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Dalai Lama Deacon Dean, academic Dean, clergy Deceased Persons Degree, honorary Delegate, U.S., State Dentist Deputy Chief of Mission Deputy Marshal Deputy Secretary Designate, Elect, Pro Tempore Diploma, Name on a Diplomats Director District Attorney Doctor, Chiropractor Doctor of Dentistry Doctor of Medicine Doctor, Military Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Doctor, Optometrist Doctor of Osteopathy Doctor, Other Disciplines Doctorate Doctorate, honorary
Earl Elect, Designate Pro Tempore Emeritus/emerita Eminence Emperor Engineer Esquire, Esq. Excellency
Family Fiancee Firefighter First Names, Use of Formal / Informal First, Second, Third , etc . First Lady, Spouse of the President of the United States First Lady, Member of Her White House Staff First Lady, Spouse of a U.S. Governor or Lt. Gov. First Lady, Spouse of a U.S. Mayor First Lady of a Church First Lieutenant Former Officials Freeholder
Gay Couple Geshe General USA, USAF, USMC Girl Goodwill Ambassador Governor General Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Lt., Spouse Governor, Tribal Council Governor, U.S. State Governor, Former Governor Spouse of Governor's Staff, Member of Governors, Board of
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Judge, former Judge of US City County or State Judge, US Federal Junior, Senior, I, II, III, etc . Justice, Associate Federal Supreme Court Justice, Associate State Supreme Court
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Late, The (deceased persons) Lawyer Lesbian Couple Lieutenant Lieutenant Colonel, USA, USAF, USMC Lieutenant General, USA, USAF, USMC Lieutenant Governor
Ma'am Major USA, USAF, USMC Major General, USA, USAF, USMC Man, business Man, social Marquess / Marchioness Married Women Marshal for a Judicial District, U.S. Mayor, U.S. City Mayor, Canadian City Mayor Pro Tempore Mayor, Vice Medic Minister, Protestant Clergy Miss Monk, Christian Orthodox Monsignor Most Reverend, The Mother Superior Mr. (Social) Mr. (Business) Mrs., Ms. (Use, Social Forms) Mrs. vs. Ms. Mr. & Mrs. / Couples
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Officer, Police Optometrist Pastor, Christian Clergy Patriarch, Christian Orthodox Patriarch, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople People with Two Titles Permanent Representative Petty Officer Pharmacist Physician PhD Place Cards Plaque, Name on a Police Chief Police Officer Pope, Catholic Pope, Coptic Postmaster General Post-Nominal Abbreviations Presbyter, Orthodox President, corporate President of College or University President of a Secondary School President of a US State Assembly President (current) of the U.S.A. President (former) of the U.S.A. President of the U.S.A., spouse of President-elect of the U.S. Priest, Catholic Priest, Christian Orthodox Priest, Episcopal Prime Minister Principal Professionals & Academics Professor Pro Tempore, Elect, Designate Psychologist
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Venerable, The Veteran (not Retired) Veterinarian Very Reverend, The VFW Officer/Official Vice Mayor Vice President of the U.S. Spouse of the Vice President of the U.S. Vice President-elect of the U.S. Viscount and/or Viscountess Warrant Officer Widow White House Staff Woman, business Woman, social Yacht Club Officer
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| How to Address Clergy and Religious Officials Questions & Answers, Frequently Asked Questions, and Blog
Site updated by Robert Hickey on 4 December 2019
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| How to Address Clergy if You are Not a Member of the Denomination? How to Address a Pastor who is Also a Chaplain? How to Address a Pastor who is a Professor? How to Address a Pastor who Is Also an Attorney? How to Address a Pastor with a Doctorate? How to Address a Pastor & Her Husband? How to Address a Pastor & Her Military Husband? How to Address a Pastor & His Professor Wife? How to Address a Pastor & His Pastor Wife? How to Address a Rabbi & His Rabbi Wife?
