Grammar

Question

Please check the grammarDo you know Mr.John? I might have seen him. Have you meet Mr.John? No, I have not.Thanks

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

'John' is a first name, not a surname.  With 'Mr', use the surname.

Sam1947 · Answer

MM is correct that one doesn't usually use Mr. and a first name unless the speaker is a child speaking of or to an adult. For one adult to speak of another adult that way has a servile ring to it that can be offensive to groups of people who have been disadvantaged in society and who were often relegated to servile roles in the past.

An example is that it was the custom in the Deep South in the United States for adult African Americans to refer to even children who were Caucasian, as well as to Caucasian adults as, "Mr. John", or "Miss Mary." That custom is now considered old fashioned and offensive to African Americans.

Children in homes who retain more formal manners are still sometimes taught to never refer to adults by their given names alone, so they will use "Aunt Joan," or Cousin Bobby". If the person is not related, or a close enough friend to warrant an honorary relative designation, but is too close to be "Mr. Smith", or "Mrs. Jones, they will likely be addressed as "Mr. Bob" or "Miss Sue".

But, John can also be a surname, although it is less common as a surname than a first name or given name.

But, let's assume it is a surname. Your third sentence should be, "Have you met (not meet) Mr. John?"

Mister Micawber · Answer

Hi Sam,

Thanks for the fuller explanation. I just want to comment that my original remark arose because 'Mr John' (using the first name) is a very common phenomenon among ESL students, so that I now automatically assume the error we have been talking about.

Sam1947 · Answer

Hi MM,

I didn't know it was common among ESL students, but knew exactly what you were talking about. Since this is such a sensitive issue, especially in the part of the U.S. that I live in, I wanted to make certain they understood why it is offensive, and in what context it is not offensive (children to adults). You were definitely right to point out that it is problematic in most instances.

It's good to know that this is common among ESL students and something to be cognizant of when answering questions here. Thanks for enlightening me on that!

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