Gender-Neutral Honorifics
Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”
Mx. and Gender-Neutral Honorifics
—-Mx. is a gender-neutral honorific preferred by some who don’t want to be identified by a binary gender. The non-binary honorific, Mx., is often pronounced “miks,” “mix,” “mucks,” or “meks.” It is used in the same pattern as Mr./Ms./Mrs. or Miss.
—-—-In writing in a letter or in a program: Mx. (full name)
—-—-In conversation or a salutation: Mx. (surname)
—-As with, for example, Ms. or Mrs., Dr. or Professor, and reverend or pastor, when you know the individual’s preference, follow it.
—-Other individuals prefer that their name be presented without an honorific. If so, follow the preference of the individual or use (full name) without an honorific when their name is presented, even if it will not match the other names on the guest list, list, program or set of place cards. It is more important that each person’s name be presented the way they prefer than that all the names on a list, program or set of place cards match stylistically.
—-While Mx. is not an abbreviation, if you are following American style guides, it is written with a period. If following British style guides it is written without a period.
—-—-—-– Excerpt from Honor & Respect by Robert Hickey
See also: Mx. Mx. and Gender-Neutral Honorifics
Related Forms of Address:
–—-—Boy
–—-—Couples: Military
–—-—Couples: Private Citizens
–—-—Couples: U.S. Officials
–—-—Couple, Same Sex
–—-—Family
–—-—First Names
–—-—Gender-Neutral Honorifics
–—-—Girl
–—–—Man or Woman, Social
–—-—Woman, Married
–—–—Miss
–—–—Mrs. vs. Ms.
–—–—Mx.
–—-—Retiree
–—–—Spouse of an Official
–—–—Widow
Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”
When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?
You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing a letter, invitation, card or Email. (If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.) The form noted in the salutation is the same form you say when you say their name in conversation or when you greet them.
___What I don’t cover on this site are many things I do cover in my book: all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions, etc. I hope you’ll get a copy of the book if you’d like the further detail.
Not Finding Your Answer?
—-#1) At right on desktops, at the bottom of every page on tablets and phones, is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.
—-#2) If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answered send me an e-mail. I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so (unless I am traveling.) Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.
—-#3) If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question – but always change all the specifics.
— Robert Hickey
Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”
Recommended Resources: The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW) and Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA) For more information see the Protocol Resources page.