1. (preceded by: can, could, etc) to be able to do or spare something, esp without incurring financial difficulties or without risk of undesirable consequences: we can afford to buy a small house; I can afford to give you one of my chess sets; we can't afford to miss this play. afford /əˈfɔːd/ vb preceded by can, could, etc: to be able to do or spare something, esp without incurring financial difficulties or without risk of undesirable consequences If you say that you cannot afford to do something or allow it to happen, you mean that you must not do it or must prevent it from happening because it would be harmful or embarrassing to you.

Understanding the Context

Miss vs. Ms. People sometimes mistake Ms. for an abbreviation of Miss, since other titles are conventionally abbreviated in writing (e.g., Mrs., Mr., Dr.).

Key Insights

In fact, they’re two different terms with different pronunciations, and Miss has no abbreviation but is always written in full. Since both titles can refer to unmarried women, it can be difficult to decide which is the right choice ... Ms. vs. Miss Origins of Ms and Miss When addressing women, it is important to understand the difference between the titles Ms and Miss.

Final Thoughts

Miss is used to address an unmarried woman, while Ms can be used to address a woman regardless of her marital status. The word Miss originated from the word Mistress in the 1600s, which was a title used to address a woman of high social status. Over time, the ... "Ms.," "Miss," and "Mrs." are honorifics used for females. They are not interchangeable, and the differences can be nuanced. As a consequence, writers are often unsure whether to use "Ms.," "Miss," or "Mrs." when addressing a woman in an email or a letter.

These feminine honorifics are all contractions of the word "Mistress." In general terms: "Miss" denotes an unmarried woman. (As it looks ...