How to Address a Muslim Teacher -- a Shaykh? How to Introduce the Pope? How to Address a Roman Catholic Bishop? Is a Roman Catholic Bishop Addressed as "Your Excellency"? How to Address a Roman Catholic Deacon? How to Address a Superior"?
How to Address a Retired Protestant Pastor? How to Address a Retired Roman Catholic Priest? Do Clergy Introduce Themselves with an Honorific? |
| How to Address Clergy If You Are Not Comfortable Using the Titles Used by Those In Their Denomination? I have been trying to determine the best way to address the head of the Greek Orthodox Church here in my area. Herein lies my dilemma: because of my personal beliefs and convictions, I am not comfortable with using titles such as Your Eminence or Father, when addressing the Metropolitan in person or in writing. I asked him what people call him who are outside the Orthodox Church and do not adhere to the use of those honors. He said, “whatever they prefer.” Obviously, I am left with a dilemma. He is a board member for our organization, I want to be respectful, not appear too familiar with him, and yet maintain my own sense of correctness for my beliefs. Do you have any thoughts in this? -- C.H.
Dear C.H.: I have lots of thoughts on this. It's standard practice when addressing an official in a hierarchy to use their traditional forms of address. Even non-subjects address the Queen of the UK as Your Majesty. Citizens from Illinois address the governor of Wisconsin as The Honorable Scott Brown. Military officers are addressed by rank by civilians. All in court address the judge as Your Honor. I would agree that if a reference book suggested (and Roman Catholic style books do) you should close a letter to the Pope as Your humble servant, ... it would be appropriate for someone who is not Roman Catholic to switch over to something like Very Respectfully. But everyone addresses the Pope as Your Holiness. If as an official of an organization you intentionally don't use the standard forms for his office, I would say it's likely to be interpreted as an insult by your organization -- to him personally, his office, and his denomination. Maybe you can find out what the policy is of your organization about addressing board members who are clergy or have special forms of address? That way if you make a personal decision you will know how in advance if it aligns with the policy of your employer. -- Robert Hickey
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How to Address a Roman Catholic Deacon How to Address a Roman Catholic Deacon? Having attended Catholic school for many years, I was sure that we had had some deacons/seminarians in high school who were called Reverend Mr. ___. With some Googling I have found this is the correct form of address used for a deacon who is preparing to be ordained a priest, who is called a “transitional deacon.” What do you think of this advice? So my question today is how to address a deacon on the outside envelope. We are addressing some some beautiful Crane’s wedding invitations that have to be just perfect! – Chris Wilder, Syosset, New York
Dear Ms. Wilder: People I've consulted with in the Roman Catholic hierarchy say there are two types of Roman Catholic deacons — Permanent Deacons who are not addressed as “The Reverend.” … and Transitional Deacons {seminary graduates on their way to becoming priests} who are addresses as "The Reverend". So that would suggest you will need to find out which type of deacon you are inviting. TRANSITIONAL DEACON Outside envelope for an invitation: The Reverend Mr. (Full Name) (Address) Inside envelope for an invitation: Deacon (Surname) PERMANENT DEACON Outside envelope for an invitation: Deacon (Full Name) (Address) Inside envelope for an invitation: Deacon (Surname) In formal address, use The Reverend … not just Reverend. It is a courtesy title used just like The Honorable ... with a The and always preceding a full name. The use of The Reverend + Mr. is unusual in the United States. The American tradition is to use just one courtesy title or honorific before the name. E.g., a Navy Captain who is also a physician is not addressed as “Captain Dr. (name).” or a member of the House of Representatives who is an PhD would not be "The Honorable Dr. (name)." Double titles are typical in the UK, and when people tell me of such a form ("Reverend Mr.”), I always wonder if their source isn’t a British (Church of England) style guide? While I’ve seen The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. here and there … it is not what they use that at The King Center in Atlanta. They use The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was a The Reverend and he held a doctorate, but used one honorific or courtesy title at a time. Note to other readers: I am interested in hearing from you if you have an opinion. (See two of the notes below from others.) — Robert Hickey
Dear Mr. Hickey, As a deacon, I can tell you that in the Diocese of Trenton (and other NJ dioceses I believe), there are two standards: Permanent Deacons are addressed: Deacon__________ Transitional Deacons are addressed The Reverend Mr.________ I believe this is fairly consistent throughout the US. – Deacon Kevin
