Mastering the Plural of ‘Mr.’: Rules, Usage, Examples & Tips

Welcome to this comprehensive guide on mastering the plural form of “Mr.”—an essential yet often confusing aspect of English grammar. Whether drafting a business letter, editing formal documents, or simply expanding your language skills, knowing how to correctly pluralize honorifics like “Mr.” enhances your professionalism, clarity, and grammatical accuracy.

“Mr.” is widely used as a courtesy title preceding male names, but many English learners and even native speakers stumble when trying to refer to multiple gentlemen collectively. Is it “Mr.s”? “Misters”? Or something else entirely? And when should you use each form?

This article is designed for students, English learners, teachers, writers, professionals, and editors who want a clear, detailed understanding of this topic. You’ll find:

Clear definitions and grammatical explanations
Step-by-step pluralization rules
Over 50 varied examples and multiple reference tables
Practice exercises with answers
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Advanced insights and historical context
A detailed FAQ

By the end, you’ll confidently use the plural of “Mr.” in any context, enhancing both your written and spoken English.

3. Definition Section
4. Structural Breakdown
5. Types or Categories
6. Examples Section
7. Usage Rules
8. Common Mistakes
9. Practice Exercises
10. Advanced Topics
11. FAQ Section
12. Conclusion

3. Definition Section

3.1. What is ‘Mr.’?

“Mr.” is an honorific or courtesy title used before a man’s surname or full name to show respect. It is an abbreviation of the word Mister.

For example:

Mr. John Smith
Mr. Brown

It is typically reserved for adult males and is used in both written and spoken English.

3.2. Grammatical Classification

“Mr.” is a noun functioning as a title. It is an abbreviation that acts as a proper noun modifier when combined with the person’s name.

In grammar terms, it can function as:

A form of address: “Excuse me, Mr. Johnson.”
A reference: “Mr. Smith is our new manager.”

3.3. Plural of ‘Mr.’ – What Does It Mean?

The plural of “Mr.” is used when referring collectively to more than one man who share the title. This is common in lists, formal correspondences, or when multiple men are addressed together.

For example:

“Messrs. Smith and Jones will be presenting today.”
“The two Misters were both teachers.” (rare, informal)

3.4. Contexts Where Plural of ‘Mr.’ Is Used

The plural of “Mr.” appears in various settings, including:

Formal correspondence: Invitations, business letters, legal documents
Listings: Multiple male recipients or signatories
Historical documents: Older legal or literary texts
Informal speech: Rarely, phrases like “the two Misters”

4. Structural Breakdown

4.1. Basic Rule for Pluralizing Titles

In general, to pluralize titles, English follows these rules:

Add -s or -es to the full word: “Mister” → “Misters”
For abbreviations, special plural forms often exist (e.g., “Messrs.”)
Retain capitalization and, where customary, punctuation such as the period after abbreviations

4.2. Plural Form of ‘Mr.’

The correct plural of “Mr.” is “Messrs.”, pronounced /ˈmɛsərz/. It derives from the French word messieurs, meaning “gentlemen.”

Here’s a comparison of common titles and their plurals:

Singular	Plural	Notes
Mr.	Messrs.	Traditional, formal
Mrs.	Mesdames	Rare, very formal
Miss	Misses	Rare, or plural noun
Ms.	Mss.	Very rare, not standard

4.3. Punctuation and Capitalization

Key rules:

Always capitalize “Mr.” and “Messrs.”
Include a period at the end in American English: “Messrs.”
In British English, the period is optional: “Messrs”

4.4. Position in a Sentence

“Messrs.” is used before the surnames of multiple men:

Before two surnames: “Messrs. Brown and Green”
Before a list: “Messrs. Adams, Baker, and Clark”
As a noun phrase (rare): “The Messrs. presented their proposal.”

5. Types or Categories

5.1. Traditional Plural (Messrs.)

The standard, formal plural of “Mr.” is “Messrs.” This form is:

Widely used in business and legal writing
Rooted in historical usage
Still considered correct and professional today

5.2. Informal or Conversational Plurals

In speech or informal writing, you might encounter:

“The two Misters” (rare and casual)
Repeating “Mr.” for each man: “Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones” (preferred in modern writing)

5.3. Regional or Register Variations

Differences include:

British English: Less likely to use a period after abbreviations
American English: Retains the period “Messrs.”
“Messrs.” has declined in casual correspondence but remains common in legal/business contexts

5.4. Pluralizing with Names or without Names

You can pluralize with:

Names: “Messrs. Brown and Green”
Without names (rare, old-fashioned): “The Messrs. attended the meeting.”

