0
Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Honorifics

I am confused over writing titles with or without honorifics. It's a common thing in newspapers etc but the style seems often inconsistent.
For example
The Prime Minister, David Cameron, is in London.
Prime Minister David Cameron is in London.
Both seem right. No commas or honorific in second example.
But I will often see things like British tycoon Sir Richard Branson ...

Surely the honorific Sir is not used. Do people leave in over some misplaced sense of deference?
  

Top answer

Anonymous Surely the honorific Sir is not used. Surely it is.

— Mister Micawber

  • Anonymous Surely the honorific Sir is not used.
  • Surely it is.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

4 Answers
0
AnonymousSurely the honorific Sir is not used.
Surely it is.
0
0
One of the honours Richard Branson has received is a knighthood. This means that he is Sir Richard Branson. The Prime Minister has not yet received a knighthood, so he is not Sir David Cameron.
0
0
AnonymousThe Prime Minister, David Cameron, is in London.
As a side note, that should be "The prime minister, David Cameron, is in London."
0
0
When we are writing about a current holder of the office, the capital letters are acceptable.
0

Related Questions