Dear Mr. Hickey: Get real – why are we splitting hairs? In the Roman Catholic church we do have “transitional” and “permanent” deacons – but the ministry is the same. Therefore you address either deacon the same. Formal address is The Reverend Mr. _____. In conversation it is simply Deacon _____. The transitional deacon will go on to priestly ordination and formally become The Reverend _____ and in conversation be addressed as Father ____. Permanent deacons remain as they were. Same ministry – same title – no difference – only the length of time in that ministry. – Deacon Dale
How to Address a Retired Roman Catholic Priest? We are working on our Honor Roll of Donors and do include our donor’s title in their listing. I actually came across your website a few days ago and used the information on the site to clarify a retired military question I had. I bookmarked the page and went back to it when I came across the retired Priest (actually a Monsignor) who is a donor. How should I handle him? -- Valerie
Dear Valerie: Clergy continue to be addressed as clergy when they retire. So while a retired monsignor might be identified in an introduction as being "retired from (a specific job or position)" -- his forms of address stay the same. I have all the forms of address for a monsignor ... business, social, place cards, introductions, conversation ... in my book on page 287. -- Robert Hickey
Is a Roman Catholic Bishop an Excellency? How do I address my (Roman Catholic) bishop? Is he Your Excellency? Are there more and less formal forms of correct address? ~ Barbara Montgomery
I taught catechism for years and when the kids prepared for a visit by the Bishop for confirmation they were always told to say Your Excellency or Bishop (Name). ~ P.D.
Dear P.D. and Ms. Montgomery: In conversation it's correct to call the bishop Bishop (Surname). A Roman Catholic bishop is not an Excellency -- he's a Most Reverend. So when you address an envelope, write The Most Reverend (full name) and on the second line Bishop of (diocese). The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops suggests to address bishops with the courtesy title the Most Reverend. See how they list their member bishops ON THIS PAGE ... their advice makes sense. Excellency is the courtesy title used with the accredited representative (ambassador) of one head-of-state to another head-of-state. The term was invented and established at the Conference of Vienna in 1814 for that purpose So a papal nuncio ... the accredited representative from His Holiness to a foreign head-of-state is addressed as His/Your Excellency ... because he holds the rank of ambassador. It is not used correctly when addressing bishops in general. -- Robert Hickey How to Introduce the Pope? Dear Mr. Hickey. I will be meeting the Pope. If I introduce him, would you say, "May I introduce the Holy Father, Pope Francis" or would you say, "May I present His Holiness" and not use Francis in the introduction? ~ Meeting the Pope
Dear Meeting the Pope: (All this is covered on page 282 in my book.) The Holy Father is so high he is never introduced to anyone: individuals are presented to The Holy Father. He requires no introduction: anyone about to meet the Pope already knows who he is. When he enters a room he is announced .... an aide says so all can hear "His Holiness" ... and that's it. You will be introduced to the Pope. In that case the introducer would say "Your Holiness may I present (name of the other person)." When acknowledging the introduction, his name is ever used: He is addressed in conversation as "Your Holiness." This not using the name is the rule for most all the very high officials. For example, the Queen of the United Kingdom is never addressed as Queen Elizabeth ... she is always addressed as "Your Majesty" The President of the United States is addressed as Mr. President in direct conversation: not President (Name). -- Robert Hickey FYI: To see an interesting news story about a mistake by the President of the United States in addressing the Pope, cardinals, and bishops, click here. Is a Bishop Addressed as Your Grace? Your site says bishops and archbishops are addressed in conversation as Bishop (Name) or Archbishop (Name). Bishops and Archbishops are NEVER addressed in conversation as Bishop So-and So or Archbishop So-and-So. They are properly addressed as Your Excellency or simply Excellency. In Ireland, according to their custom, Bishops are addressed as Your Grace; however, even in this case, Bishop is not used in conversation. Your book state only nuncios are referred to and addressed as Excellency. This is not the case. -- SM in California
Dear SM in California:
YOUR GRACE Addressing bishops as Your Grace is a British form of address. In the Church of England bishops are granted the precedence of a Duke ... and dukes and thus by courtesy ... Anglican bishops – are addressed as Your Grace. [In the United States, the American branch of the church – the Episcopal Church in the USA – addresses its Presiding Bishop as the Most Reverend (Full Name) and its other bishops as the Right Reverend (Full Name). Both, in conversation or a salutation are Bishop (Surname).
