Abbess,
    Christian Orthodox       
Abbot,
    Christian Orthodox        
Accountant        
Acting Official       
Adjutant General     
Admiral, Rear         
Alderman         
Archbishop, Catholic        
Archbishop,
   Christian Orthodox        
Archdeacon, Episcopal        
Archimandrite        
Architect
Archpriest        
Ambassador to the U.S.
   from a foreign country      
Ambassador of the U.S.        
American Indian Chief        
Assemblyman
   U.S., State / or           
   Assemblywoman            
Associate Justice,
   U.S. Supreme Court          
Associate Justice of a
   State Supreme Court
Attorney         
Attorney General           
Attorney, U.S.         
Australian Officials    

Baron, Baroness           
British Officials,
   Royalty, Nobility     
Brother, Catholic         
Brother,
   Christian Orthodox          
Bishop, Catholic            
Bishop,
   Christian Orthodox         
Bishop, Episcopal        
Board Member     
Boy        
Brigadier General       

Canadian Officials    
Candidate    
Captain,
   USA, USAF, USMC     
Cardinal             
Chairman
    Federal Reserve      
Chaplain in the
    Armed Services        
Chaplain of Congress          
Chargé d’Affaires         
Chief Executive Officer 
Chief Judge          
Chief Justice,
      U.S. Supreme Court 
Chief Justice, of a State
      Supreme Court             
Chief of Police          
Chief of Staff     
Chief Operating
   Officer          
Child            
City Manager    
Clergy & Religious
    Officials     
Colonel, "Honorary"
     Kentucky, or other
     state/organization      
Colonel, USA, USAF,
    or USMC     
Congressman, U.S.              
Congresswoman, U.S.   
Consul and or
   Consul General              
Commissioner, Court      
Commissioner       
Corporate Executive         
Councilman
    Councilwoman      
Counselor (Diplomat)      
Countess     
Couples     
Curator        

Dalai Lama          
Deacon         
Dean, academic            
Dean, clergy            
Deceased Persons        
Delegate, U.S., State            
Dentist             
Deputy Chief of Mission      
Deputy Marshal          
Designate, Elect,
    Pro Tempore      
Diplomats      
District Attorney           
Doctor of Dentistry           
Doctor of Medicine              
Doctor of
   Veterinary Medicine          
Doctor of Osteopathy            
Doctor, Other Disciplines     
Doctorate        
Doctorate, honorary      

Earl            
Elect, Designate
   Pro Tempore      
Eminence     
Etiquette    
Excellency           

Fiancee      
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 Governor
   or Lt. Gov.    
First Lieutenant   
Flag Protocol     
Former Officials    
Freeholder       

Geshe
General
    USA, USAF, USMC
Girl
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 

Honorable, The          
Honorary degrees    
Honourable, The       

Indian Chief         
Inspector General    
Introductions       
Invitations  
   Writing &  
   Addressing  
Invitations
    Military:
    Writing &
    Addressing

Judge, former     
Judge of US City or
        US Count     
Judge, US Federal            
Junior, Senior,
    I, II, III, etc.       
Justice, Associate
     Federal
     Supreme Court
Justice, Associate
     State
     Supreme Court

King     
Knight      

Late, The
   (deceased persons)        
Lawyer      
Lieutenant      
Lieutenant Colonel,     
   USA, USAF, USMC          
Lieutenant General,
   USA, USAF, USMC      
Lieutenant Governor         

How to Address U.S. Officials
Both Current and Former
Addressed as The Honorable
Questions & Answers, Frequently Asked Questions, and Blog

Who Decides If I Am "The Honorable"?      
Do you capitalized the "t"  in "The Honorable"? 
May I Abbreviate Honorable to Hon. Before a Name?         
Does One Use "The Honorable" In the Return Address?  
Does A Host Issue an Invitation as "The Honorable"?    
Is it Proper to Call Yourself "The Honorable" In Conversation?     
Do You Use "The Honorable" When Signing Your Name?     
Do I Use "The Honorable" on My Business Card?     
How to Use "The Honorable" in a Salutation?              

Is an Acting Official "The Honorable"?        
Is The First Lady "The Honorable"?     

Is a Former Judge Still "The Honorable"?     
Is a Former Mayor "The Honorable"?      
Is a Former President of the United States an "Honorable"?     

