# Using multiple titles to address someone **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 14, 2018, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600 "2018-01-14T13:50:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2018, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600/1 "2018-01-14T13:50:15Z")
MLK day is coming up, so we have been hearing a lot about Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King. It seems to be pretty rare to use more than one title to address anyone else even if they do have more than one. For example, Rand Paul is usually called “Senator” not “Senator Doctor”. Is there a rule for when multiple titles should be used instead of just one? ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2018, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600/2 "2018-01-14T14:32:53Z")
Don’t forget about the random German Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. I think the long strings of titles are more for calling cards: if it were the Queen of England you would find “Your Majesty” sufficiently polite. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2018, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600/3 "2018-01-14T15:13:28Z")
“Reverend Doctor” seems to be not unusual - Jonathan Swift for one. My father lived next to a guy who was a D.Mus (Doctor of Music) and an MD. His wife was German and his FIL always referred to him as Herr Doctor Doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2018, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600/4 "2018-01-14T15:19:16Z")
Is this a reflection of the fact that King was a Doctor of Theology? So Reverend Doctor was essentially a single title like Sergeant Major or General Secretary? ---
**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:** [January 14, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600/5 "2018-01-14T16:03:05Z")
I once met a woman who had given a talk in Vienna and was introduced as Professor Doktor Frau Professor Doktor Doktor P-----. She was a professor and had a PhD and her husband was a professor with PhDs in two different subjects. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2018, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600/6 "2018-01-14T16:07:36Z")
nitpick, it is “The Reverend…” not “Reverend…”. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2018, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600/7 "2018-01-14T16:11:24Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > nitpick, it is “The Reverend…” not “Reverend…”. In this context, is the word “Reverend” an adjective? I’ve heard the term “Very Reverend So-and-So” to describe high-ranking clerics in the CoE. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2018, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600/8 "2018-01-14T16:25:55Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > I once met a woman who had given a talk in Vienna and was introduced as Professor Doktor Frau Professor Doktor Doktor P-----. She was a professor and had a PhD and her husband was a professor with PhDs in two different subjects. Is it standard to spam someone _else’s_ titles in addition to one’s own? This example sounds like bald and gratuitous sexism rather than formality. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2018, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600/9 "2018-01-14T16:28:41Z")
If you really want to be nitpicky, it’s “The Reverend”, not just “Reverend”, and its not a title, but an [honorific style](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Reverend). Even nitpickier, formally it shouldn’t be used alone, but with the person’s name. That is, not “I went to talk to the reverend”, but “I went to talk to The Reverend Dimmesdale.” Of course, in real life people often refer to their minister as just “reverend” or even sometimes “rev” and there’s probably very few who take offense. We don’t call Senator Paul "Senator Doctor’ because “doctor” is properly used only in connection with its profession. He’s Senator Paul when serving on the Senate, he’d be Doctor Paul if he went back to practicing ophthalmology, but never both at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Kimera757](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimera757/32/3765_2.png) [@Kimera757](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimera757)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2018, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600/10 "2018-01-14T18:22:55Z")
In the Thirty Years War (and, I presume, from the time modern-sounding military titles were used), German noblemen with military ranks would have titles like “General Count X”. The military title went first, and the noble name was more important than the personal name. An English title: Field Marshal His Grace The Duke of Wellington aka Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2018, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600/11 "2018-01-15T01:04:25Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Is this a reflection of the fact that King was a Doctor of Theology? So Reverend Doctor was essentially a single title like Sergeant Major or General Secretary? Nope. He was “the Reverend” because he was an ordained minister, and he was “Doctor” because he had a doctorate. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2018, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600/12 "2018-01-15T01:29:22Z")
And now, it is "the late Reverend Doctor . . . " ---
