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Is a 16 Year Old Mr. or Master?

Published in Etiquette Titles 1 min read

A 16-year-old is neither Mr. nor Master; no title is needed for boys under the age of 18.

According to etiquette guidelines, the titles "Mr." and "Master" are not applicable to a 16-year-old male. Here's a breakdown:

Title Usage for Males by Age

Age Group Title Usage
Under 8 Master According to Amy Vanderbilt's The Book of Etiquette, this title might be used in some geographic regions but only on formal invitations. Generally, it is not used.
8-17 No title No title is needed.
18+ Mr. “Mr.” is used for men 18 and over.


Key Points:

  • No Title Needed: Generally, for a 16-year-old male, no title should be used in correspondence or conversation.
  • "Master" is Rare: The title "Master" for boys is very rarely used and is mainly confined to formal invitations for young boys under the age of 8.
  • "Mr." is for Adults: The title "Mr." is reserved for adult men (18 years and older).


Examples

  • Instead of addressing a letter to "Mr. John Smith", for a 16 year-old it should be addressed to John Smith.
  • On a formal invitation, you would write "Master John Smith" for a boy under 8 and just "John Smith" for a 16-year-old.