what's the difference between miss and ma'am
`` Miss '' is the proper form for addressing all young ladies . It is sometimes used when addressing a younger adult woman , for example , `` May I help you , Miss ? '' In the United States , the titles of `` Ma'am '' or `` Madam '' are sometimes used instead of `` Miss . '' Use of any of these terms implies marital status . Some take offense to the use of `` Ma'am '' or `` Madam '' because it indicates that the speaker thinks the woman being addressed must certainly be married due to her apparent age , and some take offense to the use of the terms `` Ma'am '' or `` Madam '' because of their association with houses of ill repute . On the other hand , addressing a woman as `` Miss '' may be taken as patronizing .