**Author:** ![pdhenry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pdhenry/32/5561_2.png) [@pdhenry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pdhenry)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2018, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600/13 "2018-01-15T03:33:50Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > If you really want to be nitpicky, it’s “The Reverend”, not just “Reverend”, and its not a title, but an [honorific style](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Reverend). Even nitpickier, formally it shouldn’t be used alone, but with the person’s name. That is, not “I went to talk to the reverend”, but “I went to talk to The Reverend Dimmesdale.” My interpretation (consistent with the above) is that “Doctor” is a noun and “Reverend” is an adjective modifying the noun. But perhaps “The Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale” would be correct in that case. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2018, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600/14 "2018-01-15T04:20:44Z")
> [@pdhenry](#): > > But perhaps “The Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale” would be correct in that case. **Doug K.**'s link says (under Roman Catholic Christianity) “_The Reverend Mister_ (in writing) may be used for seminiarians who are ordained to the diaconate, before being ordained presbyters; Deacon (in speaking); nearly never Father Deacon in the Latin Rite in English.” ETA “the Reverend Mister” is also listed under Anglican deacons and priests. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2018, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600/15 "2018-01-15T04:29:15Z")
ETA2 “the Reverend Dimmesdale” is pointed out as a solecism, as you say. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2018, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600/16 "2018-01-15T04:38:38Z")
> [@UDS](#): > > Nope. He was “the Reverend” because he was an ordained minister, and he was “Doctor” because he had a doctorate. I checked after I made my post. I found it is standard to refer to a person who has a doctorate in theology as “the Reverend Doctor”. It’s specific to that degree; if a person was an ordained minister and a doctor of medicine, the titles would be separate. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2018, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600/17 "2018-01-15T11:00:11Z")
> [@Kimera757](#): > > An English title: Field Marshal His Grace The Duke of Wellington aka Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. Ahem! Surely you mean > [@Wikipedia](#): > > Arthur, > Duke and Marquess of Wellington, > Marquess Douro, Earl of Wellington, > Viscount Wellington and Baron Douro, > Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, > Knight Grand Cross of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, > One of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council, and > Field Marshal and Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty’s Forces. > Field Marshal of the Austrian Army, > Field Marshal of the Hanoverian Army, > Field Marshal of the Army of the Netherlands, > Marshal-General of the Portuguese Army, > Field Marshal of the Prussian Army, > Field Marshal of the Russian Army, > and > Captain-General of the Spanish Army. > Prince of Waterloo, of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo > and Grandee of Spain of the First Class. > Duke of Victoria, Marquess of Torres Vedras, and Count of Vimiera in Portugal. > Knight of the Most Illustrious Order of the Golden Fleece, and of the Military Orders > of St. Ferdinand and of St. Hermenigilde of Spain. > Knight Grand Cross of the Orders of the Black Eagle and of the Red Eagle of Prussia. > Knight Grand Cross of the Imperial Military Order of Maria Teresa of Austria. > Knight of the Imperial Orders of St. Andrew, St. Alexander Newski, and St. George of Russia. > Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Portuguese Military Order of the Tower and Sword. > Knight Grand Cross of the Royal and Military Order of the Sword of Sweden. > Knight of the Order of St. Esprit of France. > Knight of the Order of the Elephant of Denmark. > Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order. > Knight of the Order of St. Januarius and of the Military Order of St. Ferdinand and > of Merit of the Two Sicilies. > Knight or Collar of the Supreme Order of the Annunciation of Savoy. > Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Military Order of Maximilian Joseph of Bavaria. > Knight of the Royal Order of the Rue Crown of Saxony, > Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Military Merit of Wurtemberg. > Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of William of the Netherlands. > Knight of the Order of the Golden Lion of Hesse Cassel, > and > Knight Grand Cross of the Orders of Fidelity and of the Lion of Baden. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600/18 "2018-01-16T20:13:35Z")
I always just called him Art the Fart. See also “Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB,” usually just called “Lord Nelson.” ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600/19 "2018-01-17T00:34:51Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > Is it standard to spam someone _else’s_ titles in addition to one’s own? This example sounds like bald and gratuitous sexism rather than formality. It’s just German. That’s the way German is spoken by Germans. If it helps you to deal with German supervisors, you could argue that it reflects their formal power structures (which are a bit more formal and a bit more structured than Australian power structures), but it’s that way even for people you don’t know and don’t care about: it’s just the way it is. ---
**Author:** ![Mornac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Mornac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mornac)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600/20 "2018-01-17T05:37:17Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > And now, it is "the late Reverend Doctor . . . " –Not to mention “. . .Jr.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-multiple-titles-to-address-someone/806600.md?page=2)