How to Address a Two Honorables?     
How to Address an Honorable & Spouse?     

How to List a "The Honorable" in a Program?       

Is George Washington referred to as "The Honorable"?    

How A Host Uses The Honorable on an Invitation?
    I am writing with a question regarding the use of the Honorable in listings of names that are included on invitations. I work in the communications office at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. We hold many events on campus that often include invited guests of our President, Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, former chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. We are responsible for creating many materials including invitations and programs-for these events.
      Our specific question is, how should we refer to Dr. Jackson on our invitations and programs, and what is the proper etiquette for listing titles for individuals who hold many degrees (both earned and honorary) and are also current or past holders of government offices and are "Honorables".  
     Example: Is it proper to say, The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D., invites you to join her and the 2010 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Honorary Degree Recipients as they come together to discuss Re-Igniting the Innovation Economy: Science and Technology.  I had read that it is NOT proper for someone who is an Honorable to use it in an invitation. Please advise.
          -- DP

Dear DP:
    I've driven by Renssalaer many times ... so I am happy to see your note. What a fantastic institution.

USE OF THE HONORABLE WITH ACADEMIC DEGREES
    In the United States "The Honorable" is not used with scholastic degrees.  It is an honor so high it trumps academic degrees.  
     So NO to:
        The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D.
    and YES to:
        The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson

USE OF THE HONORABLE ON AN INVITATION
    On invitations the host/hostess does not identify himself/herself as "The Honorable" ... others address him/her as "The Honorable."  
    So YES to:
        Shirley Ann Jackson, President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Or:
        Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
          -- Robert Hickey

How to Address an Acting Official?
     I think I have looked through all the relevant places on your site and have been unable to find the answer to this question:
     How does one address a letter to an "Acting" Deputy Attorney General?  In particular, does one refer to him as "Honorable" - I believe that "Honorable" is used for all presidential appointees; however, the current Deputy Attorney General is "Acting" (i.e. named by the Attorney General to the position until the President's nominee gets confirmed by the Senate).
          -- Anup Sanjay

Dear Mr. Sanjay:
    1) Acting officials are not always in the job pending their appointment for the job. Sometimes they are in the position until a permanent appointment is made. You say this is the case here: he's acting until the President's nominee is confirmed. Around the government, It's not unusual for an type of office to be filled with both officials who are The Honorable and those not addressed as The Honorable.
    2) There is an exception: unconfirmed cabinet-level officials ... acting secretary, secretary ad-interim, and secretary designates ... are addressed as The Honorable.  So it would apply to the corresponding attorneys general too.
    However, I know of no source that says the courtesy is offered to any pre-confirmation office holder below the cabinet level.  I include a list of the offices addressed as The Honorable in my book on page 78.
    So, for an acting deputy who pending appointment .... he or she would not be The Honorable until appointment and confirmation are complete.  Until then he's  "Mr./Ms."
    To double check .... I've looked it up in several books I have, including the brand new one by Ambassador Mary Mel French, United States Protocol: The Guide to Official Diplomatic Etiquette, and all say the same .... cabinet / yes .... below cabinet / no.
    3) There have been cases where an appointee had been elected to an office in a general election .... and was The Honorable from before ... so in that case he or she would already be The Honorable and not have to wait.
       -- Robert Hickey

How to Use the Honorable in a Salutation?
        I have to send a letter addressed to two state legislators, one a woman, the other a man. They are co-chairs of a joint committee.
        I assume the letter should be addressed to each separately using The Honorable, as in
                The Honorable (insert full name), Co-Chair
                Joint Committee Name
                Room Number
                State Capitol
        What would the salutation be? Would it be:
                The Honorable (insert full name)
                and The Honorable (insert full name)
        Or should I begin the salutation with Dear as opposed to The?
        Since they both have the same status as co-chairs, and each has held the position the same amount of time, should their order, both in the address and salutation be determined by how long each has been a legislator?
       Thank you in advance for your reply.
           -- Bob E. in Wisconsin

