Au revoir, Mademoiselle?

By R.L.G. | SAN FRANCISCO

"FRANCE drops 'Mademoiselle' from official use." This kind of headline, from the New York Times, is accurate, but this kind of thing inevitably becomes "France bans mademoiselle" in the telephone game that is the internet. Since this Johnson is on holiday, I'll simply point out that nothing has been banned. The prime minister has simply instructed French government departments henceforth to print forms that do not include "mademoiselle" as an option for a title, and which also drop nom de jeune fille ("maiden name") and nom d'epouse ("married name") in favour of nom de famille and nom d'usage. The ministerial circular sensibly explains that some widows and divorcees continue to use their former husbands' names, so that nom d'usage is more accurate than nom d'epouse. The story was in fifth place on Le Monde's "most commented" list last I checked; French readers can get more detail here.