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 Tribal Officials
Questions & Answers, Frequently Asked Questions, and Blog

How to Address a Chief of a Native American Tribe?
Dear Robert,
    I work in the Mayor's office and we are sending out invitations to the opening of our new civic center. There are two chiefs of local tribes on the list. How do I address the envelopes? Are they Honorables like the the county and state officials on the list?
      - Sonja in Texas


Dear Sonja,
   Tribes do use the courtesy title the Honorable when addressing their chiefs. Many have explained to me that as sovereign nations, their elected officials are granted the same courtesy title as elected officials of the United States. Be sure to check with the tribes for their preferred form of address and the exact title of their "chief" (that varies too). Some tribes have a chief -- others a president -- and still others a governor.
    I have a chapter on tribal officials in my book (see pages 235-242) which includes the titles used in tribal governments help out in exactly these situations.
      -- Robert Hickey

How to Address an
Envelope the Chief of a Tribe?
        I read your answer to Sonja on the topic of addressing tribal officials:  "Dear Sonja, Tribes use the courtesy title the Honorable when addressing their chiefs" but am still a bit confused. When you say "addressing" I don't think you mean the would be "the Honorable" in a salutation, but that's how I read it.
        What makes this more confusing is that I consulted a person who works often with Tribal officials and she thought the salutation in the letter should be Honorable (Full Name): That just doesn't sound right to me.
        So, I am not certain of either the format for the inside address or for the salutation. Here is what I think is correct? If not, what would you suggest?
        The Honorable (Full Name)
        Chairman, Hopi Tribe
        PO  Box ABC
        City, Arizona  Zip Code
And then, for the salutation:
        Dear Mr. (Surname):
              -- Tim in Phoenix

Dear Tim,
      I love Phoenix. Haven't been there in a while, but hope to get there next year.
      A "courtesy title" (The Honorable is a courtesy title) is used before a full name in full written address. Just using Honorable with the name (without a the) is not correct.
      In a formal salutation and conversation with chairpersons you use an "honorific" (Mr./Mrs./Dr. are honorifics) and the person's last name. It is not impossible they might not call him Chairman (Full Name) sometimes, but Chairman isn't typically used as a honorific in conversation or in a salutation for chairpersons, so I prefer what you did -- choosing Mr..  See also the post "What is the Salutation for the  Chair of a Tribal Council? "
     So, confused or not, you did it exactly right.
       -- Robert Hickey

What is the Salutation for the Chair of a Tribal Council?
    I am an 11-year-old 5th grader working on a school project.  I have to write to the Tribal Council Chair of an Indian Tribe.  I have found the Chair's name and the address.  However, I am not sure of the proper salutation and don't want to offend him.  I want to be his friend. I am hoping you could give me some advice on this.  Do I use Mr. (name) or Chairman (name)?
        Thank you for your advice.
        -- Sarah Strahan

Dear Miss Strahan, 
   I have a form for that office on page 236. Chairman is not formally used as an honorific in writing (you will hear it used verbally sometimes). Mr./Madame (office) is the most formal.  Mr./Mrs./Ms. (Surname) is probably the standard form for chairs of councils. So here are two good options:
     Dear Mr. Chairman:    
           OR
     Dear Mr. (Surname):
        -- Robert Hickey