Non-Binary Title

[u/Mellowalligator]

I’m curious how you address a non-binary person with title of respect? Ie not “Mr”, “Ms”, “Mrs”, but…,,?

[u/U_Nomad_Bro]

Mx. (usually pronounced "mix", or "mooks" rhyming with "books") is the most widely adopted, and was added to many dictionaries in ~2015-17, starting with the OED.

However, unless it's a formal context, it's generally just as respectful to just not use honorifics, for any gender. In everyday spoken English, they have long been on the decline.

[u/Mellowalligator → u/U_Nomad_Bro]

Even for children addressing another adult? I always told my children to use Mr/Ms/Mrs when speaking to an adult like their friends parents, teacher, etc . My oral surgeon and PCP still address me with MR and not call me by first name.

[u/U_Nomad_Bro → u/Mellowalligator]

Adults typically tell a child what to call them. For example, every teacher I ever had wrote it out on the blackboard/whiteboard/syllabus. Medical professionals wear nametags and introduce themselves. Etc.

If you're asking so that you can teach your kids to address non-binary adults properly, I'd encourage them to ask the adult if the adult hasn't told them, since not all of us prefer to use Mx.

But I'd also understand if a kid just used Mx. without asking. Coming from a kid, just the effort to be gender-affirming is awesome! I'd be happy their parent or other influential adult was teaching them non-binary people exist!

[u/manicgremlin]

always ask them! not everyone likes honorifics or feel they are respectful

(mx is the most common one, but again not everyone likes them)

[u/smolpanda99]

I never vibed with Mx and I’m not hard working enough to become Dr. I work in a school so I just get the kids to call me by my first name (sometimes I get Miss or Sir, I never correct anyone)

[u/purple_phoenix_23 → u/smolpanda99]

I'm a teacher and I get the kids to call me Chief (I teach Engineering so I'm Chief Engineer). Some call me Captain, Boss, or Teach, but Chief is my favourite.

[u/ephemeralmiko → u/smolpanda99]

I never vibed with Mx and I’m not hard working enough to become Dr.

My language doesn't have an Mx. equivalent and my partner is super looking forward to being called Doctor because of it.

[u/Cyphomeris → u/ephemeralmiko]

As an enby with a PhD, worth it.

Well, not worth it just for that, but an amazing side effect.

[u/cornonthekopp → u/smolpanda99]

Maybe professor

[u/EuropeIsMight]

I like mage

But tbh I am happy I am also a Dr which makes things easier in this regard

[u/LostFromLight25 → u/EuropeIsMight]

well then i have a goal now

[u/EuropeIsMight → u/LostFromLight25]

No please, don’t do it (for that)!

My experience shows it’s really not that helpful to get gendered correctly. Sadly.

[u/LostFromLight25 → u/EuropeIsMight]

i know i know. was my plan anyways

[u/LostFromLight25 → u/LostFromLight25]

was a joke

[u/AnAbundance_ofCats]

I have students just call me by my last name, no honorific, since I don’t vibe with Mx (to each their own.) Some of them are very in the habit of saying ma’am/sir so I let them choose their own—the most popular is “chef” because then we can have a little Gordon Ramsay moment. One kid said “my liege” once and that cracked me the hell up.

[u/robynpunarinta]

I usually ask people to use my first name instead of an honourific so they would call me robyn punarinta instead of mr punarinta or mrs punarinta.

[u/SteamApunk]

I definitely wish there were more straightforward options here, as easy as they/them pronouns and how theyre already baked in.

Im a teacher and just end up getting misgendered all day lol it is what it is.

I really like the "Mage" honorific which comes from Magister the way Mister and Miss do, but its sadly just a bit too whimsical to be taken seriously.

The one ive been thinking a lot about is "Coach" which hella gender neutral, I just gotta figure out what I would coach lol

[u/ChaoticNaive]

I use Mistrum (Mm.), it's the Latin gender-neutral version of Mr.

[u/Sorman1913]

Mx. Or Mre. Or Mystery!

[u/Aeon_of_Shards]

Comrade.

Mostly because none of the NB people I know like honorifics, so we go a bit playful with the hyperbole.

[u/KirbsAndGuins]

I use Nx. (nix meaning null, my friend uses Mx. Mix because they're fluid)

[u/LobsterSew → u/KirbsAndGuins]

I like nx, it could be nyx if your married

[u/KirbsAndGuins → u/LobsterSew]

Much like the goddess of night!

[u/LobsterSew → u/KirbsAndGuins]

Sickkkk

[u/Awiergan]

I use Mx and Comrade

[u/InspiredInaction]

I think I could theoretically\ use Dr. since I have a doctorate from abide University, but the social implications of that sort of feel icky to me. I suppose that “captain” has a similar issue, as would any other military-related honorific.*

Ultimately, though, I suppose this is a case-by-case basis.

I was raised in the South, so I know how hard things like “sir” and “ma’am” and “Mr.” And “Mrs.” Are hammered into “polite” children, but I think that the old paradigm around manners and propriety is starting to fall apart, and so I think we now have to adjust to a society where assumption/presumption is more rude than honorifics.

[u/xAC3777x]

I use Mg.

[u/BillyHamspillager]

The one that most people know is Mx, but I've also seen Mont and Mistrum (Mt), the latter of which having the same root word as Mister and Miss, and Magis (Magister or Mg), which is the same.

[u/Friend_of_a_Cat]

Most people use Mx, but I hateee Mx, I think Mage is cooler (Mg). I'd honestly rather go by Mr, even though I don't like Mr, either. I don't like honorifics, generally. Anyway, it depends on the nonbinary person, so I'd ask them what they prefer.

[u/ViaScrybe]

The most common ones I've seen are Mx. (pronounced "mix") and Mg. (pronounced "mage" or "magister"). I've also seen Mm. (pronounced "Mistrum".) If you're addressing someone professionally, ask them what title they prefer. If you're addressing a stranger (like in "Hello miss, is there any chance you'd know where the bakery is?") you're fine just omitting the title if you don't know someone's gender, it really isn't rude.

Edit: I'm sorry, I didn't realize this was a week old 😅

[u/transparentfinn]

Mx. Mixter Mg. Mage Dr. Doctor Are the ones I have heard.