# addressing invitations - need help!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addressing-invitations-need-help/223220>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 7, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addressing-invitations-need-help/223220 "2004-01-07T15:34:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knighted_Vorpal_Sword)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addressing-invitations-need-help/223220/1 "2004-01-07T15:34:22Z")

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How do I address these invitations?

1. Suppose both the husband and wife are doctors. Does the invitation read “Dr. and Dr. John Smith,” or perhaps “Dr. John and Dr. Jane Smith?”

2. Suppose the wife is a doctor. Is the correct form “Mr. John and Dr. Jane Smith?”

HELP!

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**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addressing-invitations-need-help/223220/2 "2004-01-07T16:06:49Z")

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This would be my approach (assuming that “doctor” means a medical doctor):

(1)

Dr. John Smith  
Dr. Jane Smith  
Address  
City, State

(2)

Mr. John Smith  
Dr. Jane Smith  
Address  
City, State

However, in either case you know that the wife uses “Mrs.” for social situations, go ahead and use “Dr. and Mrs.” or “Mr. and Mrs.”

(checking references) Miss Manners concurs.

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**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addressing-invitations-need-help/223220/3 "2004-01-07T16:07:55Z")

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That is, “IF in either case . . .” :smack:

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**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addressing-invitations-need-help/223220/4 "2004-01-07T18:20:29Z")

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I realize this may be heretical, but have you asked Peggy Post (I think she’s Emily Post’s grand-daughter.)

[questions@emilypost.com](mailto:questions@emilypost.com)

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**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addressing-invitations-need-help/223220/5 "2004-01-07T18:51:10Z")

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Another way to get Peggy Post’s take would be to look it up in one of her books (at the library if you don’t have a copy of one handy), where she’s probably already answered this question. I’m betting that she’s more likely to answer e-mailed questions about more unusual situations, rather than simple/common ones that can easily be looked up.

My tuppence, etc.