is phd a name suffix

Should I Write Ph.D. or PhD? (Complete Guide)

As some of you are probably aware, the kind of English used on my side of the pond (England) is sometimes a bit different to the English used in the land of burgers and Trump.

Some words are spelt differently. But others just have a few bits of grammar difference.

Today, I want to look at the difference between Ph.D. and PhD. We’ll look at which one is correct, what it stands for, and why it’s a bit odd that it stands for that.

Should I Write Ph.D. Or PhD?

It is correct to write both Ph.D. and PhD. Which one is best to use depends on where you are in the world. In Great Britain, they tend to use Ph.D. In the United States of America, they prefer to use Ph.D.

What Does Ph.D. Or PhD Stand For?

Let’s try to understand what Ph.D. stands for.

It stands for two things. And it doesn’t stand for one or the other, it stands for both of them at the same time.

The first thing is “Doctor of Philosophy” and the second is “Philosophiae Doctor”. As the eagle-eyed among you may have noticed, “Philosophiae” is not English. It’s in Latin.

This goes back to the days when the only people who needed university were high thinkers and philosophers.

Why Americans And Brits Disagree On Ph.D. Or PhD

This could help us to understand why Brits prefer PhD but Americans prefer Ph.D.

Perhaps, according to the Brits, it stands for “Philosophiae Doctor”. But, according to the Americans, it stands for “Doctor or Philosophy”.

After all, the Brits do have a habit of trying to sound smarter. But, whichever one you use, people on both sides should know what you’re saying.

Why Ph.D. Or PhD Is A Bit Strange

Now, I want you all to understand how strange it is to call anyone with a PhD a “doctor of Philosophy”.

Let’s say someone gets a Ph.D. in history.

Well, first of all, is she really a doctor? If you break your leg, she’s not the first person you’ll go to for help.

But not only that, she studied history, not philosophy. So, she’s called a doctor of philosophy despite not being a doctor and not having studied history.

Yet, for some reason, we still call her a “Doctor of philosophy”.

Where Does The Word “Doctor” Come From?

When most of us hear the word “Doctor”, we think of someone who makes us better when we’re sick. And there may be a few of you who think of a skinny man who travels through time in a Police Box.

But originally, “Doctor” was Latin for teacher. Through time, you were able to get a “PhD” in more things than just philosophy.

And, if you wanted to become what we think of as a “Doctor”, you would need to have a “doctorate” in medicine.

Technically, “Doctor” would be the wrong word. But it’s become so common, it’s managed to “common” itself enough to become the right word.

How To Get A Ph.D. Or PhD

Now I’m afraid you can’t just walk into a university and walk out with a PhD. There are steps you need to take before you get there.

First of all, you will need to do a Bachelor’s degree. This is the degree you do when you first enter university. There are some jobs where a bachelors is enough.

Let’s be honest here, most of the time you spend doing a bachelor is just having fun.

If you want to, you can then progress onto doing a master’s degree. This is a bit more high level, and you tend to need to work for it.

Once you have your bachelors you may decide to go on to get a PhD. If you go for this, you will be officially able to call yourself an intellectual.

What Kind Of Word Is Ph.D. Or PhD?

There are three ideas for what kind of word Ph.D. is. I’ll tell you all of them and let you make up your own mind.

A PhD is something you have. You work towards it, and once you’ve handed in all of your papers, you get a PhD.

A PhD is also something you are. If you have a PhD, you might say “I’m a PhD.”

It can also be a title, similar to “Sir” or “OBE”.

If your name is James Smith, and you are PhD, your name and title could be, Mr James Smith PhD.

How To Address Someone With A Ph.D. Or PhD

Talking of this man called James Smith, there are several ways to address and introduce him.

• If you have a Ph.D., you are allowed to call yourself “Doctor” even if you don’t have a PhD in medicine. Therefore, if he wants, James could be called Dr Smith.
• Maybe he doesn’t want to be confused for a medical doctor but still wants to show off his Ph.D. In that case, we can call him James Smith PhD.
• But, like many with a Ph.D., he may not want to mention it unless it’s important. If he’s one of these people, we should just call him Mr Smith.

Ph.D. Or PhD Vs Doctorate

Asking “What’s the difference between a PhD and a doctorate?” is a bit like asking what the difference is between an apple and a fruit.

Just like an apple is a kind of fruit, a PhD is a kind of doctorate. However, it’s not the only doctorate there is.

Here are some forms of doctorate you may want to know.

Doctor of philosophy. But now also means Doctor of something there isn’t a doctorate for.

