# How does one address a 'Sir'? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 21, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660 "2009-10-21T21:09:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660/41 "2009-10-22T13:50:24Z")
> [@Daerlyn](#): > > I’m curious about what Australians use in place of ‘sir’ in semi-formal interactions. I (in Canada) use it almost daily with customers and occasionally even with family members (mostly when my dad decides to get uppity, and it’s usually accompanied by an eye-roll and a chuckle). Do you just call people ‘Mr. Whatever’ every other sentence? The usual form of address from one stranger to another is “Mate”. It used to be limited to addressing men, but you can use it with women too. So, if I entered a “gentlemen’s outfitter” in Australia, the sales assistant might address me as “Sir”, but if I went into a hardware store, or caught a taxi, it would be perfectly normal to be addressed as “Mate”. (And a man travelling by himself always sits in the front seat of a taxi – it would be rude to assert your social superiority by sitting in the back.) ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660/42 "2009-10-22T13:57:30Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Sting’s real name is Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, CBE. The CBE denotes that he is a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. This rank does not automatically confer the honorific of Sir or Dame, so to properly call him Sir Gordon, his rank ought to be elevated to Knight Commander (KBE) or Grand Knight Cross (GBE). Technically, the knighthood and the order of chivalry are separate entities. Commoners are eligible for the ranks of Member, Officer, and Commander, and knights are eligigible for the ranks of Knight Commander and Knight Grand Cross. First he would be Gordon Sumner, CBE. Then he would be Sir Gordon Sumner, Kt., CBE. (now a knight bachelor, but still only a Commander in the order) Then he would be Sir Gordon Sumner, KBE. When a foreigner is awarded Knight Commander or Grand Cross, the paperwork specifies that it is only an honorary award. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660/43 "2009-10-22T14:04:45Z")
> [@HawksPath](#): > > It depends what country you’re in and where the person was knighted. If you live in the U.S. we don’t officially recognize royalty and thus you could call the knight McKermit, “Mr. McKermit”. You could call him that in England too, and many, including myself, who think titles such as this absurd and archaic, certainly would. ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660/44 "2009-10-22T14:48:30Z")
[quote=“1920s Style “Death Ray”, post:38, topic:514660”] I’ve had dealings with one knight, I called him… “Tim.” [/QUOTE] He wasn’t a knight, he was an enchanter. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Lurker\_Above](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Lurker\_Above](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Lurker_Above)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660/45 "2009-10-22T15:41:05Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > (And a man travelling by himself always sits in the front seat of a taxi – it would be rude to assert your social superiority by sitting in the back.) Weird, either I’m strange or Canada is more formal than I thought. I would never presume to sit in the front seat of the taxi, unless there were too many passengers to all fit in the back seat. It would be far too intrusive on the driver’s personal space IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660/46 "2009-10-22T15:41:07Z")
> [@Daerlyn](#): > > I’m curious about what Australians use in place of ‘sir’ in semi-formal interactions. I (in Canada) use it almost daily with customers and occasionally even with family members (mostly when my dad decides to get uppity, and it’s usually accompanied by an eye-roll and a chuckle). Do you just call people ‘Mr. Whatever’ every other sentence? I can’t think of a routine occasion when I would refer to anyone as Mr or Sir. If I know someone’s first name I’ll use it, if I don’t I’d probably just avoid names all together if it’s a brief encounter or find out their first name if it’s a more extended encounter. If I were to cross paths with the Prime Minister in an informal setting I’d probably call him Kev and I’d expect him to call me Jonno ;). ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660/47 "2009-10-22T15:49:11Z")
> [@The\_Lurker\_Above](#): > > Weird, either I’m strange or Canada is more formal than I thought. I would never presume to sit in the front seat of the taxi, unless there were too many passengers to all fit in the back seat. It would be far too intrusive on the driver’s personal space IMO. See, in Australia sitting in the back seat would be seen as placing yourself above the driver socially. You might then be expected to say something like “Home James, and make haste.” It’s not that we would never leave the front seat empty, it happens, but a large number of people would feel most comfortable sitting up the front. I get the impression from this message board that the US is quite formal when compared to Australia and New Zealand. It wouldn’t surprise me if Canada was more toward the American style than the Australasian one. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660/48 "2009-10-22T17:05:15Z")