EXCELLENCY His/Her/Your Excellency is a courtesy title used by accredited diplomats who have presented their credentials to a foreign head-of-state as the single designated representative from another head-of-state. So the Papal Nuncio (who would always have the rank of bishop) is addressed as Your Excellency ... but other bishops are not.
THE MOST REVEREND The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops says that U.S. Catholic bishops are correctly addressed as the Most Reverend (Full Name) and Bishop (Surname). -- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Professor Who is Also a Pastor? How would one address the envelope to a reverend with a PhD who is a professor at a Christian university? Should I use The Reverend Dr.? The Reverend PhD? -- Gail Ann in Michigan
Dear Gail Ann: In the USA we follow a simplified form when addressing someone with multiple roles in their life ... in the manner appropriate to the role they are to us at the moment. Therefore, if you are contacting him as clergy use: The Reverend Luther Heritage (Address) Dear Dr. Heritage Addressing him as a professor use: Luther Heritage, PhD (Address) Dear Dr. Heritage As an example of someone else who hold more than one title is Colin Powell -- who was a United State Army General and subsequently the Secretary of State. As a retired U.S. Army General he is entitled to be addressed as: General Colin Powell, USA, Retired And as a former Secretary of State, an post appointed by The President and approved by the US Senate, he is forever entitled to: The Honorable Colin Powell He is either .... but never both .... so he is never: The Honorable General Colin Powell -- Robert Hickey
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| How to Address Retired Protestant Clergy?
I’ve used your site several times recently and it’s extremely helpful. Thanks for providing such a comprehensive reference. My current questions: 1. How do you address protestant clergy? For example, do you still use “Rev.” or “The Rev. Dr.” to address a retired minister? 2. Does a person’s personal preferences matter in forms of address? For example, the minister mentioned above writes but uses no forms of address with his signature. When you respond, do you use his professional honorific or a standard like “Mr.”? -- Higgins Clinton
Dear Mr. Clinton,
Clergy continue to use "The Reverend" for ever. It never expires. I would always do the envelope formally: The Reverend James Wilson ... that form of his name is for the post office. Also there's a rule that in writing one does not give oneself an honorific .... so the minister not signing his name on a letter as "Pastor James Wilson" make sense. I don't sign my name "Mr. Robert Hickey" ... but that is how others would address me. Is that what you mean? I would formally address him in a salutation as something like "Dear Dr. Wilson" .... or if I was on a first name basis "Dear Jim" -- Robert Hickey How to Address a Female Pastor & Her Husband? How do I address a sympathy card to our female pastor and her husband on the death of her husband’s son from a previous marriage? -- nskcomstock
Dear nskcomstock, Most formally on an envelope your Pastor is listed first since she is The Reverend (Full Name) and he is a Mr. (Full Name). People with courtesy titles rank higher than people without them. And because she has a title ... she gets her whole name as a unit ... not mixed in with her spouse's name. So avoid anything resembling The Reverend Allyson and Mr. Wilson Smith... which is really bad. And assuming they use the same last name ... the most formal would be: The Reverend Allyson Smith and Mr. Wilson Smith In the salutation you could use the form you think she prefers in conversation .... Dear Pastor and Mr. Smith, Dear Dr. and Mr. Smith, Or if you are on a first name basis use: Dear Allyson and Wilson, -- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Two Pastors? What is the proper way to address a letter to my pastor and his wife is also a pastor? Thank you in advance. -- Susan Wise
Dear Ms. Wise: I cover how to address two pastors in Chapter Nine: Joint Forms of Address. You didn't mention if they both use the same last name ... so I will assume the do. And I will also assume you address each as Pastor (surname) in conversation rather than Dr., Father, or something else. That said ... on the envelope ... address it to "your pastor" first ... and put the name of his or her spouse on the second line: The Reverend Clinton Jones and The Reverend Susan Jones (address) On the salutation to both use: Dear Pastors Jones, -- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Two Rabbis? How would I address and invitation to Rabbis that are husband and wife? -- D.K.