Dear Bob:
    Your outside envelope looks fine.
    You can use this form on the letter's "TO" spot, also.
    In a salutation you use the "conversational form"   So it would be:
        Dear Senator (Surname):       .... if a member of a senate
        Dear Delegate (Surname):     .... if a member of a house of delegates
        Dear Mr./Ms. (Surname):        .... if a member of legislature that doesn't have it's own honorific
                ... etc.
    The Honorable is a courtesy title that always precedes a full name and is not used in salutations.
    As to the order of the names .... even when legislators were sworn in on the same day one was first and one was second .... so they have precedence.  Maybe you can see them listed on their committee website and see who is listed first there?
    But if this is impossible, to use their precedence as legislators would be reasonable.
           -- Robert Hickey

May I Abbreviate The Honorable before a Name? 
        Is it proper protocol to abbreviate the Honorable in the address of a letter, for example:
                       Hon. Peter Davis
        -- Janice Sidwell

        Is there a rule about using the with the abbreviated form of Honorable? 
        I remember some rule that tied using the to the form of the Honorable being used with the full word Honorable.
        So, should the the be used with the full word, the abbreviation, or is there no such convention?
        -- TS in DC

Dear J.S. and T.S. in DC:
        When there is room to spell it out, it is always:
                The Honorable Peter Davis
        ... never Honorable (Full Name) and never Hon. (Full Name).
        If space is an issue, and you need to abbreviate (e.g., on a place card at an event where for some reason it has been decided that the style is to include courtesy titles) it could be:
                 The Hon. (Full Name)
        The the is part of the courtesy title ... so it is included. Courtesy titles are abbreviated and all words are included:
                HM for His/Her Majesty
                HRH for His/Her Royal Highness
                HH for His/Her Highness
                HE for His Excellency, etc.
        Note #1: Use of periods .. H.E. or HE .... is a matter of style and varies from one style book to another: just be consistent.)
        Note #2: The Honorable is never abbreviated to just TH in the US, however.  Use The Hon.
        -- Robert Hickey

Does One Use "The Honorable" In the Return Address?
Dear Mr. Hickey:
In the return address on an envelope for an elected official, should his name appear as Joseph Schmo / (name of office) / (address) or The Honorable Joseph Schmo / (name of office) / (address) or something else?
         --- Adam Halsey

Dear Mr. Halsley:
      An individual never refers to him or herself as The Honorable (name). So in the return address the name should be (Full name) / (name of office) / (address).
      I've seen on an envelope The Office of  / The Honorable (full name) / Delegate for the Seventh District / House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia / (address)   That's O.K. since it's stationery for all to use and it is not the official referring to the himself.
     Similarly, I wouldn't say "Hello, I am Mr. Robert Hickey" ... one does not give oneself an honorific or courtesy title.  Sometimes I get free stickers in the mail with my name as Mr. Robert Hickey / (address) -- but not wanting to throw them out, I do use them -- on envelopes for paying bills.
          -- Robert Hickey

Is it Proper to Call Yourself "The Honorable" In Conversation?
Dear Mr. Hickey:
Is it proper to use the term the Honorable to refer to yourself in conversation?
         --- Carla Harkness, Austin, Texas

Dear Ms. Harkness:
    If you are an Honorable others would address you as The Honorable Carla Harkness, but you would never use it reflexively (referring to yourself that way).
    So you would never introduce yourself as The Honorable Carla Harkness  If you were the mayor, you would introduce yourself saying  "Hello, I am Carla Harkness, I am the Mayor of Austin, Texas."
          -- Robert Hickey

Do You Use "The Honorable" When Signing Your Name?
A friend has been elected at the county level to sit as state's attorney in our circuit court.  He signed a registry "The Honorable (name)" - Was that appropriate?
             --- ABH in Montana


Dear ABH:
One never describes oneself as "The Honorable" ... others address you as such, but you never use it 'reflexively'
    So, your friend should have signed the registry with just his name. If he issues an invitation, he wouldn't use "The Honorable (full name)" either ....
    But I would write his name on an envelope -- or introduce him/her -- as  "The Honorable (full name), State's Attorney for the Sixth Circuit Court"
    One caveat ... not all officials in every municipality will use "The Honorable."  E.g., in Arlington, Virginia for some reason elected members of the county council do not use "The Honorable." -- but the elected Sheriff does.  So I don't know what the state's attorneys in your area do.  But if that's the tradition ... he should use it -- if not, he shouldn't. That should be easy to find out.
           -- Robert Hickey

