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{{anchor|Messrs}}
The modern plural form is '''''Misters'''''{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}}, although its usual formal abbreviation '''''Messrs'''''(.){{refn|group=note|Pronounced {{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɛ|s|ər|z}} in English,<ref name=MessrsTheOED/><ref>Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/messrs. "Messrs."] Merriam-Webster ([[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]], 2015.</ref> and {{IPA
==Historical etiquette==
Historically, ''mister'' was applied only to those above one's own status if they had no higher title such as ''[[Sir]]'' or ''my [[lord]]'' in the English class system. That understanding is now obsolete, as it was gradually expanded as a mark of respect to those of equal status and then to all men without a higher style.
In the 19th century and earlier in Britain, two gradations of "gentleman" were recognised; the higher was entitled to use "[[esquire]]" (usually abbreviated to Esq, which followed the name), and the lower employed "Mr" before the name. Today, on correspondence from [[Buckingham Palace]], a man who is a UK citizen is addressed with [[post-nominal]] "Esq.", and a man of foreign nationality is addressed with prefix "Mr".
In past centuries, ''Mr'' was used with a first name to distinguish among family members who might otherwise be confused in conversation: ''Mr Doe'' would be the eldest present; younger brothers or cousins were then referred to as ''Mr Richard Doe'' and ''Mr William Doe'' and so on. Such usage survived longer in family-owned business or when [[domestic servant]]s were referring to adult male family members with the same surname: "Mr Robert and Mr Richard will be out this evening, but Mr Edward is dining in." In other circumstances, similar usage to indicate respect combined with familiarity is common in most [[English-speaking world|anglophone]] cultures, including that of the southern United States.
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===Military usage===
In the [[United States Army]], male [[Warrant officer (United States)|warrant officers]] are addressed as "Mister
In the [[British Armed Forces]], a male [[warrant officer]] is addressed as ''Sir'' by other ranks and non-commissioned officers; commissioned officers, particularly of junior rank, should address a [[warrant officer]] using ''Mister'' and his surname, although often their rank or appointment is used, for example "Sergeant Major", "Regimental Sergeant Major", or "RSM".
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