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Dictionary Publishers Consider Mx. as Transgender Alternative to Mr./Mrs.

  • Carrie Dedrick Religious persecution, missions, Christianity around the world
  • Updated May 07, 2015

Publishers of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) are considering adding an unofficial word to be the transgender alternative to “Mr.,” “Mrs.” or “Ms.” The honorary term, called “Mx” would be added as a transgender title. 

OED assistant editor Jonathan Dent said that the new word was “an example of how the English language adapts to people's needs."

"Contrary to what some news outlets have reported, the OED does not yet include the honorific Mx. We're not surprised, though, that its editors are considering adding the term," said Brewster.

According to Dent, the term was first used in 1977. 

Emily A. Brewster, of Merriam-Webster said that the American dictionary does not currently have plans to add Mx, as the word is not often used in the United States. 

"Mx. is used increasingly on various official forms in the U.K., as well in British newspapers and periodicals,” Brewster told The Christian Post

"Evidence of Mx in the US (or Mx., as it's styled over here) is far sparser, but we are monitoring its development and will be interested to see if it takes root here in the same way it has in the U.K.” 

Publication date: May 7, 2015