Doctorate in business.

Doctorate in engineering.

Doctorate in education

Doctor of medicine.

If you were wondering whether you should write “PhD” or “Ph.D.”, you can write either, both are grammatically correct, and both are very common terms that mean the same thing.

The only slight difference is that “PhD” is more common in England and “Ph.D.” is more common in America. This is perhaps because the British believe it stands for “philosophiae doctor” but Americans see it as “Doctor of Philosophy”.

But, no matter whether you use “PhD” or “Ph.D.”, to have one, you neither need to be a doctor nor study philosophy. All you need to do is stay in university for long enough to be able to get yourself a PhD. Then, you can become a PhD, and your title will be PhD.

You may also like: DSc Degree vs. PhD Degree – What’s the Difference? 9 Correct Ways to Write PhD Title on a Business Card

Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here .

• “At University” Or “In University” – Easy Preposition Guide
• James’s or James’? (Correct Possessive Form)
• Is It “Doctor’s Appointment” or “Doctors appointment”?
• Universities or University’s or Universities’? (Easy Guide)

How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name

—- For more on the the use of Port-Nominal Abbreviations , see that page . —- For more on use of an Honorary Doctorate , see that page . How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name

Here are the forms to use when addressing a person addressed as Dr. See the discussion below “How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name 1-2-3-4-5” for more information on who typically does use Dr. as part of their name and who does not.

—- Envelope or address block on letter or email to their office/place of work: ——– (Full Name), (Post-nominal abbreviation for doctorate held). ——– ( Name of office/place of work if  appropriate) ——– (Address)

—- Social/Personal envelope: ——– Dr. (Full Name) ——– (Address)

—- Salutation – for both official & social: ——– Dear Dr. (Surname):  How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name: 1-2-3-4-5

—- #1) Holders of doctorates who work in academia or research institutions are addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’ professionally and socially in a salutation or conversation. Thus, a Ph.D. professor at a college, a Ph.D. in biology doing scientific research, and a Ph.D. principal at an elementary school all use Dr. (Name) and everybody thinks it is normal.

—- NOTE: At some universities it is traditional to address faculty holding of academic doctorates as ‘Mr. (Name)’ or ‘Professor (Name)’ and not to address as ‘Dr. (Name)’. For those outside the academic community it is acceptable to follow the insider’s rule or to address holders of doctorates as ‘Dr. (Name)’ in writing or oral address.

—- #2) Protestant clergy with doctorates are addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’ in a salutation or conversation. I specify ‘Protestant’ here because not all clergy is. For example, neither priests – addressed in a salutation or conversation as Father [Name] – nor rabbis – addressed as Rabbi [Name] –  holding doctorates are ever addressed as Dr. [Name] . In a salutation or conversation they stick with Father[Name] and Rabbi [Name].

—- #3) Holders of doctorates who work outside academia or research don’t always prefer to be addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’. in a salutation or conversation. —- —- A) In the USA ‘Dr.’ may be used depending on the work environment and/or when the degree isn’t pertinent to the conversation. E.g., a Ph.D. in finance working at a bank or a Ph.D. in American history working in software development are not likely to insist on being addressed as ‘ Dr. (Name)’ . But always ask for their preference. Use of, or omitting, the honorific can be a sensitive issue to some individuals! —- —- B) And, outside the U.S.A. everyone holding a doctorate will want to be addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’ in every instance.

—- #4) In hospitals and healthcare environments historically there was a practice that only physicians (medical doctors, osteopaths, dentists, podiatrists, veterinarians, etc. ) are addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’. This was explained to be out of consideration for the patients who want to know who ‘the doctors’ are and who are nurses and allied healthcare professionals.

—- That made for some unhappy professionals who earned doctorates in hospital administration, pharmacy, physical therapy and nursing, etc. – who felt they too were properly addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’ . It’s my understanding that today all the holders of doctorates are addressed as Dr. (Name) and hospitals (etc.) have figured out other ways to define which doctor is a physician, which is a physical therapist and which is a nurse anesthetist.

—- #5) All that said, ultimately how one is addressed by others is up to the individual and usually everyone goes along. For example, if you and I meet a woman who identifies herself as ‘Monsignor Alice’ … I think it is unlikely she’s a Roman Catholic Monsignor. And, it’s unusual she has only one name, like Pink, Rhianna, Sting, Cher, or Madonna. But we should directly address her in conversation as ‘Monsignor Alice,’ it’s nice to meet you …’ because that’s what she says her name is. How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name

—- But, when she’s out of range, we will all be talking about her.

