What Mx is and why it’s time to start using the gender-neutral title

Moving beyond Mr and Ms for a more respectful way to communicate in everyday systems.

Have you ever gotten an email that starts with “Dear Mx Alex” and paused for a second, wondering if it was meant for you, or if it was a typo, an error, or something else entirely?

If so, it may be that the sender is not sure about the recipient’s gender, or is simply choosing to avoid assigning one, and instead addressing them without a gendered label.

That is because “Mx” is a gender-neutral title used instead of Mr or Ms. It is often read as “mix” or “mux,” depending on preference, and it is slowly showing up in emails, online forms, and official systems across different countries.

In forms and documents, having an option for Mx removes the need to pick between Mr or Ms in the first place. It gives people another option when systems ask for a title, especially when Mr or Ms does not feel accurate or necessary for how they are being addressed. It gives people a way to complete forms and systems without being assigned a gendered label that may not fit how they see themselves.

Some workplaces have added Mx into their internal systems. In many cases, this begins with small updates to forms and databases, but the change is really about making space for people who do not want gender to define how they are addressed.

When that option is missing, it can make routine interactions feel like a choice between mislabeling yourself or disclosing something you would rather not bring into the conversation. Having Mx in the list does not solve everything, but it removes that unnecessary pressure in a small thing people deal with over and over.

As Pride Month wraps up, conversations around language like this continue to surface beyond celebrations and campaigns. It also shows how institutions are slowly adjusting to how people prefer to be addressed, even in the smallest details of everyday systems.

For people who prefer not to be defined by gender, this is often less about labels and more about being addressed in a way that feels neutral and respectful, without having to explain or justify it each time.

It would take some time before the use of Mx catches on in the mainstream, but these are necessary steps in ensuring people are not forced into categories that do not reflect how they identify or how they want to be addressed in formal settings.

So when “Mx” appears in an email or on a form, it is not a mistake. It is simply another way someone has chosen to be addressed.