Addressing: Mr. Peter Smith

Question

Hello,In my culture, it is inappropriate to adress oneself as "Mr" or "Ms"etc. I wonder wether it is usua for such in the English-speaking culture.For example: (Phone call) The context as below was coined by myselfReception: Hello! Smith: Hello!R: Who is that?Smith: Mr. Peter Smith. (I'm Mr Peter Smith. etc.)And is it usual for a person to sign his name with his academic degree. For example, I wrote an email to a person with addressing "Dear Dr. Smith", and he returned with his signature Dr. Smith. However another person with Ph. D. just wrote back to me in the email simply ended with his full name without "Dr". Which one is more usual? Is there any writing etiquette about these?Thanks!

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

iclearwaterIn my culture, it is inappropriate to address oneself as "Mr" or "Ms", etc. I wonder whether it is usual for such in the English-speaking culture.

We do not call ourselves Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms in English, either.

Reception: Hello!

Smith: Hello!

R: To whom am I speaking?

Smith: Peter Smith.

iclearwaternd is it usual for a person to sign his name with his academic degree. For example, I wrote an email to a person with addressing "Dear Dr. Smith", and he returned with his signature Dr. Smith.

It is not usual, but some individuals do so—they think they have earned it. It shows undue pride, though it may be appropriate on official documents, letters or reference, etc.

iclearwater However another person with Ph. D. just wrote back to me in the email simply ended with his full name without "Dr".

That is the standard approach.

iclearwater However another person with Ph. D. just wrote back to me in the email simply ended with his full name without "Dr".

iclearwaterIs there any writing etiquette about these?

Don't use your titles unless there is a valid reason to do so.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

It would be odd for someone to introduce themselves as "Mr." on a telephone conversation.

iclearwaterAnd is it usual for a person to sign his name with his academic credentials.

In formal business letters, or on business cards, no. Here is some guidance I found:

Upon conferral of your degree, however, you should begin using that new credential on your academic and/or professional correspondence, directly after your name. Also, in most situations, you need only list your highest credential, based on an assumption that you also have the degrees leading up to it. You do not need to spell it out, nor do you need to include your academic specialization. No need to include periods in the abbreviation either.

Joseph J. Johnson, PhD

It is advisable for you to double check the standard in your profession/discipline for the use of “Dr.” as a designation in your e-mail signature. In only a few professional areas is it considered acceptable to use both “Dr.” and your doctoral degree. The preferred convention is to include the degree abbreviation at the end to indicate to everyone that you hold a doctoral degree, and to use Dr. as you would use Mr. or Ms.

Addressing: Mr. Peter Smith

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