A question which just occurred to me

[commodorified]

I am enthusiastically in favour of addressing people as they wish to be addressed, and referring to them by the pronouns, etc, that they prefer, or, if lacking data, using 'they'.

And there has, thankfully, been a lot of discussion of the matter to help me get this right.

So now I am wondering about formal modes of address for general and specific addressing of people whose genders are non-binary.

staranise sensibly points out that when addressing groups, "Honoured Guests" may reasonably be used along with, or instead of, "Ladies and Gentlemen/Mesdames et Messieurs". (ETA anne adds "Amis Distingués")

Suitable substitutes for "Sir", "Madam" "Ma'am", "Mr." "Ms", "M.", "Mmme", and so forth, however, elude me.

Has anyone seen anything good on this?

Comments

[thnidu]

I sometimes use "Gentlebeings". Forget where I picked it up. – Or "Gentlefolk", of course.

I don't think of it as speaking to superiors, but as courteous speech. I use "Sir", "Ma'am", "Miss" all the time (of course these are gendered), just for moving in a crowded place, like on the sidewalk (I walk pretty fast) or on public transit. "Excuse me, sir... pardon me, ma'am." It's part of not tring to shove my way through. Giving respect gains respect, and everyone's more comfortable.

[amazon_syren]

Puck! "Gentles, do not reprehend; if you pardon, we will mend"!