# How do I address a baroness in writing?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-address-a-baroness-in-writing/320582>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 7, 2005, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-address-a-baroness-in-writing/320582 "2005-09-07T22:07:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-address-a-baroness-in-writing/320582/1 "2005-09-07T22:07:43Z")

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I’ve decided that I’d like to write a fan letter to my favorite author. According to her official web site, in 1991 she was created Baroness James of Holland Park. I’ve never considered writing to anyone with this kind of title before, so I don’t know what salutation to use.

Is there some weird etiquette rule regarding this title, like “only use it in person; in writing just address her as ‘Mrs.’ or ‘Ms.’?” Or, aren’t there some titles that are only used formally (i.e., even in person I wouldn’t call her ‘baroness’)?

Could it possibly be as simple as “Dear Baroness James?” 🙂

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**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-address-a-baroness-in-writing/320582/2 "2005-09-07T22:12:05Z")

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Baroness  
CORRESPONDENCE: On the envelope, (i) if a Baroness in her own right “The Rt Hon the Baroness\_\_\_\_\_” or socially “The Baroness\_\_\_\_\_”, or “The Rt Hon the Lady” or “The Lady\_\_\_\_\_”; (ii) if the wife of a Baron “The Rt Hon the Lady\_\_\_\_\_”, or socially “The Lady\_\_\_\_\_”. Commencement, “Madam” or socially “Dear Lady\_\_\_\_\_”.  
PERSONAL ADDRESS: “Madam”.

See also Baron’s Widow.

N.B. If a Baroness in her own right marries a commoner and has issue, the children have the same rank and are addressed as if their father were a Baron.

From [Debretts](http://www.debretts.co.uk/etiquette/correct_forms_of_address.html#B)

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**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-address-a-baroness-in-writing/320582/3 "2005-09-08T01:48:13Z")

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“Dear Lady James!” Excellent! Thank you! 🙂

(Side note: I love the phrase “has issue” for “has children.” :D)

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**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-address-a-baroness-in-writing/320582/4 "2005-09-08T01:51:09Z")

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Oh yeah: Yes, I’ve decided to take a certain amount of liberty and use the social form of address. “Madam” without any part of her name just sounds too formal – like I’m applying for a job or something. I trust that the author won’t judge any breaches of ettiquette too harshly. 🙂

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**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-address-a-baroness-in-writing/320582/5 "2005-09-08T02:09:38Z")

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So, not “Yo, Jim!”?

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**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-address-a-baroness-in-writing/320582/6 "2005-09-08T03:07:07Z")

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Well, I _did_ briefly consider “Phyllis, bubbula!”

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**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-address-a-baroness-in-writing/320582/7 "2005-09-08T04:33:41Z")

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I prefer a standard, “Hey, bitch,” or in this case, “Hey, Bitch.”

Terms of endearment are cute and make you seem warm and approachable. Trust me.