—- —- – Robert Hickey

Related Healthcare Links -V — — Chiropractor / Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine -V — — Dentist / Doctor of Dentistry -V — — Medical Doctor / Doctor of Medicine -V — — Military Physician / Armed Services -V — — Optometrist / Doctor of Optometry -V — — Osteopath / Doctor of Osteopathy -V — — Podiatrist / Doctor of Podiatry -V — — Veterinarian / Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

More Related Healthcare Links: -V — — Person holding a doctorate -V — — Pharmacist / Doctor of Pharmacy -V — — Psychologist -V — — Therapist

Related Links: —- —- —- Principal —- —- —- Headmaster —- —- —- President College University —- —- —- President of a School —- —- —- Chancellor —- —- —- Professor

When To Use Dr. (Name) and When To Use (Name), Ph.D.?

My daughter is receiving her Ph.D. and will be teaching. I would like to give her a name plate for her desk. Should it be ‘Dr. (Full Name)’ or ‘(Full Name), Ph.D. ‘? ——————- – AP

Dear AP,   How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name

‘(Full Name), Ph.D.’ is the official form of her name. You will use it on the envelope, or in the address block of a letter, when you write to her with regard to her professional pursuits. This is the form the university will use when she is listed among the faculty. It is used by the degree holder, when specifying the exact degree is pertinent – like on business cards or in a list of academics.

‘Dr. (Full Name)’ is the social form of her name. You will use it when you write her name on a personal letter’s envelope, e.g., one sent to her home. This is the form everyone will use on the envelope when they send her a birthday or holiday card. It is rarely used by the degree holder since one does not correctly give oneself an honorific. The degree holder – in their signature or when introducing him or herself – just uses their name … no ‘Dr.’ It’s up to the other person to add the ‘Dr.’ E.g., I just introduce myself as ‘Robert Hickey’ – never ‘Mr. Robert Hickey.’

Sometimes you will observe a physician in a healthcare setting introducing him or herself as ‘Dr. (Name)’ – but there it is for the patient’s benefit to know they are the physician in a field of people wearing seemingly identical white coats!

‘Dr. (Surname)’ is the conversational form of her name. Use it both officially and socially in a letter’s salutation as well as in oral conversation.

So, for an office name plate use the official form of her name – (Full Name), Ph.D.

– Robert Hickey

Doctors present the official form of their name to the public:  (Full Name) (Pertinent post-nominals for the service offered).   The social form of their name does not include their degree: Dr. (Full Name).   In both official and social salutations and conversations patients use Dr. (Name).

If My Doctorate is in Music, am I ‘Dr.’?

I hold a DMA, Doctorate in Music, from a Boston university and am a Church Music Director. Please could you advise me as to whether it is acceptable for the church where I work to list me in the service bulletins as: ‘Dr. (First name) + (Last name) ‘? —————- – CJ

Dear CJ: How to Use a Doctorate with your Name It is correct to list yourself in the bulletin using the professional form of your name … (First name) + (Last name), DMA.    It specifies your academic credential in your professional domain.

Among protestant denominations many address their clergy with a doctorate orally and in a salutation as  Dr. (Surname).   If your church is one of those, and it is your preference is to be Dr. (Surnhttps://formsofaddress.info/wp-admin/post.php?post=13983&action=edit#ame), tell everyone that it is your preference to be addressed Dr. (Surname).

Usually academics and researchers who go by Dr. (Surname) professionally – use Dr. (Surname)  socially. But ultimately whether a particular Ph.D. holder is ‘Dr. (Name)’ socially … especially outside of healthcare, academia or research … is at the preference of the bearer. Some insist, some don’t care, others say they answer to anything they are called. Ultimately your name belongs to you and if you want to be Dr. (Surname), then it’s your right to request everyone address you that way.

– Robert Hickey   How to Use a Doctorate with your Name

May I Call Myself Dr. (Name)  if my Degree Is Not Related to the Service I Offer?

I have a Ph.D. and license in counseling. Recently I sent out an announcement for a yoga class I will be teaching. The state of Colorado says I should not teach yoga as   “Dr. (Name)”. How can I convince them I can? ——– – Kevin S., Ph.D., L.P.C., C.M.T., I.K.Y.T.A. ,  Counseling, Yoga Therapy, Integrative Health & Healing

Dear Dr. Kevin, How to Use a Doctorate with your Name

Your Ph.D. is in a field not related to the service you are offering.

A couple of typical practices I observe in the USA come to mind:

Professionals use with their name the degrees pertinent to their profession service. The degrees and certifications are provided for the benefit of the public so the public can quickly evaluate your credentials.

