If you’ve ever received a wedding or formal invitation, you may have noticed a small “M” followed by a blank line on the RSVP card. It can look confusing at first, but the tradition is actually quite simple. The M traditionally serves as a prompt for your courtesy title, such as Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss or Dr.

For example, you might fill it in with Mr. John Smith, Ms. Jane Smith or Dr. Emily Smith. Despite a common misconception, the M does not mean “married.” It comes from older invitation etiquette, when formal titles were routinely included before a guest’s name.

Modern etiquette is more flexible, so if you don’t use a traditional title, you can generally write your name without one, depending on the card’s design. Some newer invitations skip the M completely and simply provide a space for Name(s). The important thing is that the host can clearly identify who is responding and how many guests will attend.

And what about RSVP itself? It comes from the French phrase Répondez s’il vous plaît, meaning “Please respond.” Hosts use these replies to organize seating, food, drinks and guest numbers. So the next time you see that mysterious little M, you’ll know it is simply a traditional title prompt—not a question about your marital status. ✉️