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names - Announcing married couple


In Boston Legal (TV series) married couples are announced as "Mr and Mrs Ivan Tiggs" or "Mr and Mrs Denny Crane" - including the husbands' first names.


Why is that?
Is it used commonly or only in this series?



Answer



From the entry Mrs in Wikipedia:


Mrs. was most often used by women when married, in conjunction with her husband's first and last names (e.g., Mrs. John Smith). A widow was and still is addressed with the same title as when she was married. Mrs. was rarely used before a woman's first name, maiden name, or before a hyphenated surname her husband was not using. For example, Mrs. Jane Miller (wife of John Smith), Mrs. Jane Smith, or Mrs. Jane Miller-Smith were considered incorrect by many etiquette writers, especially of the early 20th century.[3]


It is now less common for a woman to be addressed using her husband's first name, except when the couple is being addressed jointly, such as in Mr. and Mrs. John Smith.


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