Has anybody noticed the proposal by ONS to do away with the words "spinster" and "bachelor" in marriage regsiters - and to substitute the word "single". Apparently this has been used for divorced people remarrying for some while. I would hope that the SoG raises objection to this as it is a valuable piece of genealogical info. Chris

Hello list, What is the opposite of "single" in a marriage context? Could it be "not single"? Might that mean "married"? Could it mean anything else?! Has bigamy become legal? If not, what is the point of the word "single"? Jim Halsey

Chris, Divorced people remarrying are described as "divorced" or "previous marriage dissolved" on the marriage certificate. Did you get this from the Times Online article? It's very badly worded, but it says "Divorced men and women are already described as such in marriage registers and on certificates" - meaning that they are described as "divorced", not "single". http://women.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,17909-1711204,00.html "Single" is used to describe someone who has never been married. "Divorced" and "widowed" are the alternatives for those previously married. -- Susan Deacon Wokingham, Berks, UK BOUNDS/SKYRME - HEF DANIEL/HARRIES - CMN PINFIELD-WELLS - WOR SHUARD - WOR Chris Watts wrote: > Has anybody noticed the proposal by ONS to do away with the words "spinster" > and "bachelor" in marriage regsiters - and to substitute the word "single". > Apparently this has been used for divorced people remarrying for some while.