Questions tagged [honorifics]
The honorifics tag has no usage guidance.
51
questions
5
votes
1answer
101 views
When did English-speakers start and stop using foreign language honorifics? [closed]
Around the middle of the twentieth century, it was usual for English speakers to refer to people from certain non-English speaking countries with honorifics in their native language, rather than ...
2
votes
0answers
90 views
Is it okay to say “Excuse me, Ms.” to get attention from strangers who are women? [closed]
I was wondering that above sentence on title,
“Excuse me, Ms.” is rude or not. I’ve watched a video on youtube about English titles, but “Excuse me lady.” is very rude to get attention from women, ...
10
votes
2answers
593 views
Addressing boys and girls differently in (Victorian?) English schools
In Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë I read:
“Burns” (such it seems was her name: the girls here were all called
by their surnames, as boys are elsewhere)...
So my question is: were there (or ...
2
votes
1answer
79 views
How would one address a priest in the Anglican Community if “he was a woman?”
How would one address a priest in the Anglican Community if "he was a woman?" What do you call a woman priest in the Episcopal church?
2
votes
1answer
441 views
What do you call the process of formally addressing someone by using honorifics?
My native language is Macedonian, and in my language, we have a special term that describes the process of formally addressing someone. The idea is that you treat that person in plural instead of in ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
Is “Reverend” a title, honorific, style or merely an adjective
Is it proper to introduce a clergyman as Reverend Johnson or is it more proper to refer to him as the Reverend Mr. Johnson ... or the Reverend Dr. Johnson, as the case may be? "This is Reverend John ...
0
votes
1answer
163 views
How would you write the name and aspiring title for someone in an enterprise environmemnt? [closed]
How would you write the following (name, aspiring title) pair in a company context:
John Smith, to be Specialist
"To be" here is meant in the sense of TBD (to be defined or to be done) or TBC (to be ...
3
votes
2answers
3k views
Can “Mrs” be used before the name of a spouse who keeps her maiden surname? [duplicate]
For example, Donald Trump's wife changed her name from Melania Knauss to Melania Trump when she was married, adopting her husband's surname. In this case, Melania can be referred to as "Mrs. Trump" ...
3
votes
1answer
4k views
How should title and suffix appear when writing last name first?
It's common in business to list persons in order of last-name-first.
Instead of "John W. Van Dyk", write "Van Dyk, John W.".
But what should be the convention when the name has a title or suffix.
...
-4
votes
2answers
1k views
“I visited Dan, the Doctor” or “I visited Dan, the doctor”?
My son brought home his 1st Grade homework... I seem to think the 1st sentence is correct....
Which sentence is written correctly?
I visited Dan, the Doctor.
I visited Dan, the doctor.
Any help ...
1
vote
1answer
153 views
Keeping Up with the Joneses, Vocative Edition
TLDR: This question is about vocatives. Is there a rule to explain
how to know whether you can drop a person’s name when addessing someone
just by their title alone, or whether that form is ...
2
votes
1answer
3k views
How does one address a former UK Prime Minister in a letter? [closed]
More specifically, does the title "The Right Honourable" apply to former PMs as well? Is "Your/Her/His Excellency" used at all?
I'm finding several references for how to address current PMs, but I'm ...
1
vote
1answer
987 views
Title vs honorific
The Wikipedia article on honorifics states that
Some honorifics act as complete replacements for a name, as "Sir" or "Ma'am", or "Your Honor"
I had initially thought that titles generally needed a ...
3
votes
4answers
431 views
“two President Roosevelts” or “two Presidents Roosevelt?” Pluralize the honorific or the name?
If you have two people with the same name, affixed with the same honorific, do you pluralize the honorific or the name? For example,
There were two President Roosevelts.
There were two ...
0
votes
2answers
2k views
Is a student studying towards <a degree> “a <a degree> student”?
For example, I assume a "M.Sc. student" would be a person who hasn't yet obtained a Masters degree?
I'm almost sure this is what it means, but not 100% sure, so I'd like to have it verified.
(I'm ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Adding Mr/Ms/Mrs to a signature [closed]
Suppose one has an unusual or foreign name, or a name which traditionally belongs to the other gender. Is it inappropriate to add one's title (i.e. Mr/Ms/Mrs) to the signature of a letter/email so as ...
