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.