> [@Wallenstein](#): > > The senior director at my (UK) firm is Lord Pxxxxx Cxxxxx, Baron of Such-and-Such. > > He’s always “Pxxxxx” in the office, and is only Lord Cxxxxx on official documents. > > If I met him in the corridor or had to present a report it would always be “Good morning, Pxxxxx”, and it would be very odd for anyone in the firm (except perhaps our receptionist) to use “Lord Cxxxxx”. Is this one of those weird British names like Cholmondeley or Myerscough? Would “Pxxxxx” just be pronounced as “Pym”? 😛 > [@The\_Lurker\_Above](#): > > Weird, either I’m strange or Canada is more formal than I thought. I would never presume to sit in the front seat of the taxi, unless there were too many passengers to all fit in the back seat. It would be far too intrusive on the driver’s personal space IMO. In the US, the driver would typically have too much stuff on the front seat (route paperwork, maps, food wrappers, ESL textbook, cell phone and charger, CDs, religious items, etc.). Safety is also at issue. In certain places and times of day, attempting to sit in the front seat would be received by the driver as an announcement of felonious intent. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660/49 "2009-10-22T17:45:15Z")
[quote=“1920s Style “Death Ray”, post:47, topic:514660”] …I get the impression from this message board that the US is quite formal when compared to Australia and New Zealand. It wouldn’t surprise me if Canada was more toward the American style than the Australasian one. [/QUOTE] I’ve also heard that in Australia if one’s stopped by the police it’s considered normal to get out of one’s car and mean the constable half-way. This that really true? :dubious: Here’s in the US that’s a great way to get yourself shot to death. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660/50 "2009-10-22T17:48:49Z")
[quote=“1920s Style “Death Ray”, post:46, topic:514660”] I can’t think of a routine occasion when I would refer to anyone as Mr or Sir. If I know someone’s first name I’ll use it, if I don’t I’d probably just avoid names all together if it’s a brief encounter or find out their first name if it’s a more extended encounter. If I were to cross paths with the Prime Minister in an informal setting I’d probably call him Kev and I’d expect him to call me Jonno ;). [/QUOTE] So if the guy in line in front of you left his bags and you were running after him, you wouldn’t say “Excuse me, sir! Sir!” For some reason “excuse me” doesn’t get people’s attention but “sir” or “ma’am” does. (“Miss” is kind of insulting for adults, IMHO.) Do they really not use that sort of usage everywhere, to get people’s attention, particularly if you’re in a customer service job? (“Ma’am, I understand that you’re upset..”) ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660/51 "2009-10-22T17:51:49Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > I’ve also heard that in Australia if one’s stopped by the police it’s considered normal to get out of one’s car and mean the constable half-way. This that really true? :dubious: Here’s in the US that’s a great way to get yourself shot to death. It’s been a long time since I was stopped for speeding in Australia, but I’ve never heard that you should stay in your car there. That’s partly because most people don’t carry fire-arms in their cars, so there would be far less likelihood that police would be shot. (And I don’t understand the rationale for the US practice. If you are armed, and want to shoot the cops that have just stopped you, it would seem much easier to shoot them from inside the car, then drive off. Why would you bother getting out?) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660/52 "2009-10-22T18:30:41Z")
> [@Wallenstein](#): > > The senior director at my (UK) firm is Lord Pxxxxx Cxxxxx, Baron of Such-and-Such. > > He’s always “Pxxxxx” in the office, and is only Lord Cxxxxx on official documents. > > If I met him in the corridor or had to present a report it would always be “Good morning, Pxxxxx”, and it would be very odd for anyone in the firm (except perhaps our receptionist) to use “Lord Cxxxxx”. Wouldn’t it be “Lord Such-and-Such”? ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660/53 "2009-10-22T20:12:28Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Wouldn’t it be “Lord Such-and-Such”? No, just [Lord Sutch](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screaming_Lord_Sutch)! ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660/54 "2009-10-22T23:52:00Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > You could call him that in England too, and many, including myself, who think titles such as this absurd and archaic, certainly would. And what if he considered your name absurd or archaic and decided to choose what to call you. “Shorty”, perhaps? “Bob”? “Teabag”? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660/55 "2009-10-22T23:54:32Z")