Dear D.K.: The most formal way would be to list them both fully .... first one ... then the other. Rabbi Joel Pine and Rabbi Julia Pine 2141 Wilson Boulevard Silver Spring, Maryland 20987 Which one you put first will depend on the topic on which you are writing: * If it's an invitation to her and he is on the letter as her spouse .... she'd be first * If it's to him or to them together use the Mr. and Mrs. order .... list him first. -- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Member of Clergy Who is Also an Attorney? How do you address an Episcopal Deacon in the U.S. who is also an attorney? In The Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky, deacons are normally addressed, “The Rev. ABCD.” Deacons who have a PhD are addressed, “ The Rev. Dr. ABCD.” Normally an attorney will not use “Dr.,” but will use “Esquire” or Esq.” as a post nominal title. Can you advise? This would be for an written address. Thank you. -- H. Engle
Dear H. Engle: The rule is that if one has a courtesy title ... you don't get anything after the name. So if you put "The Reverend" "The Very Reverend" "The Most Reverend" "The Honorable" "Your Excellency" before a name ... they don't get anything after their name. Many members of Congress are JD's .... but none are: The Honorable (full name), JD They are simply: The Honorable (full name) So a deacon who you are addressing as a deacon is The Reverend (full name) If you are addressing him as an attorney at his law office address the envelope as: (Full Name), Esq. You suggest that "The Reverend Dr. (Full Name)" is typical. I'd say I see it now and then, but actually is what called the "compound form" ... a form based on the British style (and the German's do it too) in which one includes everything to which one is entitled. Your full name basically being your resume. For example an accomplished person might end up with: His Excellency The Right Reverend General Dr. Sir (Full name), CBE In the USA we use a simplified form in which we only use what's pertinent to the conversation. So military doctors are never Captain Dr. (Name) ...... Senators are never Senator Dr. (name) ..... Mayors are never The Honorable Dr. (full name). You would see all of those if you follow the British style. I see the compound forms most typically in the USA among Episcopalians ... who are probably using British etiquette books. I am not saying they are wrong ... but its a form that is not consistent with what's done in forms of address used in other organizations in the United States. That form would be: The Reverend (Full Name) on the envelope or letter's address block. And he or she held a doctorate it would be Dr. (Surname) |
| How to Address a Pastor and Her Military Husband? My question has to do with addressing envelopes. Our Pastor, Alyson Smith, of the Presbyterian Denomination, is married to a retired Lieutenant Commander, USN, Richard. He is to be awarded his PhD soon. Regardless of the degree, I have not been able to find out how one is to address an invitation, card, or letter to the two of them, together. --- Bobbi Sue Minton
Dear Ms. Minton: I have an entire chapter on joint forms of address in my book for just this type of situation. I am guessing you are addressing him socially, so ... socially his name is written: Lieutenant Commander Richard Smith As a member of the clergy, her name is written: The Reverend Alyson Smith
RANK WITH A POST-NOMINAL ABBREVIATION Regarding his PhD. In the US academic post nominals are never used with a rank. So he can be Lieutenant Commander Richard Smith (or Commander Smith in conversation) or Richard Smith, PhD (or Dr. Smith in conversation if he wants to be address as "Dr.") but never Lieutenant Commander Richard Smith PhD.
