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
People with Two Titles
Questions & Answers, Frequently Asked Questions, and Blog

How to Address a Former Judge Who is Now a Corporate Exec?          
How to Address a Retired Elected Official Who Also an Ambassador?    

How to Address an Elected Official Who is Also a Physician?      

How to Address a Retired Military Officer who has a Doctorate?              
How to Address a Retired Military Officer who is also a Professor?              
How to Address a Retired Military Officer who is also a Dean?        

How to Address a Nobel Laureate Who Hold an Office?

How to Address an Elected Official Who Was Also an Ambassador?
       How would one address, either orally or by correspondence, a retired person who served as a US Senator and a US Ambassador to a foreign country.
       I believe a Senator, being the higher office,  dictates the result. (Is this considered the "higher office?") My wife believes it may be the other way around.
       Or, if the last work prior to retirement was Ambassador, perhaps that would dictate the result.
            -- Thomas Manning

Dear Ms. Manning:
       1) Officially address him in the manner which the communication is related.
              E.g. Colin Powell is addressed as both The Honorable Colin Powell when the invitation or communication relates to his service as the Secretary of State, and as General Colin Powell, USA when the invitation or communication relates to his service as as a USA general.
       2) Socially either could be correct -- but to be absolutely certain, you would have to ask for the preference of the individual.  
       Everyone is entitled to be called what they want to be called.
       But I vote for (and predict he or she will too) Senator -- since there are 100 US senators at any time and there are at least 300 currently accredited US ambassadors representing the USA to foreign countries and international organizations.
       -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a Nobel Laureate Who Holds An Office? 
        What do I do when a person has two titles? Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was a Nobel Laureate in 1991 and continues to lead the National League for Democracy as General Secretary.
        Is this acceptable and appropriate form of address? 
        Envelope:
                Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
                Nobel Laureate and General Secretary
                National League for Democracy
                97-B, West Shwegonedine Road
                Bahan Township, Yangon
                Myanmar
         Salutation:
                Dear Madam General Secretary and Nobel Laureate:
         Complimentary Close:
                Respectfully yours:
               -- Mae

Dear Mae:
        One does not address a Nobel Laureate as such. The prize could be included in a bio or introduction -- but it is not used as an honorific. Honorees get neither a courtesy title nor post-nominal abbreviation.
        Regarding the envelope: a name on an envelope is not a resume/cirriculum vitae. If you are writing in care of the National League for Democracy it's not even necessary to list her position on the envelope. E.g., if I write to a mayor of a city, it not necessary to include the office on the envelope. When the letter gets to city hall they will know to whom to deliver it.  Thus the envelope to a mayor is addressed as:
                The Honorable Mae Nakao                Dear Madame Mayor:
                City Hall
                Columbus, OH 21233
        When the letter get's to city hall they will know how to get the letter to the mayor. So for your question, here's the best form:
        Envelope:
                Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
                National League for Democracy
                97-B, West Shwegonedine Road
                Bahan Township, Yangon
                Myanmar
         Salutation:
                Dear Madam General Secretary:  or  Dear General Secretary:
         Complimentary Close:
                Respectfully yours:
         -- Robert Hickey

How To Address an Elected Official Who Is Also a Physician?
      In our line of work we deal with numerous elected officials.  What is the proper address for a letter to a Mayor of a City who is also a practicing medical doctor?
              - Lisa in Temple, Texas


      How would I address a wedding invitation to a couple where the man is a physician and a Senator?  Which trumps which?  Dr. and Mrs. Ray Cleary or Senator and Mrs. Ray Cleary?
              - Tammy the Party Girl

Dear Lisa and Tammy:
       Officially, if you are writing to an elected official regarding their activities as an elected official, address him or her as an elected official ... in these cases as a current mayor or retired senator.  If you are writing to him or her as your doctor, address as a doctor.
       Socially, being an elected official trumps being a Dr., so address the individual in the style of their elected office. Use the form for a current or former ... which ever is appropriate.
       I give all the forms in my book -- both for official correspondence and invitations.
       1) Both are The Honorable (Full Name) on the envelope on address block of a letter now and forever.
       2) Former Senators continue to be addressed as Senator (Surname) in conversation and in a salutation. 
       3) Current Mayors are addressed as Mayor (Surname) since being The Mayor is a one-at-a-time position and only the current Mayor can be The Mayor. BUT Former Mayors go back to whatever they were before being elected ... so physicians would typically go back to Dr. (Surname) in conversation or in a salutation.
       All that said .... Bill Frist, former U.S. Senator from Tennessee was an MD, preferred to be addressed as "Dr. Frist" when he served in the United States Senate rather than "Senator Frist." It was his personal preference, so people respected his preference, but other physicians followed the more traditional way and were addressed as The Honorable (Full Name) / Senator (Surname). There are probably a million doctors, but only 100 US Senators. But that was his choice.
        -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a Retired Officer Who Is Now A Professor?
     Would you by any chance know the proper form of address for a USN Captain who is now a university professor with a PhD?  I read the note on your website regarding context (Captain when he's my commanding officer, Doctor when he's bandaging my foot, or something to that effect), but I wonder what would be suitable with an academic doctor, and in a more formal usage.  I've encountered "Captain Doctor [name]" once or twice on the Internet, but it seems a bit of a mouthful.
             --- P. L. Scott