6. Examples Section

6.1. Basic Examples

Messrs. Smith and Johnson will attend.
The contract was signed by Messrs. Brown, Clark, and Evans.
The meeting included Messrs. Adams and Baker.
We received a letter from Messrs. Taylor and Lee.
Please welcome Messrs. Allen and Scott.
Messrs. Harris and King are our clients.
Have you spoken with Messrs. Cooper and Morris?
The presentation was led by Messrs. Hill and Ward.
Payment will be made to Messrs. Wright and Young.
Our representatives, Messrs. Turner and Collins, will visit next week.

6.2. Examples by Formality

6.2.1. Highly Formal

Messrs. Carter & Sons request your presence.
The letter was addressed to Messrs. Black and White.
Please extend an invitation to Messrs. Martin, Nelson, and Reed.
The agreement was finalized by Messrs. Phillips and Hughes.
Our legal counsel includes Messrs. Richardson and Murphy.

6.2.2. Business Usage

Messrs. Thomson & Co. submitted the bid.
Please refer any inquiries to Messrs. Greenfield and Partners.
The invoice was prepared by Messrs. Edwards and Walker.
Messrs. Rogers and Bailey will handle the negotiations.
We have received confirmation from Messrs. Peterson and Foster.

6.2.3. Informal or Modern Style

Mr. Smith and Mr. Johnson are here.
The two Misters went out for lunch.
I spoke with Mr. Lee and Mr. Park yesterday.
Our guests are Mr. Brown and Mr. Green.
The managers, Mr. Allen and Mr. Scott, joined the call.

6.3. Examples with Variations

Messrs. Lee and Park are invited to the seminar. (plural verb)
The proposal was signed by Messrs. Adams, Baker, and Clark.
Please send the documents to Messrs. Harris and King.
Incorrect: “Mr.s Smith and Johnson” ✗
Correct: Messrs. Smith and Johnson
Informal: Mr. Smith and Mr. Johnson
Rare: The two Misters agreed on the plan.
Formal: Messrs. Wright and Young will present.
Casual: Mr. Hill and Mr. Ward will meet us.
Incorrect: “Mr’s Brown and Green” ✗

6.4. Example Tables

Table 2: Pluralization in Greetings

Singular Greeting	Plural Greeting
Dear Mr. Brown,	Dear Messrs. Brown and Green,
To Mr. Johnson,	To Messrs. Johnson and White,
Dear Mr. Carter,	Dear Messrs. Carter and Lee,
Attention: Mr. Adams,	Attention: Messrs. Adams and Clark,

Table 3: Signature Blocks

Singular Signature	Plural Signature
Mr. David Clark	Messrs. David Clark and John Smith
Mr. Thomas Lee	Messrs. Thomas Lee and Robert Kim
Mr. Alan Green	Messrs. Alan Green and Eric Brown
Mr. Paul White	Messrs. Paul White and Brian Black

Table 4: Incorrect vs Correct Plurals

Incorrect Use	Correct Use
Mr.s Brown and Green	Messrs. Brown and Green
Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Green (women)	N/A (different title)
Mr’s Smith and Johnson	Messrs. Smith and Johnson
Mr.s Carter and Lee	Messrs. Carter and Lee

7. Usage Rules

7.1. When to Use Messrs.

Use Messrs. in:

Formal writing: Business, legal, or official documents
Addressing multiple men collectively
Letter salutations: “Dear Messrs. Brown and Green,”
Envelopes, letterheads, or signature blocks

7.2. Avoiding Redundancy

Never write:

“Mr.s” ✗
“Mr’s” ✗
Instead, use Messrs. or repeat “Mr.” for each man

7.3. Verb Agreement with Messrs.

Always use plural verbs with “Messrs.”