> [@Daerlyn](#): > > I (in Canada) use it almost daily with customers and occasionally even with family members (mostly when my dad decides to get uppity, and it’s usually accompanied by an eye-roll and a chuckle). Do you just call people ‘Mr. Whatever’ every other sentence? You might use “mate” or you might just talk to someone. You wouldn’t say “here’s your bag sir” you would just say “here’s your bag”. If they didn’t realise you were talking to them you’d say “excuse me”. And the whole idea of anyone calling their father “sir” here is just, well, we know you Americans do it but, here, jeebus that would be beyond strange. You’d just call him “Dad”. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660/56 "2009-10-22T23:59:00Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > I’ve also heard that in Australia if one’s stopped by the police it’s considered normal to get out of one’s car and mean the constable half-way. This that really true? :dubious: Here’s in the US that’s a great way to get yourself shot to death. Our police don’t actually shoot people very much. It’s weird, I know, but that’s the way it is. Guns aren’t everywhere. That any significant number of people (a) have guns (b) will shoot police approaching their car when stopped is just not the default assumption. It’s strange, but you get used to it. I think I’m going to start a new internet law. It’s going to be called Princhester’s law, and it is going to be “as a messageboard thread continues the probability of it turning into a gun debate approaches one” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660/57 "2009-10-23T00:22:01Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > So if the guy in line in front of you left his bags and you were running after him, you wouldn’t say “Excuse me, sir! Sir!” For some reason “excuse me” doesn’t get people’s attention but “sir” or “ma’am” does. (“Miss” is kind of insulting for adults, IMHO.) Do they really not use that sort of usage everywhere, to get people’s attention, particularly if you’re in a customer service job? (“Ma’am, I understand that you’re upset..”) No, I’d just say “excuse me!” or “Hey you left your bag!” Because people aren’t used to being called sir it’s not going to get their attention any better than just yelling after them. In a customer service situation it would just be, “I understand that you’re upset…” That’s not to say it never happens, you do hear it but it is not common. > [@](#): > > I’ve also heard that in Australia if one’s stopped by the police it’s considered normal to get out of one’s car and mean the constable half-way. This that really true? Here’s in the US that’s a great way to get yourself shot to death. Sure, and it can cause problems for visitors to the US. I had a New Zealand friend who was pulled over in the US and got out of the car and started strolling over to the cop, there was a bit of yelling and screaming and panic until he realised that he needed to stop. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660/58 "2009-10-23T01:37:08Z")
[quote=“1920s Style “Death Ray”, post:57, topic:514660”] Sure, and it can cause problems for visitors to the US. I had a New Zealand friend who was pulled over in the US and got out of the car and started strolling over to the cop, there was a bit of yelling and screaming and panic until he realised that he needed to stop. [/QUOTE] Yeah, the first time I was in the US (having just arrived at my destination airport) I went to get into the front seat of the taxi and the driver stopped me. 'Course… I was starting to get into the driver’s seat. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660/59 "2009-10-23T02:07:53Z")
Jeeze - you Australians have no manners. I worked at least 5 different customer service jobs in three different industries, and for all of them male customers were addressed as Sir, ladies as Maam. If I wanted to run after and stop someone on the street it would be mate. And a third on the getting out of the car and going to talk to the police man if you get stopped. I would actually go so far as to say that if you stayed in your car you are going to be viewed as suspicious, or at the very least be more likely to get a ticket ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660/60 "2009-10-23T02:10:26Z")
In the US, not only do you not get out of the car, you put your hands on the wheel and make no sudden movements. The cops are jumpy because people with drugs and dead hookers in the trunk have, in fact, shot cops at traffic stops. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-address-a-sir/514660.md?page=4)