Can I Use "The Honorable" on My Card?
Dear Mr. Hickey:
Is it proper to use the term the Honorable to on my business card
         --- Keith Reinhardt, Cleveland

Dear Mr. Reinhardt:
   You would not use The Honorable Keith Reinhardt on your own card. on your stationery, in a letter you write, in your own signature, or an invitation you would issue. In every case you would write Keith Reinhardt, (office), so if you were a Senator, it would be Keith Reinhardt, United States Senator from Ohio.
          -- Robert Hickey

Are Mayors "The Honorable" for Life?
I am a the mayor of a municipality - and the question arose, "Are mayors honorable for life"
             --- Cate Wilson in Florida


Dear Mayor Wilson:
The rule is "Once an Honorable, always an Honorable"  So if you are currently the mayor of a municipality you are most formally: The Honorable Cate Wilson, Mayor of (town) ... and I would call you in conversation "Madame Mayor" -or- "Mayor Wilson" -or perhaps "Your Honor"
    When you leave office you will be"  The Honorable Cate Wilson, former Mayor of (town)-.  ... and I would call you "Ms. Wilson" -- since jobs of which there is only one at a time, don't continue to use the "title" when they are out of office.
           -- Robert Hickey

Is a Former Judge Still Addressed as a Judge?
Dear Robert,
     I have a question regarding a former district court judge (in New Hampshire) who by his own choice returned to private practice. Would this person still be called "The Hon.," or would that be inappropriate because of his new role?
             --- Mark in New Hampshire


Hi Mark,
The general rule is "once The Honorable, always The Honorable."  So, address the official envelope:
        The Honorable (full name)
            (Name of Firm)
                Address
    Retired judges are usually addressed in conversation as "Judge (surname)"
    However a former judge would not be addressed using the forms of address for a judge if he has assumed another form of employment (for pay). He would not longer be accorded the courtesies of a current or retired judge. A judge who has returned to private practice would be addressed as "Mr. (surname)" professionally.
           -- Robert Hickey

Dear Mr. Hickey
     You state that a retired judge who returns to private practice is not longer entitled to the courtesies of being called "Judge" when he or she is in court.  Is there any authority for this view?  It could be argued that the title of "Judge" has supplanted the title of "Mister" and that it would be a discourtesy (both to the retired judge and to the court that he or she served) to strip the retired judge of the title he or she earned.  In court the judge is referred to as "Your Honor," or "The Court," so the parties involved in the proceeding will not be confused.
    I should add to my earlier email that it is the practice in the legal community to continue to refer to a retired judge who has returned to private practice as "Judge (surname)," at least outside of the courtroom.
             --- JAL & GW


Hi JAL & GW,
         The pattern in forms of address is when one leaves an office which has a special form of address -- use of the courtesies of the forms of address related to the office extend to social use only.
        E.g., when USAF General who retires but subsequently works for a defense contractor -- he is addressed as Mr. (Name) while working in his new professional role.  But he could still send out wedding invitations for his daughter's wedding (a social use) as General (Name).
        Through interviews with attorney's and jurists I have observed the same pattern. 
        Thus addressing a retired judge as Judge (Name) socially makes sense. But addressing a practicing attorney as Judge (Name) is misleading in his role in the current circumstance.
        I am not saying it's never done ... it is. But when it is it has more to do with the person addressing the former office holder wanting to flatter the former office holder, or the former office holder wishing to receive some courtesy accorded a current office holder.
           -- Robert Hickey

The Honorable George Washington?
In a picture caption, should George Washington be "The Honorable George Washington", "President George Washington" or "George Washington, our First President"?
             --- CH in Watkinsville, GA


Dear CH:
A picture caption is not a direct form of address, so you can refer to the person however it will be the most clear to the reader. In the United States, George Washington is certainly one person who requires no elaborate "who he is and what he did" clarifications!
     The Honorable would be appropriate, but would be unusual. I've seen a list of "Honorables" being honored at an event and listed on program, and one of the honorees was recently deceased.  That person was listed among the honorees as "The Honorable (full name), 1935-2004, which worked in the context of that list on that program.
      NOW IF ... I  was directly addressing the first president of the United States, in a seance perhaps, the I think I would call him General Washington.  Only a current president is Mr. President, and once out office they are most correctly Mr. (surname), unless they have another honorific, which General Washington did.
           -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a Former President of the United States?
Is He Addressed as "The Honorable"?
I have an example referring to a former president as "The Honorable..."  Is that incorrect?  Yet I also find that one should call a former president as "Mr. (Last Name), and identify him as a former president. So what should I say to formally introduce a former president?
            --- MJH