Correct: “Messrs. Smith and Jones are attending.”
Incorrect: “Messrs. Smith and Jones is attending.” ✗

7.4. Punctuation Rules

American English: Messrs. (with period)
British English: Messrs (without period acceptable)
Always capitalize
No apostrophe is used

7.5. Modern Preferences

In less formal writing, repeat “Mr.” instead of using “Messrs.”: “Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones”
“Messrs.” is now considered somewhat old-fashioned outside business/legal contexts

7.6. Exceptions and Special Cases

If men have different titles (e.g., Dr., Sir), do not pluralize “Mr.”
For mixed-gender groups, do not use “Messrs.”

8. Common Mistakes

8.1. Incorrect Plural Forms

“Mr.s Brown and Green” ✗ (Incorrect spelling)
“Misters Brown and Green” (acceptable informally but not standard in writing)

8.2. Misuse of Apostrophes

“Mr’s Brown and Green” ✗
“Messr’s” ✗

8.3. Subject-Verb Disagreement

“Messrs. Brown and Green is attending” ✗
Correct: “Messrs. Brown and Green are attending.”

8.4. Mixing Titles Improperly

“Messrs. Brown and Mrs. Green” ✗ (gender mismatch)

8.5. Overusing Messrs. in Informal Settings

Using “Messrs.” in casual emails or speech sounds overly formal or outdated
Prefer “Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones” instead

8.6. Correct vs Incorrect Examples Table

Incorrect Usage	Correct Usage
Mr.s Smith and Johnson	Messrs. Smith and Johnson
Messers Smith and Johnson	Messrs. Smith and Johnson
Messrs Smith and Johnson (no period)*	Messrs. Smith and Johnson (AmE)
Mr’s Carter and Lee	Messrs. Carter and Lee

*Note: No period is acceptable in British English

9. Practice Exercises

9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank

The contract was signed by _________ Brown and White.
Please contact _________ Adams and Lee for further information.
The proposal was prepared by _________ Martin and King.
We received a letter from _________ Allen and Scott.
All inquiries should be directed to _________ Hill and Ward.

9.2. Identify Correct Usage

a) Mr. Smith and Mr. Johnson
b) Mr.s Smith and Johnson
c) Messrs. Smith and Johnson
a) Messrs. Brown and Green
b) Mr’s Brown and Green
c) Misters Brown and Green
a) Mr. Lee and Mr. Kim
b) Messrs. Lee and Kim
c) Mr.s Lee and Kim

9.3. Error Correction

“Mr.s Brown and Green will attend the meeting.”
“Messrs Brown and Green is attending the seminar.”
“Mr’s Carter and Lee sent the documents.”
“Messrs. Brown and Mrs. Green signed the letter.”

9.4. Sentence Construction

Write a greeting addressing a letter to Thomas and Lewis using the plural title.
Construct a sentence stating that Smith and Johnson are invited using the plural of “Mr.”
Write a phrase indicating that Allen and Scott are the representatives.
Compose a sentence saying that Hill and Ward prepared the report.

9.5. Multiple Choice

The plural of “Mr.” is:
a) Mr.s
b) Messrs.
c) Misters
Which is the correct plural greeting?
a) Dear Misters Brown and Green
b) Dear Mr.s Brown and Green
c) Dear Messrs. Brown and Green
Which is acceptable in modern informal writing?
a) Mr. Smith and Mr. Johnson
b) Messrs. Smith and Johnson
c) Mr.s Smith and Johnson

9.6. Answer Key Section

9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank Answers:

Messrs.
Messrs.
Messrs.
Messrs.
Messrs.

9.2. Identify Correct Usage:

c) Messrs. Smith and Johnson (formal plural)
a) Messrs. Brown and Green (correct plural)
b) Messrs. Lee and Kim (correct plural)

9.3. Error Correction:

Corrected: “Messrs. Brown and Green will attend the meeting.”
Corrected: “Messrs. Brown and Green are attending the seminar.”
Corrected: “Messrs. Carter and Lee sent the documents.”
Better: “Messrs. Brown signed the letter; Mrs. Green also signed.” (Avoid mixing titles)

9.4. Sentence Construction:

Dear Messrs. Thomas and Lewis,
Messrs. Smith and Johnson are invited.
Messrs. Allen and Scott are our representatives.
Messrs. Hill and Ward prepared the report.

