3 ms·

I always start formal (except with kids), and if the other part switches to informal, then I switch too.

• calvinmorrison 3y ago
  Growing up in the south it was all yes sir no sir yes ma'am no ma'am
  • devilbunny 3y ago
    And in many ways still is, especially for kids, but Southern English also has mechanisms for expressing familiarity and respect at the same time - it was in no way unusual for us to call friends' parents by their first name, provided we prefixed it with "Mr/Miss" (always Miss, for some reason, even if an obviously married woman).
    • ramses0 3y ago
      It's considered "polite" to imply that the woman in question is obviously still an unmarried hottie, which is why you always "err on the side of Miss", rather than "mistake on the side of Mrs."
      • devilbunny 3y ago
        In a general sense yes, but when you're talking about your friend's mom...