USE OF DOCTOR Usually holders of PhD's don't use Dr. (name) unless they work in academia or research. E.g., the holder of a doctorate in French who teaches would use Dr. (name) .... The holder of a PhD in finance who works at a bank wouldn't. But ultimately it's his option how he is addressed. WHOSE NAME IS FIRST? An active duty or retired military person has higher precedence than a civilian so is listed first. So in most circumstances the joint form would be: Lieutenant Commander Richard Smith and The Reverend Alyson Smith BUT if she is the invited guest ... and he is invited as her escort, then as the guest her name would appear first: The Reverend Alyson Smith and Lieutenant Commander Richard Smith I have spelled out "Lieutenant Commander" every time above, to avoid the whole issue of how to abbreviate his rank. I cover that in my book on pages 94-98 (service-specific abbreviations) if you need that information. -- Robert Hickey
How To Address a Pastor and His Wife? How do I address a note to a pastor and his wife when both hold PhD's and she is a college professor? -- Lucy Hendershott, Great Falls, Virginia
How do I address a pastor and his wife when she's doesn't have a special title? She uses Mrs. or maybe Ms. -- John Price Buchanan, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Dear LH and JPB: I include forms for every different type of formal joint address in my book. On social correspondence (as opposed to official correspondence mailed to their office) you don't use academic or any other kind of post-nominal initials. So no PhD. Put each name a line of its own ... so each gets their full name just right The Reverend Dennis Winslow and Dr. Marilyn Winslow The Reverend Dennis Winslow and Mrs. Winslow Clergy goes first. A person with an advance degree is lower than a member of clergy. Traditionally when a wife has a special honorific ... like "Dr." or a military rank she gets her full name. Traditionally when a wife uses "Mrs." and the same family name -- the wife's given name does not appear. If you want the full name of the pastor's wife to appear, then you have to get inventive. Today many women are perfect fine with "Ms." all the time. Thus a more contemporary form would be: The Reverend Dennis Winslow and Ms. Marilyn Winslow You definitely want to avoid: The Reverend and Mrs. Dennis and Marilyn Winslow And finally regarding: The Reverend Dennis and Mrs. Marilyn Winslow The form Mrs. (Her Given Name + Surname) is disliked by some women who follow the rule that it is the form for a divorced woman who could not be Mrs. (His Given Name + Surname) anymore so subsequently uses Mrs. (Her Given Name + Surname). -- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Pastor with a Doctorate? I need to mail something to my pastor, Rev. Calvin Cole who has received his doctorate. How do I address the envelope or even introduce him? -- Marsha Talltree Is is appropriate to use two titles together such as Rev. Dr. The clergy and other staff at my church refer to our pastor as Rev. Dr. B. W. McClendon. He has a PhD and is also a Pastor of our church. -- Mrs. Brown
Dear Ms. Talltree and Mrs. Brown: In the U.S. the tradition is a simplified style to use one thing before a name or one thing after a name. Not both. With a pastor with a doctorate these are the traditional forms: On the envelope or address block on a letter: The Reverend (Full Name) If you want to use the degree, then nothing before the name: (Full Name), D.Div. In a salutation (and conversation) switch over and use an honorific: Dr. (Surname) We follow this style when formally addressing U.S. elected officials who are The Honorable (Full Name). When we address them as the Honorable we do not also include Dr., Mayor, Senator, Professor, Mr./Ms./Dr. or anything else before their name. One thing before or after, not both. This is in contrast to the British who do include every honorific and post-nominal all at once: The Reverend Dr. (Full Name). In the U.S. you see the British Style used by some clergy, notably the Episcopalians – probably influenced by the Church of England. Other non-Episcopal clergy use the compound style too, so I am not saying you don't see it: You do. I am just saying it's not stylistically correct. If you know it's their personal preference -- use it. It's always