If It's All the Same to You

I'm not a fan of the Post-Gazette's current style manual, which requires that "Mr." and "Mrs." be used for second references to most individuals. It's so . . . 1960s. But I assume that the point is to be respectful, and I can live with it, even if I wish that "Ms." would show up more often.

Today, however, the manual gets the paper in trouble. The last line of the P-G story anticipating Governor Rendell's inauguration festivities reads:

Mrs. Rendell said she loved the "elegant, contemporary work" of designer Hian, adding, "As a fellow Pennsylvanian, it's a great source of pride to showcase one of her creations."

The quotation refers to her ball gown. The problem, though, is that Marjorie Rendell, wife of the Governor, isn't a "Mrs." She sits on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia. Being respectful means that she is "Judge Rendell" not just in her judicial context, but always.