #12

The only real difference okasha Jul 2016 #13

John Adams and George Washington had this same argument. Bucky Jul 2016 #23

They'll use Madam. Adrahil Jul 2016 #14

And Madam Secretary... Orangepeel Jul 2016 #18

+1 Adrahil Jul 2016 #19

Which is silly. We don't say "Sir Speaker" or "Sir President". We use the common honorific, "Mister" Bucky Jul 2016 #20

The counterpart of "Sir' is "Lady," not Madam. okasha Jul 2016 #27

I guess I see your point, sir. Or, if you're a madam, I guess I see your point, lady. Bucky Jul 2016 #28

Uh, no. okasha Jul 2016 #29

except the counterpart to Lady is also "Lord" Bucky Jul 2016 #30

Is there supposed to be a period after Ms? aikoaiko Jul 2016 #15

American usage = period; British usage = no period. nt tblue37 Jul 2016 #17

Like Harry S. Truman Bucky Jul 2016 #21

'Madam President' for me until/unless both Robert's Rules of Orders and AP Style Book update it. LanternWaste Jul 2016 #24

However she wants. Motown_Johnny Jul 2016 #25

Our Lord and Savior, Praise Be Unto Her. name not needed Jul 2016 #26