ANNOUNCEMENTS OF BIRTHS
TO THE BDITOB OF THE PBESS. Sir,—When I was at High School I vas taught that in French "nee" meant "born." Now, almost every day in the birth notices one sees announcements giving the maiden names of the mothers as "nee Mary Smith," for instance. It was drummed into us at school that no one is born with a Christian name, but only bears the parents' surname, therefore the wife was correctly "nee Smith." I think the error in these announcements is caused by many persons thinking "nee" means "formerly." The correct way to announce the event would be "to Mary (nee Smith) and John Blank." It certainly looks cumbersome, and, after all, I suppose it is only a small point, but that "nee Mary So-an4*So" irritates me every time I read Yours, etc., OLD FUSS-POT. September 13, 1937.
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Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22197, 14 September 1937, Page 13
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142ANNOUNCEMENTS OF BIRTHS Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22197, 14 September 1937, Page 13
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