Marriage is a remnant of outdated religions. I don't believe in marriage. I can live exclusively with someone for the rest of my life, love and have a family but the concept of marriage does not make any sense in my head. Although it has a place in laws of almost all countries. Tells you how much religions have influenced the laws of almost all countries of the world.

I think there are two things which are getting mixed up: marital status (S,M,W,D,Sep) and relationship status with whatever categories one chooses. Single is the name of a marital status category, if there a relationship status single it is much more complicated than a mere marital status.

Good q...I think the answers prove that if you involved in any way with someone, it is a conversation worth having.
I hear that you stop being single, only when you change your face book or other social media status! Lol
Lots of non monogamous type relationships these days - open- swingers- polyamorous, etc.
For me, it's legal...on forms and when asked, I say single ... because I am not married
To good friends...I might share more info if it applies.

#2

I voted for all of the above but I don’t think it registered that way.
I don’t know what the difference is between having a SO and exclusively dating.

Anyway...

For legal purposes, as far as I know, there are only two designations: single or married. So I tend to think that way too, even though my personal definition of marriage totally disregards legal status. Marriage, to me, has four components.

1. Cohabitation.
2. Sexual exclusivity.
3. Commitment to permanence.
4. Relational engagement.

Anything else is just dating, as far as I’m concerned, whether it’s exclusive or not. To me, if two people are madly in love, don’t date other people, but are not married... they’re single. You could say, single but unavailable.

My feeling, if you're dating, you're still single. If that becomes a significant other (which I also consider exclusive), you're not.

If you're in a relationship you're not single

It means the cheese is individually wrapped

Unmarried, living alone with the freedom to live your life as you see fit and want to live it.

Marriage is just one way to formalize having a significant other. But if you're cohabiting and having sex, all marriage adds to it is some social recognition for what you're already doing.

there should be another catagory - unmarried and looking

Freedom... but no sex partner. There is positive and negative with every choice.