General Chat

Am I the only one who thinks that calling your spouse or person you're in a relationship with 'partner' makes your relationship sound like a business arrangement?

People have parners in business without being romantically invovled with them. So aren't partners people you are NOT romantically involved with? :-S

That's MY thinking, Graham, nothing permanent!
I think my aversion stems from my schooldays, when "choosing" partners in games n things, and of course there was a song.......that had the words.....

#Change Partners, again#

Many correspondents on here are quite happy to be known as partners, heavily romantically involved, but so far some don't agree that marriage is essential.....

to each, his/her own, I guess........
Bob

I call my husband may things
partners not one of them ;-) ;-)

Oxford dictionary definition:
Partner: Noun. Sharer; person associated with others in business; either of pair in marriage etc. or dancing or game. Verb: Be partner of. :-)

With so many co-existing couples nowadays, its probably safer for an outsider to refer to them as Partners.

OH (which I only use on the internet) is my husband, and I his wife......not that we generally refer to each other as that. If one is introducing the other to a new acquaintence, its generally assumed that we are married to each other. We just say "This is X" (or Y)

If you don't like partner would do you suggest I call my son's other half? They are not married but are in a stable relationship. Girlfriend is too vague - it could mean anything from first date to long term commitment, and feels a bit "young" for a couple in their 40s. And I refuse to use "significant other"!

When we married, I heard the words "I now pronounce you HUSBAND and WIFE"... I definitely did not hear "I now pronounce you PARTNERS".

<3

I call Himself DH..... most of the time that means Darling Husband, other times..... I'll let you figure it out.

:-D

SuffolkVera,

Totally agree,except in my case it is my daughter who will be 34 on Friday, and is in a long-term relationship.

Scozz, I introduce OH as 'The wife'[, or 'the Missus'

I love living dangerously :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

I have a husband. :-D

I'm old fashioned enough to prefer the titles of husband and wife too. When I hear the word 'partner', it always gives me the impression that the couple are not married.

My husband is my 'partner' in many ways, in that we do things together but, that's as far as it goes. He is my husband, and he has my permission to say so!! :-D

I prefer OH to partner,as OH is normally linked to one half of,,,,,,,,,and much prefer partner to hubby, my chap or the old man.

Never heard my husband refer to me as--my missues or my old lady.,,maybe does outside of ear shot and likewise,,,,,,,:-D :-D :-D.

I believe the use of "partner" was brought into use mainly by the government to get rid of the cohabitation phrase, sort of added clarity and simplicity to cover form filling in.

I have to smile at the saying "Partner in crime". the word Partner has so many aspects to it.

Cant ever see partnership and marriage meaning the exactly same thing myself.
It doesn't`t bother me really, as Bob says "each to their own". :-D

'er indoors!!! trouble and strife!! :-D :-D

I have a husband who I normally call ex....we are not divorced but separated 13 years.

I live with a man who I normally call OH or HID on the internet although we are not romantically involved....but it is easier than saying.. The man I live with who cooks and cleans for me but has his own bedroom

As someone who has been living with OH for over 20 years now and we have not married what do I call him

Partner is exactly what he is. My partner in crime, laughter and tears.

Was married for 14 years prior to this, and hated the Husband/wife thing, especially letters addressed to Mrs.

All my correspondance is now Ms. and this is not that modern, it goes back a lot farther than we realise.

Personally I would use no title, but no online forms etc., will allow you to be just plain old John Smith....... or Janet Smith !!!! ;-) ;-)

My gf has her own business. If I told people I was her partner, they would think we were in business together.

I don't think there's anything vague about the word girlfriend. I think everybody knows what that means.

And what's wrong with sounding young? :-S :-D

'er indoors & trouble and strife :-D :-D :-D Reminds me of Arthur Daley :-)

"The talkative one in-doors".

I suppose 'prenuptial agreements' could be considered as some sort of a partnership financial arrangement.

"When I was working in market research (in the house-to-house, street encounter days) I found that "partner" was the only accurate and brief word for defining members of a household

My partner and I have been together for 30 years. What are we supposed to call each other? I'm happy with partner.
I think anyone who gets upset by 'partner' is maybe a little insecure.

Graham, if 'people' assume your girlfriend is your business partner does it really matter? You know who you are surely. :-S

I was married to my late husband for thirty-eight years
OH was married to his late wife for thirty-three years.
We have lived together for six years (not married)
We are more "together" than many married couples we know
At first I struggled with the term partner, as I already had two business partners.
On GR I was introduced to the term OH. We do everything together, share our lives and our families and friends., Other half suits us perfectly. <3 <3