# Recommend me a resource, re: historical etiquette

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-resource-re-historical-etiquette/804536>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 14, 2017, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-resource-re-historical-etiquette/804536 "2017-12-14T21:24:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-resource-re-historical-etiquette/804536/1 "2017-12-14T21:24:19Z")

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Hey all. Long time no … post? I guess?

Anyway, I come here seeking information to a small problem that will take far longer to explain than, I hope, solve.

In a tabletop RPG I’m involved in, I play a late 17th / early 18th century valet to a gentleman of low noble rank. I have been asked (by both other players and other characters) to instruct on forms of address, not only for servant-to-higher, but noble-to-noble, noble-to-clergy, and the like.

I’m wondering if anyone has a good, comprehensive source for something like this, either a book, article, personal experience, or what-have-you?

Thanks in advance!

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**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-resource-re-historical-etiquette/804536/2 "2017-12-14T22:28:00Z")

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You could start with [Debrett’s Peerage.](https://www.debretts.com/expertise/essential-guide-to-the-peerage/)

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**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-resource-re-historical-etiquette/804536/3 "2017-12-14T23:00:03Z")

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Did you read the Wikipedia article?

> **[Forms of address in the United Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forms_of_address_in_the_United_Kingdom)**
>
> Forms of address used in the United Kingdom are given below.
> Several terms have been abbreviated in the tables below. The forms used in the table are given first, followed by alternative acceptable abbreviations in parentheses. The punctuation of each abbreviation depends on the source. For example, the punctuation of "The Rt Hon" is not consistent throughout sources. The Gazette favours "The Rt. Hon.", while the government usually prefers "The Rt Hon" or "The Rt Hon."
> "The Most Noble", which...