Dear Mr. Scott:
    I cover this on page 99 in my book.
    1) Re: "Captain Doctor": As a In the United States we only use just one honorific at a time. Orally on in a salutation he would be Dr. (name), Professor (name) or even Captain (name),  
    2) Retired officers are entitled to use their ranks socially. But usually when they take another job in retirement, they use forms of address that support the subsequent job -- like the form I provide for professor. So, ask him his preference. He may use both at various times, but he'll clarify what he prefers when in his professorial role.
           -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a Retired Officer Who is A Dean?
Hi Robert,
     In your book you cover academics and every rank of officer. How would I address an envelope to a captain retired from the US Navy, who now is the dean of a college?
             --- O.S.


Dear O.S.:
    It depends on what he likes to be called. If you find he likes to be addressed as "Captain (name)" at the college ... then address him (see page 217 in my book) as:
        Captain (full name), USN, Retired
            Dean of (name of school, college, etc.)
                (Name of College/University)
                    (Address)
    If you find he prefers to be addressed as "Dr. (name)" at the college ... then in writing I would address him as:
       (Full name), (Post-nominal abbreviation for his degree)
            Dean of (name of school, college, etc.)
                (Name of College/University)
                    (Address)
    "Dean (full name)" is a more informal form of address -- use it to address him orally. Call him "Dean (name)" in interactions with him as a dean. Both Captain (name) or (Name), (degrees) are more formal forms to use in writing.
    The final determination in every form of address is "what is the preference of the bearer" so in this case: What is the preference of this particular dean? In a conversation with a British protocol expert familiar with all the titles and honors you encounter in London, he said people are never offended if you acknowledge too many of their honors -- but may be if you acknowledge too few!
           -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a Retired Officer Who Has a Doctorate?
     How does one, in written form, address a retired BGen (USAF) who has his PhD?  He goes by “Dr. Taylor” now that he is retired, but management also wants to acknowledge his service as well as his degree.
                BGen Henry Taylor, PhD, USAF (Ret)?
                BGen Henry Taylor, USAF (Ret), PhD?
                Dr. Henry Taylor, BGen, USAF (Ret)?
    Thank you,
         --- Bill Montgomery

Dear Mr. Montgomery:
    Three part answer:
    You say he 'goes by Dr. Taylor now. When retired officers represent private companies to the armed services ... they frequently skip using their rank when dealing with active-duty officers. So in spite of management's desire to bring his former rank into the picture, I'd get back to management that the best course is to follow his preference, but it would be appropriate introduce him as "May I introduce Dr. Henry Taylor. Dr. Taylor is a retired United States Air Force Brigadier General."
    Now on to the details:
      #1  There is an American tradition that we only give a person one title at time.
            **  If he prefers to be continued to be addressed as a Brigadier General
                  then use the form I have on Brigadier General
            **  if he prefers now to be addressed as a Doctor
                  use the form I have on Doctorate
    I say "American tradition" because the "British tradition" is to give a person EVERYTHING they would ever get ... so you see names like The Right Honourable Reverend Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Lord William Ramsey, MP, VC ....  But in the US we address a person with the one "honorific" or "courtesy title" that's appropriate to the situation .... who they are to us at the moment.
     #2 Regarding you use of abbreviations: "BGen" is the DOD service-specific abbreviation used by Marine Brigadier Generals.   The DOD service-specific abbreviation for USAF Brigadier Generals is "Brig Gen"
    #3 You see "Retired" noted many ways ... but use EITHER of the following ... to (Ret)
            Brig Gen Henry Taylor, USAF, Ret.
            Brig Gen Henry Taylor, USAF, Retired
    For future use of abbreviations, my books has all that. It answers your questions on page 94 (use of retired with retired officers) and page 97 (DOD USAF abbreviations). 
          -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a Former Judge Who Is Now a Corporate Executive?
   My partner and I are meeting with the head of a major philanthropic and public service organization. Prior to taking on this new post the organization's head was a New York State Supreme Court Judge in the Family Court System. His new secretary answers his phone "Mr. (his last name)'s Office".  We're preparing a briefing document for him and I'm unsure if he should be addressed as "Mr." or "Judge" or "the Hon."  Any idea? 
      -- Laurane M. in New York
 
Dear LMINY:
     A retired judge is addressed in writing as "The Honorable (full name)",  The rule is "once an Honorable, always an Honorable."
    Typically retired judges are addressed in conversation as Judge (surname). Like ambassadors, generals, and senators, they often use their former professional title in every situation for the rest of their lives.
    BUT If his own secretary says Mr. (his last name)'s office then I would think that it is his preferred form of address. He may think he is most appropriately addressed at his current job to reflect his current job. If you are still concerned, a call to his office will resolve the confusion and avoid a mistake.
                 -- Robert Hickey