Titles: “Doctor” or Not?
There seems to be much confusion about forms of address for holders of doctorates. Here, I try to summarize what I have found to be the “authoritative” U.S. practice on these questions.
Note: U.S. usage is quite different from other English-speaking countries. In particular, U.K. forms of address are very different. This may be why there is so much confusion in the U.S.
Warning: In healthcare or similar settings, some state laws prohibit the use of the word “doctor” unless you are a licensed physician. Legality aside, it is good practice for only physicians to use the word “doctor” in clinical situations.
There are several parameters that determine the selection forms of address for holders of doctorates in U.S. usage:
- Is the name is being used in a professional/official or social context?
- Is the name is being written or spoken?
- Is one referring to oneself, or addressing another person?
- Does the person being referred to work in a university, research lab, or other institution where a doctorate is essential qualification? Or, does the person work in a setting where doctorates are peripheral?
I’ll case split on the last parameter.
Works in a University, Research Lab, Etc.
| Scenario | Written | Spoken/ Salutation |
|---|---|---|
| On campus, referring to other who is tenure-track faculty | Jane Smith, PhD | Prof. Smith or Dr. Smith |
| Professionally, referring to other | Jane Smith, PhD | Dr. Smith |
| Professionally, referring to self | John Doe, PhD | John Doe |
| Socially, referring to other | Dr. Jane Smith | Dr. Smith |
| Socially, referring to self | John Doe | John Doe |
Note that one cannot give one’s own title in spoken introductions. This is one of the reasons that a third party should introduce people to each other.
Works Outside Academia/Research Labs
| Scenario | Written | Spoken/ Salutation |
|---|---|---|
| Professionally, referring to other in context where doctorate is relevant | Jane Smith, PhD | Ms. Smith |
| Professionally, referring to self in context where doctorate is relevant | John Doe, PhD | John Doe |
| Professionally, referring to other in context unrelated to doctorate | Jane Smith | Ms. Smith |
| Professionally, referring to self in context unrelated to doctorate | John Doe | John Doe |
| Socially, referring to other | Ms. Jane Smith | Ms. Smith |
| Socially, referring to self | John Doe | John Doe |
Sources
I think I’ve captured the conventions as described in books by Robert Hickey, Letitia Baldrige, and Amy Vanderbilt. The guidance in Emily Post’s book is incomplete, but is consistent with this.
Here are some relevant notes about titles and post-nominals from these sources: Use of post-nominals (PhD, etc.) or titles (Ms., Dr., etc.) are mutually exclusive. Post-nominals are never used socially. If titles are used, only one title is used. One does not use one’s own title, but can use one’s own relevant post-nominals professionally (in written form).
The “Real” Doctors
I have occasionally heard people claim that holders of doctorates other than M.D. (physicians’) degrees are somehow not “real” doctors. Actually, the reverse is true!
The word doctor is the Latin word for teacher. The first doctoral degrees granted were teaching qualifications. It’s an accident of history that our present physician’s professional degree uses the word “doctor”.
