How do you address someone respectfully when you really can't tell what they are?
2006-08-09 11:54:53 · 22 answers · asked by something'srotten 4 in Business & Finance ➔ Small Business
Well, if there's no term for it how about let's coin on now, like mir or sa'am or something. Any ideas? The English language desperately needs this term (in these last days we're livin' in.)
2006-08-09 14:17:24 · update #1
If you can't tell what itis, call it what you think it is, and if they get mad at you, it is their fault for looking like the opposite gender. I call them an "it" if I can't tell what they are. Sometimes it is scary to talk to them if you are not sure.
Mishal
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The road to success is always under construction.
2006-08-09 12:02:23 · answer #1 · answered by Annie 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Thats a good question. If you have any doubts about someone's gender definatly dont guess.. I think the only way to handle it is to leave the sir or ma'am out. You can be respectful to someone without referring to their gender.
2006-08-09 12:02:09 · answer #2 · answered by Kristin Pregnant with #4 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you mean you don't know their gender because you haven't met them, you address a letter, for example, with "Dear Sir or Madam." If you've met them and still can't tell, that's another problem completely.
2006-08-09 11:59:38 · answer #3 · answered by Steven 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO ! ! ! Just address them by their name (Which most of the time is a big giveaway) if you don't know their name then you may wanna try asking, sometimes their voice will also give it away. Just don't use terms like hey you.
2006-08-09 12:04:21 · answer #4 · answered by The Dude 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In a letter you can say "To whom it may concern" or if you are addressing it to a person but don't know their gender you can sometimes use the person's title, like "Dear Dr." or "Dear customer service representative."
2006-08-09 11:59:17 · answer #5 · answered by Sassy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hahahah that happened before and until this day i still dont know if it was a guy or a girl. I was joining the reserves and in the applicant centre was somekind of heshe..
2006-08-09 12:00:34 · answer #6 · answered by ferris 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I don't know how to do it in person, but when you write a letter you write, "Dear __________ (put official title here, for example Dear Office Manager), or "To Whom it May Concern."
In person, I might say, "I'm sorry, what did you say your name was?" Their response might give you insight to what their gender is!
2006-08-09 12:01:43 · answer #7 · answered by Sabina 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's hard to tell these days isn't it? the only gender non specific word that I know of is "it"
2006-08-09 11:58:14 · answer #8 · answered by a_poor_misguided_soul 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"The sweetest sound you will ever hear is the sound of your own name."
Knowing someone's name goes a long way in business. Learn a system to remember.
2006-08-09 12:47:13 · answer #9 · answered by insuranceguytx 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
excuse me but.............. or just try to create a sentence without using sir or ma'am like excuse me but that shirt looks very nice. or my name is............. wait for reply, hopefully they'll tell you.. I've been in this situation many times but i didn't have to be really respectfulll
2006-08-09 11:59:48 · answer #10 · answered by migz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