courteous to address an individual in the form they prefer regardless of whether or not it is by the book. NOTE: When the correspondence is formal ... use The Reverend rather than just Reverend or Rev. Sometimes clergy use simply Rev. as an abbreviated honorific, preferring to be addressed as Rev. (Name). It's definitely not everyone's preference, but it's each person's option to be addressed in the manner they prefer. My mother's pastor says he likes to be orally addressed as Reverend Bob, so I address him as Reverend Bob. In writing I would use The Reverend (Full Name). In a conversation or salutation, if I did not know his preference, I'd use Pastor (Surname). That's widely acceptable and works for all the Protestant denominations. As far as I know no one is offended by it. -- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Muslim teacher -- a Shaykh? How do you address (in a e-mail) a Muslim religious teacher who self-identifies himself as a “shaykh”? -- Paul in California
Dear Tonyalee: Shaykh is a form of address used by some Shiite Islamic clerics. Both Sheikh and Shaykh (and many other variations) are attempts to write the Arabic word in phonetically English. It's sort of equivalent to Catholic clergy using Father or protestant clergy using Pastor. On a e-mail you could address him as: Dear Shaykh (surname), (Text of your letter) Sincerely, Paul (your last name) My book has a section that includes forms for the highest to lowest Shiite and Sunni Islamic clergy ...which is as far as I know the only book in English to include them. -- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Military Chaplain? Robert, Regarding the form on you site: We actually have chaplains with a another title: Chaplain (Colonel) John Smith, USA, PhD. -- Chaplain Matt in DC
Dear Chaplain Matt: 1) A post-nominal abbreviation for an academic degree is never used with a rank: Never Colonel John Smith, USA, MBA Never General John Smith, USAF, PhD Never Admiral John Smith, USN, MD 2) In DOD guidelines branch-of-service post-nominals abbreviations are correctly combined with Ret. or Retired. Thus USA, Ret. and USA, Retired are both O.K., but that's it. -- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Pastor Who is Also a Chaplain? Regarding my pastor, who is also a military chaplain: I must write a sentence in our summer worship schedule for the church newsletter regarding the pastor's “Godspeed Celebration” we are holding before his deployment to Afghanistan. Which of these would be considered correct? Are any of them simply not correct at all? The Rev. (full name), chaplain of the ..., Indiana Army National Guard. The Rev. Lieut. Col. (full name), chaplain of the .... Lieut. Col. (full name), chaplain of the .... and pastor of .... Is there another form that would be more preferred? -- Lynn Harriman, Indianapolis
Dear Ms. Harriman, I think you are saying he is the pastor of your church ... AND he is also a chaplain? There is a tradition in American forms of address that we only give a person one title at time. ** As a chaplain he'd use the form I have on Chaplain Armed Services ** As you pastor he'd use the form I have on Pastor Your first option is the most formally correct for you at his church: The Reverend (full name), (degrees held) If it's a sentence you can include more information .. The Reverend (full name) is a Chaplain of the Indiana Army National Guard holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. And when he's on active duty with the National Guard they will use his chaplain form of address and note is also the pastor of your church. -- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Non-Military Chaplain? How do you address an ordained chaplain ... not a military chaplain? -- Kris Burden
Dear Ms. Burden, Chaplains who are not active-duty military are addressed in the style of their denominations/religion … and identified as a "Chaplain" The Reverend John Smith Chaplain, University Chapel University of North Carolina Greensboro, NC 12345 Rabbi John Smith Chaplain, University Chapel University of North Carolina Greensboro, NC 12345 It probably isn't even necessary to include chaplain on the envelope since the Post Office doesn't need his job title to deliver the letter. So that could be left off. In the salutation address him or her with the honorific of their denomination …. Or as "Chaplain". Dear Father Smith, Dear Pastor Smith, Dear Chaplain Smith, Dear Rabbi Smith, -- Robert Hickey