12
votes
3answers
2k views
“Mx” the gender-neutral honorific
The gender-neutral honorific “Mx” has its own entry in the OED since August 2015, so no one can argue it doesn't exist. According to The Sunday Times, central and local governments have been quietly ...
1
vote
2answers
15k views
What is the correct possessive form of “Drs. Smith”?
I want to address two Doctor Smiths via the abbreviation "Drs. Smith"; what is the correct possessive form of that (plural) noun phrase? Is it "Drs. Smith's"?
An example sentence:
Drs. Smith's ...
22
votes
11answers
8k views
Why doesn't the English language have distinct words to use when talking to elders? [closed]
In many of the languages that I've studied there are separate distinctions in the words to use when talking to elders and when talking to someone of your age or younger.
For e.g. in Hindi, if I ...
3
votes
1answer
654 views
19th C forms of address
In the early 19th C. when the eldest daughter married, did the second oldest daughter become the "Miss Whatever," or did she continue to be identified as "Miss Whoever Whatever?'
3
votes
1answer
3k views
Why are doctors addressed as Mr. in the UK?
In the US most physicians, surgeons and dentists are addressed as "doctor". Very few other professionals receive the same title. In the UK, however, surgeons and dentists seem to prefer to be ...
2
votes
1answer
14k views
What should we call our elder cousin's wife? [closed]
We don’t call our cousins cousin Somebody the way we do with uncles and aunts; we just refer to them by their given name directly.
But sometimes we cannot use their name to address them, such as if ...
15
votes
5answers
4k views
What is the best way of conveying respect to elders in English? [duplicate]
In Afrikaans, it is considered very disrespectful to use "you" ( "jy") when referring to someone who is above the level of a peer. Instead, it is expected that you use "u", which is a very respectful ...
1
vote
5answers
335 views
I want to refer to Bill Gates on his blog with respect in the comments section
One way to address Bill Gates with respect would be to simply write Sir, but I don't want other readers to get confused about who I'm referring to. How do I refer to him with respect without creating ...
1
vote
3answers
32k views
Is it ok to use Er. if a person is engineering degree holder [duplicate]
Its usual that we see doctors use Dr. Title, but I have also seen engineers use title - Er. Is this practise allowed, approved?
I have seen few name boards like that in India.
2
votes
1answer
2k views
Desk name plate for a PhD holder
I have read the full article in wikipedia and this question, but I am still unclear about this, as I am not a native speaker. A quick Google search did not help either. My brother recently received a ...
5
votes
3answers
23k views
Salutation for two doctors (not married)
Does use of the salutation
Dear Drs. Apple and Banana,
imply that Dr. Apple is married to Dr. Banana? That is, would it be better form to use:
Dear Dr. Apple and Dr. Banana,
when Dr. Apple ...
7
votes
5answers
27k views
“Ma'am” or “Miss” in American English? [closed]
Is it common to address a female sales clerk as Miss in the US?
What about ma'am?
If neither is proper, what would you suggest?
1
vote
1answer
9k views
Capitalization of honorifics such as “your excellency”, “your majesty”, “your holiness”
When addressing an ambassador, is it
I agree with your excellency.
or should your, excellency, or both be capitalized?
Likewise with "your majesty" and "your holiness".
1
vote
1answer
1k views
President of [Country][Name] vs President [Name] of [Country]
I came across the following sentence in The Guardian (emphasis mine):
President Vladimir Putin of Russia said the EU was putting pressure on Kiev and organising mass protests against President ...
0
votes
2answers
1k views
“The title of Bachelor of Engineering” vs “the title Bachelor of Engineering”
... obtained the diploma and the title of Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.).
... obtained the diploma and the title Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng).
Which sentence is correct? Which is better?
0
votes
1answer
16k views
First name or last name with “Sir”
If my teacher's first name is Robert and his last name is Dowry, and I have to send him an email, then which of the following will be correct?
Dear Sir Dowry,
Dear Sir Robert,
Dear Sir ...
5
votes
7answers
14k views
Usage of “ladies and gentlemen” to address two people of different sex
It seems to be not quite logical to use the traditional address "ladies and gentlemen" when there are only a single lady and a single gentleman in the room, not counting for the person who is speaking....
