# Use of the title "Doctor" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 22, 2020, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341 "2020-04-22T13:29:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341/1 "2020-04-22T13:29:56Z")
I had a friend who got his PhD from a prestigious US university. He insisted on bring introduced (in social as well as professional settings) as “Doctor John Doe”. In my mind - at least in a social setting - the title “Doctor” should only be used by physicians, dentists, and veterinarians. When I look at non-fiction books (and magazines) from the 1920’s and 1930’s, the title of “Doctor” is tossed about freely - especially for Europeans. In many European countries at the time, just getting a degree allowed you to be called “Doctor”. An example of those on the margin, my local chiropractor calls himself “John Doe, D.C.” (he’s not an M.D., but is often addressed as “Doctor”). How do others deal with this? I never thought a moment about addressing our church minister as “Dr. John Doe” (his letterhead would read something like “The Rev. John Doe, D.D., Ph.D.”), but I would never address a PhD in a social gathering as “Doctor”. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341/2 "2020-04-22T13:33:34Z")
Insisting on a title is boorish IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341/3 "2020-04-22T13:36:03Z")
**Moderator Action** Since this is basically an informal poll or advice about how people deal with this, it is better suited to IMHO. Moving thread from GQ to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341/4 "2020-04-22T13:38:07Z")
If I want to get someone on the phone and have to get past receptionists/administrative assistants and the like I will just say that Dr. TriPolar is calling for Mr. Whoever. I’m also not a lawyer but I have a lot of experience in Bird Law. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341/5 "2020-04-22T13:45:52Z")
I have known other PhDs who have also insisted on the use of their title in social situations. In my experience it’s not that uncommon. To me personally, while in a professional setting it’s perfectly fine to insist on being addressed by title, in a social setting it comes off as egotistical and conceited. As for how to deal with it, I personally just humor them. If they want to be an egotistical jerk, so be it. That’s on them. Calling them out on it in a social setting isn’t going to go well, so just let them be. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341/6 "2020-04-22T13:46:07Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > I had a friend who got his PhD from a prestigious US university. He insisted on bring introduced (in social as well as professional settings) as “Doctor John Doe”. In my mind - at least in a social setting - the title “Doctor” should only be used by physicians, dentists, and veterinarians. The PhD is the one with the terminal degree. While a few physicians have one as well, most just went to trade school. > [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > How do others deal with this? I never thought a moment about addressing our church minister as “Dr. John Doe” (his letterhead would read something like “The Rev. John Doe, D.D., Ph.D.”), but I would never address a PhD in a social gathering as “Doctor”. I deal with it by not using titles unless I’m being paid to. If someone insists, ignore them. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341/7 "2020-04-22T13:48:40Z")
There was a fairly comprehensive thread on this. The general consensus was that, outside of formal situations in certain countries (Austria, Germany, etc.), you would not typically be addressing anybody as “Doctor”. That said, you have to use your judgement a little: you may be on a first-name basis with your regular physician, but if you run into a stranger at the hospital it would do no harm to say, “Excuse me, Doctor” instead of “Hey, buddy”. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341/8 "2020-04-22T13:53:57Z")
Someone near me advertises that she is a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, and goes by Doctor Firstname Lastname. From her Linked In: > [@](#): > > About > > Board Certified through the American Alternative Medical Association (AAMA), Master Herbalist (MH), Certified Nutritional Consultant (CNC), Certified Health Specialist (CHS) and Certified Acupressure Therapist (CAT). Other studies include Kinesiology, Orthomolecular Nutrition, Homeopathy, Medical Chemistry, Nutritional Philosophy, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Dry Blood Analysis, Bach Therapy and Emotional Release Technique. In comparison, the guy in the OP is a _real_ doctor. ---
