...the calligrapher, Mr Ishikawa, who was a believer...

Question

This booklet was written by the calligrapher, Mr Ishikawa, who was a believer of our religion.1. Is Mr Ishikawa OK or should it be Ishikawa (without Mr)?2. Would it be better if it were written as by calligrapher Mr Ishikawa?3. Does 'who was a believer' mean that Ishikawa has passed on?4. If Ishikawa has passed on, should it be written as the late calligrapher, Mr Ishikawa?Thanks.

Tamguatlay · Accepted Answer

Could somebody please help? Thanks.

Anonymous · Answer

tamguatlay1. Is Mr Ishikawa OK or should it be Ishikawa (without Mr)?

If you don't know his full name, do not put "Mr" (or the American spelling "Mr."). English does not use honorifics so much.

tamguatlay2. Would it be better if it were written as by calligrapher Mr Ishikawa?

If I did not know his full name or he is known by the one name, I would write "This booklet was written by the calligrapher Ishikawa, who was a believer in our religion." If I used his full name, I would write "This booklet was written by calligrapher Yoshi Ishikawa, who was a believer in our religion."

tamguatlay3. Does 'who was a believer' mean that Ishikawa has passed on?

That's how I read it, but it is not explicit.

tamguatlay4. If Ishikawa has passed on, should it be written as the late calligrapher, Mr Ishikawa?

Only if you think your readers need to know that for what you are writing about. A lot of the people worth mentioning are the late somebody or other. No comma after "calligrapher", by the way.

...the calligrapher, Mr Ishikawa, who was a believer...

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