Dear MJH:
"The Honorable" is always used before a full name. So for instance, when you address a letter, include the name of an official in program, or introduce an official from the dias at an event – the most formal way to say their name would be "The Honorable (full name)" and then identify their office.
     So these would be correct:
          "The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton, former president of the United States"
          "The Honorable Sonny Perdue, governor of Georgia"
          "The Honorable Roy Barnes, former governor of Georgia"
          "The Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor of Los Angeles"
     These would NOT be correct
          "The Honorable Clinton"
          "The Honorable S. Purdue"
          "The Honorable Former Governor Barnes"
          "The Honorable Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa"
     These would be correct for direct address or in a one-on-one introduction or in conversation:
          "Mr. Clinton"
          "Governor Perdue"
          "Mr. Barnes"
          "Mayor Villaraigosa"
                               -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a Two Honorables?
     I need to send a letter to two people (husband and wife) who are married and both need to be addressed as The Honorable in an address.  How do I address them?!  Thanks.
     -- Rick Eckis on Capital Hill

Dear Mr. Eckis:
     I include how to address two elected officials in Chapter Nine: Joint Forms of Address.
     (1) First you need to determine which person has higher precedence so you can know whose name is listed first.
     (2) Then list each person's name on a line by itself. Anyone's who is The Honorable gets his or her name written in full on a line by itself.
     Gender is not a consideration. So if you determine he has higher precedence, his name is on the first line and hers in on the second. If she has higher precedence she is listed first.
           The Honorable (full name)
             and The Honorable (full name)
                 Address
                  -- Robert Hickey

Is the First Lady "The Honorable"?
     Is it appropriate to address the first lady Mrs. Michelle Obama as The Honorable?
     -- Anne Howe

Dear Ms. Howe:
    No.
    Officials elected to office are recognized by the use of the courtesy title The Honorable.
    Actually First Lady is not traditionally used as a title or honorific for the wife of the President of the United States as it is in some church congregations. She is addressed directly as Mrs. Obama and identified (as if you need to identify her to anyone!) as First Lady of the United States.
    If you were to introduce her to another person you would say
        Mrs. Obama may I present ....
   If you were asked to introduce her from a podium prior to her speech you would say:
        May I present Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States of America
   See page 166 in my book for every form used when addressing or communicating with the First Lady, or the page on this site where I give the forms for addressing a letter and salutation to a Spouse of the President of the United States.
                  -- Robert Hickey

Is the "t" capitalized in "the Honorable"?    
   Is the "t" capitalized when referring to the Honorable?
        -- Carl Hanson

Dear Mr. Hanson:   
    It's not capitalized unless it's the first word in a line ... or in a sentence.
    In my book I followed the style recommendations of the Chicago Manual of Style and New York Times Manual of Style ... and neither would cap the "t" in "the Honorable" in the middle of sentence.
         -- Robert Hickey

How to List an Elected Official in a Program?    
   How does one list the governor or the mayor in a program for an event at which they will be speaking. I found the forms of address in you book, but just not sure if that's what I should use on a program?
           -- Susan in Honolulu

Dear Susan:
    Use this formula:
         1) list by name
         2) identify by office

Dear LCP:
      The person in your office is correct. I think the "The Honorable and Mrs." form comes from just changing the "Mr. and Mrs." form.  
      The most formal form -- used on invitations sent from The White House -- when an individual has an official title or rank -- the "rank + name" is kept as a unit. 
      So forms like...
           Admiral and Mrs. John Q. Citizen
           Rabbi and Mrs. John Q. Citizen
           The Honorable and Mrs. John Q. Citizen  ... are not used.
    More correct on a formal invitation would be:
           Admiral John Q. Citizen and Mrs. Citizen
           Rabbi John Q. Citizen and Mrs. Citizen
           The Honorable John Q. Citizen and Mrs. Citizen
             -- Robert Hickey