**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:** [April 22, 2020, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341/9 "2020-04-22T13:54:20Z")
My parents had a lot of people with Ph.D.s in their professional and social groups. I don’t know of anyone who “insisted” on being addressed as doctor. Everyone did so as a matter of habit, unless they were close enough to be on a first-name basis. This could vary. One of my dad’s oldest and closest friends, he always addressed as “Dr. X,” and vice versa. They also resented the fact that the general public considered “doctor” to be properly the domain of physicians and other people in medical professions. As mentioned above, the Ph.D. is a terminal degree and an M.D. is not. They didn’t mind that physicians could use “doctor,” but they resented that a lot of laypeople thought their use of “doctor” was somehow illegitimate. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341/10 "2020-04-22T13:56:14Z")
I consider it boorish too and never call myself that. Someone I knew once explained that he had worked damn hard to get that degree and felt entitled to use the title. I refrained from telling how little work I did for my PhD. But I think attitudes differ in Europe, especially Germany, where it seems that Doktor is part of your legal name. I am sure I have mentioned on the boards a woman I once met who was introduced at a colloquium she gave as “Professor Doktor Frau Professor Doktor Doktor P\_\_\_\_.” Her husband had two PhDs. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341/11 "2020-04-22T13:57:59Z")
I have a number of friends that are medical doctors, dentists, Phd’s, etc. I never address them or introduce them as “Doctor”. I refer to all of them as “first name”. If they insisted they wouldn’t be my friend. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341/12 "2020-04-22T13:59:25Z")
If you have a PhD you may be really smart, even smart enough to make a radio out of a coconut, but you aren’t a REAL doctor. Real doctors can fix broken arms and write prescriptions and excuse you from jury duty. ---
**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:** [April 22, 2020, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341/13 "2020-04-22T13:59:27Z")
. I have a lot of nostalgia surrounding the “doctor” address from my childhood and upbringing. If it were socially acceptable, I would address other people with any kind of doctorate degree as “doctor,” but it’s not, so I don’t. ---
**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:** [April 22, 2020, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341/14 "2020-04-22T14:01:07Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > If you have a PhD you may be really smart, even smart enough to make a radio out of a coconut, but you aren’t a REAL doctor. Real doctors can fix broken arms and write prescriptions and excuse you from jury duty. Yeah, you can make that declaration, but there are people with Ph.D.s who say exactly the same thing in reverse – “Ph.D.s are the REAL doctors, not people who have non-terminal medical degrees.” ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341/15 "2020-04-22T14:05:31Z")
I don’t care if PhDs want to be called “Dr.” unless they’re passing themselves off as medical authorities without the necessary background. It’s also sleazy for chiros and naturopaths to call themselves “Dr.” or worse, physicians, as it deceives the public about their expertise (rather, their lack of it). ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341/16 "2020-04-22T14:10:02Z")
Correct me if I am wrong but to get a PhD in something like chemistry or archaeology don’t you actually have to add to the overall knowledge of the discipline? As in your dissertation needs to be original. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341/17 "2020-04-22T14:10:12Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > If you have a PhD you may be really smart, even smart enough to make a radio out of a coconut, but you aren’t a REAL doctor. Real doctors can fix broken arms and write prescriptions and excuse you from jury duty. More to the point, a medical doctor can potentially do something for me in the short term if I’m suddenly mauled by a boar. Pretty rare that I need some immediate care in the fields of economics or Russian literature. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341/18 "2020-04-22T14:13:59Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Correct me if I am wrong but to get a PhD in something like chemistry or archaeology don’t you actually have to add to the overall knowledge of the discipline? As in your dissertation needs to be original. Generally, yes. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341/19 "2020-04-22T14:18:51Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Correct me if I am wrong but to get a PhD in something like chemistry or archaeology don’t you actually have to add to the overall knowledge of the discipline? As in your dissertation needs to be original. Yes. Just ask any PhD who has to work for someone who only has a Masters. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341/20 "2020-04-22T14:19:28Z")
I am a dentist and about the only time I call myself Dr. is when I’m calling another dental office for a consult. I introduce myself to new patients by my first and last name, they know I’m a doctor, I don’t need to tell them. Generally I’ll call people whatever they want to be called. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-title-doctor/852341.md?page=2)