9.5. Multiple Choice:

b) Messrs.
c) Dear Messrs. Brown and Green
a) Mr. Smith and Mr. Johnson

10. Advanced Topics

10.1. Historical Origins and Evolution

“Messrs.” comes from the French plural messieurs (gentlemen), which itself is the plural of monsieur (sir, gentleman).

Adopted into English in the 18th century
Used in formal and legal contexts
Declined in everyday speech and informal writing

10.2. Usage in Legal and Business Contexts

In contracts, letters, and official documents, “Messrs.” remains prevalent to address:

Partnerships: “Messrs. Smith & Johnson”
Multiple male signatories: “Messrs. Brown, Clark, and Evans”

10.3. Other Plurals of Honorifics

Here are other plural forms of common titles:

Singular Title	Plural Title	Notes
Mr.	Messrs.	Formal plural of Mr.
Mrs.	Mesdames	French origin, rare
Miss	Misses	Rare, mostly plural noun
Ms.	Mss.	Rare, not standard
Dr.	Drs.	Doctors
Sir	Sirs	Plural of Sir

10.4. Register and Style Considerations

Consider audience and tone:

In modern inclusive language, avoid gendered plurals
Use individuals’ names with separate titles: “Mr. Smith and Dr. Jones”
In informal writing, prefer “Mr. Smith and Mr. Johnson”

10.5. Pluralizing Compound Titles

When addressing men with different titles, do not pluralize:

Correct: “Mr. Smith and Dr. Jones”
Incorrect: “Messrs. Smith and Dr. Jones” ✗

10.6. Cross-Linguistic Perspectives

Other languages have plural honorifics:

French: Monsieur → Messieurs, Madame → Mesdames
Italian: Signore → Signori
Spanish: Señor → Señores

This influenced English’s adoption of “Messrs.” and “Mesdames.”

11. FAQ Section

What is the plural of ‘Mr.’?
The plural of “Mr.” is “Messrs.”, used to refer collectively to multiple men with this title.
How do you pronounce ‘Messrs.’?
It is pronounced /ˈmɛsərz/, sounding like “MESS-ers.”
When should I use ‘Messrs.’ instead of multiple ‘Mr.’?
Use “Messrs.” in formal, business, or legal writing when addressing or referring collectively to several men. In informal writing, it’s better to repeat “Mr.” for clarity.
Is ‘Misters’ ever correct as a plural?
“Misters” may be heard in speech but is nonstandard in writing. Use “Messrs.” formally or repeat “Mr.”
Can I use ‘Messrs.’ in informal writing?
It’s usually too formal for casual contexts. Prefer “Mr. Smith and Mr. Johnson.”
Is ‘Messrs.’ outdated or still acceptable?
While somewhat old-fashioned, it remains acceptable and conventional in formal business/legal contexts.
Should ‘Messrs.’ have a period at the end?
Yes, in American English. In British English, the period is optional.
What is the plural form of ‘Mrs.’ or ‘Ms.’?
For “Mrs.” it’s “Mesdames” (rare). For “Ms.”, no widely accepted plural exists; “Mss.” is very rare.
Can I use ‘Messrs.’ when referring to a man and a woman?
No, “Messrs.” refers only to multiple men. Use individual titles instead.
What is the origin of ‘Messrs.’?
It derives from French plural messieurs, meaning “gentlemen.”
Is ‘Messrs.’ used differently in American and British English?
Mainly in punctuation: Americans usually add a period; British omit it. Usage otherwise similar.
Are there plural forms for other titles like ‘Dr.’ or ‘Sir’?
Yes, “Drs.” for “Doctors” and “Sirs” for “Sir.”

12. Conclusion

Mastering the plural of “Mr.” enhances your professional communication and grammatical accuracy. The traditional plural is “Messrs.”, especially suitable in formal, legal, or business contexts when addressing multiple men collectively. Remember:

Use “Messrs.” formally; repeat “Mr.” informally
Never write “Mr.s” or “Mr’s”
Always match plural verbs: “Messrs. Smith and Jones are…”
Avoid mixing titles or using “Messrs.” for mixed-gender groups
Consider tone, audience, and context

Practice with the examples and exercises provided to internalize these rules. English honorifics are evolving, but understanding traditional forms like “Messrs.” ensures you can navigate both modern and historical texts with confidence.

Revisit this guide whenever in doubt, and continue exploring the fascinating nuances of English grammar!

Table of Contents