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Do Clergy Ever Give Themselves an Honorific? I trust you’re doing well? I’m envious that you’re in NYC! I’ve been doing a few seminars here and there and have been having a lot of fun. I have a question that hasn’t come up yet, but I had lunch today with a rabbi and a minister, so it made me think. Are the titles Pastor, Rabbi and Father considered to be honorifics and as such shouldn’t be used when referring to oneself? -- Loren -- Protocol School Grad in West Virginia
Dear Loren: I love the idea you are thinking about these things! One does not normally give oneself an honorific. I wouldn't write my name or introduce myself as Mr. Robert Hickey. But sometimes professionals do give themselves an honorific ... e.g., a doctor entering an exam room will introduce himself as Dr. Wilson since it is useful for the patient sitting in a backless paper gown to know what the function is of this person entering the room. "Dr." does that. So a Rabbi, Pastor, or Father might well do it when in a situation when they are in their professional mode. It provides useful info to the person he is greeting -- especially if not in "uniform." But that same Rabbi, Pastor, or Father might not do it when their status as clergy was not pertinent ... like when meeting the neighbors at his sister's when visiting her at her house. Some clergy do think they are always in their professional mode and are always Rabbi, Pastor, or Father. But, I know a Father Sheehan who introduced himself as Tom Sheehan at family events ... thus inviting the others to call him "Tom." -- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Superior of a Religious Order? I'm writing a letter to the Provincial Superior of a religious order - I'm not sure what the salutation should be - Dear ____________: Could you answer this question? Any ideas? Thanks so much for your help. -- Lisa W.
Dear Lisa W.: I include that form on page 289 of my book. A superior of a Roman Catholic order is addressed in a salutation as: Dear Mother (name): or Dear Mother: -- Robert Hickey
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Not Finding Your Question Answered? (1) At left is a list offices/officials covered and (2) below are other topics covered in my blog. Between the two I probably have what you are looking for. But after checking both lists if you don't see your question answered send me an e-mail. I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day (unless I am traveling.) If I think your question is of interest to others, I will post the question & answer – but I always change the names and specifics. -- Robert Hickey USE OF NAMES & HONORIFICS Mr., Miss, Jr., III, & Names Married Women Deceased Persons People with Two Titles Post-Nominal Abbreviations and Initials Sequence Post-Nominal Abbreviations: Sr., Jr., etc. Couples: Private Citizens / Joint Forms of Address Couples: U.S. Military / Joint Forms of Address Couples: U.S. Officials / Joint Forms of Address
USE OF SPECIFIC OFFICIAL TITLES Former Officials Professionals and Academics
United States Federal Officials, Currently In Office United States State Officials, Currently In Office United States Municipal Officials, Currently In Office All About The Honorable with U.S. Officials Former United States Officials of all types United States Armed Services Addressing Active Duty Personnel Addressing Retired Personnel Use of Rank by Retired Personnel Use of Rank by Veterans
Tribal Officials Clergy and Religious Officials Canadian Officials Australian Officials British Officials, Royalty, and Nobility Diplomats and International Representatives Foreign National Officials and Nobility SPECIFIC SITUATIONS Author's Name on His/Her Book Business Cards, Names on, Couples Introductions, Names in Invitations: Names on Invitations: Names of Armed Service Personnel on Name Badges & Tags Names on Programs, Signs, & Lists Naming a Building or Road Place Cards Plaques, Awards, Diplomas, Certificates, Names on Precedence: Ordering Officials Tombstones, Names on
Site updated by Robert Hickey on 4 December 2019
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