# Is "Dr. Jane Doe, PhD" redundant?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-jane-doe-phd-redundant/654123>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 27, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-jane-doe-phd-redundant/654123 "2013-03-27T19:08:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-jane-doe-phd-redundant/654123/41 "2013-03-29T18:58:06Z")

</div>

> [@Pasta](#):
>
> **Little Nemo** ’s post was in quotes and is a joke about how “Dr. Jane Doe, PhD” might not be redundant.

Ah, **Pasta** , let **Little Nemo** hide behind your skirts. As it were.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-jane-doe-phd-redundant/654123/42 "2013-03-29T19:01:37Z")

</div>

> [@GiantRat](#):
>
> …  
> But I agree that seeing 4 out of those 5 is adequate for clarification.

😃 For scientific verification, if they agree.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-jane-doe-phd-redundant/654123/43 "2013-03-29T19:59:29Z")

</div>

> [@Colibri](#):
>
> Some people list all their degrees after their name, such as John Smith, BS, MS, PhD. (The standard joke in academia is that this stands for Bull Shit, More Shit, and Piled Higher and Deeper.;))

I always heard the MS as “More of the Same.”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-jane-doe-phd-redundant/654123/44 "2013-03-29T20:16:22Z")

</div>

> [@Colibri](#):
>
> You’re full of it.😉
> 
> True, most medical doctors have an MD, but no PhD. And “Dr. Jane Doe” is ambiguous as to whether she has an MD or a PhD. That still doesn’t make “Dr. Jane Doe, PhD,” a correct title. If she has both degrees, she would be referenced as “Jane Doe, MD, PhD.” Appending “Dr.” to the front gives no additional information; it does not indicate she has a medical degree in addition to a PhD.

I see what you’re saying. “Jane Doe, MD, PhD” is clear and unambiguous. “Dr. Jane Doe, PhD” is awkward and ambiguous. Ignorance Fought!

J.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-jane-doe-phd-redundant/654123.md?page=2)