I know I'm called a lot of things - and maybe even other things behind my back - but the one thing I really dislike is being called Ma'am. It may be a sign of respect, and probably a shortened version of madam, but I really got a kick out of the refined way that I was often addressed in Europe: Mes·dames (m
-d
m
, -däm). Usually followed with, the answer is right there on your ticket, Mesdame.
"Ma'am" should be barred from the English language. So should "that said" and "so and so killed it" and "at the end of the day" and might as well throw in "sooner rather than later". I can go on...
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