Are Sir, Madam, Ma'am, and Miss Capitalized?
Always capitalize polite forms of address such as sir and madam (or ma’am) in a salutation at the start of an email or letter.
- Dear Sir,
- Dear Madam,
Also capitalize honorifics and titles such as sir, dame, madam, and miss when they appear before a name or another title.
- We met Sir Elton John at the fair.
- Dear Miss Dashwood,
- Yes, Madam President. (before another title)
- Our special guest today is Dame Helen Mirren.
- Has Miss Elizabeth Bennet been invited to the ball?
- Did Miss Bennet accept the invitation?
When not in a salutation or before a name but used simply to address someone, terms like sir, ma’am, and miss are generally lowercased, although they may also be capitalized.
- Hello, sir, how are you?
- Thank you, ma’am.
- They’re waiting for you, miss.
- Sorry, sir, I’m afraid you don’t have a reservation.
- No, ma’am, breakfast isn’t included.
- Excuse me, miss, are you a student?
After the titles of knighthood Sir and Dame, you should use either a person’s given name or their full name, never just the surname.
- I met Sir Sean Connery /
Sir Connery—well, James Bond—at a coffee shop in London in ’91. - Sir David /
Sir Attenboroughsaid the pandemic should be seen as a threat to the environment. - Dame Agatha Christie /
Dame Christieis one of the most popular writers in British publishing history.
Note that whether to use forms of respectful address like sir and ma’am at all depends greatly on regional preferences. In some parts of the world, people may not appreciate a gendered form of address. In many countries, however, using sir or ma’am is still preferred in formal situations—for example, while speaking to a supervisor, teacher, or even a customer.
Social and professional titles
Capitalize social titles (abbreviated or otherwise) like Mr. and Miss when they appear before a person’s name.
- I called Mr. Green this morning.
- Ask Ms. Brown what she wants.
- Thank you, Mrs. Jones!
- Did you see Miss Templeton at the opera?
Also capitalize professional titles like Doctor and Professor if they appear before a name, including when they are abbreviated.
- We met Dr. Green in the park this morning.
- I heard that Prof. Lobo had retired from his post at the university.
- Please submit your application to Vice-Chancellor Lopez.
Dr. vs. Mr./Ms./Mrs./Miss
When addressing or speaking about a person, remember that professional and honorific titles take precedence over social titles. If a person has a professional title like doctor or professor, introduce or address them using this title instead of social titles like Mr., Mrs., and Ms.
- Here is your book, Dr./
Mr.Green. - How are you, Dr./
Mrs.Rao? - Our guest speaker today is Prof./
Ms.Gomez. - This pizza is for Sir Anthony Hopkins /
Mr. Hopkins. - This is a biography of Dame Judi Dench /
Ms. Dench.
Casual terms of address
Don’t capitalize colloquialisms, slang terms, and casual forms of address like sis, bro, and pal; these are generally lowercased.
- Hey, sis, I have a surprise for you.
- Nah, bro, I don’t have a car.
- I can’t help you there, pal.
- What’s up, girl?
- How’s it going, man?
- Hey, mister, what’s going on?