-2
votes
2answers
2k views
Use of word late
If Mr. Peter Smith has died,
is it ok to use "Mrs. Peter Smith (late)" for his wife?
10
votes
4answers
19k views
“Mom and Dad” vs “Dad and Mom” [duplicate]
I'm curious if the order implies anything here. I'm pretty sure "Mom and Dad" is standard in English. The issue was hard for me to google, so I'm asking it here:
Is using "Dad" before "Mom" incorrect,...
1
vote
1answer
207 views
How do you address clergy in a given circumstance and manner? [closed]
I want to ask a question about using titles, but I think it is too broad to be asked here.
My question is this: under what circumstance and in what manner should you address Christian clergy?
Do you ...
0
votes
1answer
1k views
Who verbally uses the title “Miss” with a female's first name (regardless of the female's correct title) and why? [duplicate]
Who verbally uses the title "Miss" with a female's first name (regardless of the female's correct title) and why? Example:
Meet with Miss Debbie in the conference room at 2 o'clock.
-2
votes
1answer
536 views
What is the proper characterization of a US military officer in popular press? [closed]
What is the proper way to represent in popular press the status of a commissioned officer of the United States Marine Corps. who is not retired, has a continuing service commitment, but is no longer ...
7
votes
6answers
28k views
What do students call their teacher in class? [closed]
Well, years ago I was an English teacher in an English Teaching Institute. In the country I live, students call their teachers by saying "Mr. Teacher" or "Teacher" (literally translated) in schools. ...
0
votes
4answers
2k views
Is there a rule for using or not using the definite article before people’s titles?
The use of the definite article before titles is a confusing area - I always hear “Queen Elizabeth visited” and never “The Queen Elizabeth visited”. But I always hear “The Prince of Wales visited” and ...
5
votes
5answers
3k views
Is there any reason why English doesn’t add respectful words in every sentence? [closed]
My mother tongue, Korean, and its neighbor Japanese have postpositions for expressing honoring the opposite in each sentence when we say to seniors or strangers if these are younger than the speaker. ...
2
votes
1answer
258 views
Doctor Jekyll (Ph.D.), I presume
I am writing an analysis paper (not related to title), and need to introduce someone with a doctorate in English. Do I write "Doctor [name]" or do I use a suffix?
2
votes
3answers
12k views
Addressing a former office-holder by that office's title [closed]
When is it appropriate to use an "expired" honorific to address or refer to a person?
In the U.S., former state governors are occasionally referred to as "Governor So-and-so", although they have not ...
12
votes
4answers
8k views
When should titles like “captain” or “admiral” be capitalized?
Please excuse the contrived example below, but I am wondering if this example is properly capitalised? I'm assuming that capitals are used when addressing someone directly, but lower case is used ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
When addressing my 'Sensei', should I omit the possessive “my”?
In English, when (if ever) is it appropriate to use the possessive with a formal title when addressing someone? Kind of like I would say, "As you wish, my greatest of loves."
For example,
Thank ...
7
votes
3answers
187k views
What does “Ms.” stand for? [closed]
In letter writing, there are four different titles to address:
Mr.
Mrs.
Miss.
Ms.
What does Ms. stand for? Apparently as Mrs. and Miss already stand for female titles, Ms. stood for "...
3
votes
4answers
22k views
When is it appropriate to refer to someone as Dr. [Surname]?
I know that the title Dr. is often used to refer to those who practice medicine. For example, today I am going to see Dr. [Surname].
But are we in general expected to use the title when we refer to ...
27
votes
9answers
44k views
Is it proper to omit periods after honorifics (Mr, Mrs, Dr)?
I've been reading the Economist lately and they apparently don't punctuate honorifics like "Mr.", "Mrs.", e.g.
The popular rejection of Mr Mubarak offers the Middle East’s best chance for reform in ...
8
votes
4answers
11k views
How to indicate possession when using abbreviation “Dr.”
I often run into a case where I need to say I have a doctor's appointment, but how would I properly punctuate it if I wanted to use the abbreviation Dr. instead of the word doctor? Dr.'s appointment ...
27
votes
5answers
45k views
