Using "Ms." instead of "Miss" or "Mrs."

[blhowes]

I went to school in VA, stayed down there for around 10 years. During that time, I acquired some of the southern way of talking. When I came back up north, I didn't find myself using "Miss", "Mrs.", or "Ms", but "Ma'am". I can't tell you how many ladies asked me not to say, "Yes, ma'am". Took a conscious effort to change.