Ph.D.

Question

Hello,do we put the title "Ph.D." before or afer the name at the end of the (recommentation) letter?Thanks!Mojca

Nona the brit · Accepted Answer

'Letters' follow your name

Vorpar · Answer

Note also that someone with a Ph.D. may use the Doctor title as well:

Dr. Phillip Katz, Ph.D.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Strictly speaking, it's inappropriate to say Dr. Phillip Katz, Ph.D. It's like saying Dr. Phillip Katz (Doctor).

He should say either Dr. Phillip Katz or Phillip Katz, Ph.D.

Best wishes, Clive

Mojca · Answer

Thank you all for explanation!

Mojca

Anonymous · Answer

My opinion is that Ph.D. has to be after your name.

By,

Sara

Englishuser · Answer

Yes, indeed you should choose between Dr. Phillip Katz and Phillip Katz, Ph.D., just like Clive states. However, one should note well that Ph.D. stands for 'Doctor of Philosophy'; thus some doctors (Dr.) needn't be Ph.D's but can just as well be Doctors of Science or Doctors of Medicine, for intstance.

I hope that this will clarify it all a bit.

Believer · Answer

Thank you.

How come I see the title Ph.D. being used to note other doctoral titles like this.

Doctor of Psychology --- Ph.D

Ph.D. denotes someone who has done advanced research?

Can I use the word "denote" here?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

How come I see the title Ph.D. being used to note other doctoral titles like this.

Doctor of Psychology --- Ph.D

Ph.D. denotes someone who has done advanced research? Yes. A doctorate is the highest degree you can get.

Can I use the word "denote" here? Yes.

I believe the situation is this. Traditionally, there are only certain kinds of doctorates, tending to be in traditional subjects, eg Medicine, Divinity, Science, Literature, Law, etc. 'Philosophy' is a bit of a grab-bag term. A Doctor of Philosophy may, for example, have specialized in History, Sociology, Psychology, or a variety of other subjects.

For example, the TV personality and advice-giver, Doctor Phil, says on his website that he has a doctorate in psychology but, technically speaking, he has a Ph.D. Presumably, he specialized in psychology.

In these modern times, various universities may well offer doctorates in subjects other than the traditional ones. I'm not really conversant with these, but I'm sure there's information on the 'Net.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive · Answer

Hi again,

I'd just like to add another comment. The term 'philosophy' today is usually used in a rather specialized sense, but it has an older, broader, meaning of 'all knowledge'. We see this meaning, for example, in the famous quotation from Hamlet:

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

So, if you have a Ph.D, you are a 'Doctor of Knowledge'. That's why I said the degree was a bit of a grab-bag, because it encompasses a very wide area.

Best wishes yet again, Clive

Ph.D.

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