Here’s what I mean by pertinent . A pastor who would be the Reverend (Full Name)  & Pastor (Name) at church on Sundays, would not use the Reverend (Full Name) & Pastor (Name)  when teaching English Monday through Friday, at the local high school. That he or she is the Reverend  might be mentioned in a complete biography or introduction. It just isn’t part of his/her name at school.

So, I can see if you are using ‘Dr. (Name)’ when offering a class in yoga, and your doctorate is not directly to the service you are offering, say a doctorate physical therapy or kinesthetics …. it would be confusing to me … and the state officials must think it is misleading to the public.

– Robert Hickey How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name

Should I Use Dr. or Ph.D. on an Invitation?

If a person holds a Ph.D., should his or her name be ‘Dr. (name)’ a wedding invitation? Or ‘( Name), Ph.D.’ ?  Is this true for the father of the bride?  The groom?  Is the rule for names on wedding invitations and wedding envelopes different that the guidelines for social correspondence? ————– – Beverly Russell, Winchester, Virginia

Dear Ms. Russell: Wedding invitations and their envelopes are social correspondence. Post-nominal abbreviations ( Ph.D. is a post nominal abbreviation) aren’t used on social correspondence:

—- —- DON’T use Ph.D.

—- —- DO use Dr. (Name)

Another question that typically comes up is whether to use Doctor or Dr. (spelled out or abbreviated) on the invitation or on the mailing envelope?

The rule is to spell out everything and not to use abbreviations unless space is an issue.

But, Mr., Mrs., Dr., and Ms. (for which there is no spelled-out version) are typically used on invitations and when addressing invitations in even the most formal circles. I think ‘Doctor (Name)’ looks oh-so-highly precious, but I know some wedding planners who would wrestle me to the mat on that one.

When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?

You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing a letter, invitation, card or Email. (If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.)  The form noted in the salutation is the same form you say when you say their name in conversation or when you greet them. ___ What I don’t cover on this site are  many things I do cover in my book: all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions , etc. I hope you’ll get a copy of the book if you’d like the further detail.

Not Finding Your Answer?

—- #1)    At right  on desktops , at the bottom of every page on tablets and phones , is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.

—- #2)   If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answered send me an e-mail . I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so  (unless I am traveling.)   Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.

—- #3)   If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question  – but always change all the specifics.

— Robert Hickey 

Recommended Resources:    The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW)  and  Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA)     For more information see the Protocol Resources page.

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

• 6th Edition Blog Home

Blog Guidelines

• Subscribe to the Blog Feed
• APA Style Home

« What’s in a Name? Authors With Only One Name | Main | Creating a Reference for a Work Published With a Typo in the Title »

May 31, 2017

What’s in a name names with titles in them.

This post is part of a series on author names. Other posts in the series will be linked at the bottom of this post as they are published.

Typically APA Style reference list entries and in-text citations do not include the authors’ academic credentials or professional titles. For example, if a book is written by Samantha T. Smith, PhD, then the reference entry refers to Smith, S. T., and the in-text citation to Smith. Professional titles are also omitted from reference list entries and in-text citations. For example, for a Thomas the Train book written by the Reverend W. Awbry, the reference refers to Awbry, W., and the in-text citation will be to Awbry (1946).

Here are some common examples of academic credentials and professional titles to omit from references and citations (note this is not an exhaustive list—anything in a similar vein will count):

Note that if you do want to mention an author’s academic credentials or professional title in the text because it is relevant to the discussion, you should use the format without periods (e.g., PhD, not Ph.D.; an exception is for abbreviations of a single word, such as Rev. for Reverend ).

Exceptions for Religious Officials and Nobility

Exceptions to including the title in APA Style citations occur when the person’s title is in essence their name. For example, although Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he now writes using the name Pope Francis. Here is how to cite an encyclical letter by Pope Francis:

You should not abbreviate the Pope's name to Francis, P., because this would render it unintelligible to the reader.

And here is an example of how to cite a book by Prince Charles of Wales:

Note that the two authors who are credited after “with” on the cover are listed in parentheses in the reference list entry and are not cited in the in-text citation. (For more information on “with” authors, see page 184 of the Publication Manual , sixth bullet.)

Other Questions

Do you have more questions on author names in APA Style? See these other posts, or leave a comment below:

• How to write two-part surnames with or without hyphens
• Inconsistent formats and name changes
• Cultural variations in name order
• Authors who use only a single name

For seventh edition guidelines, visit the seventh edition APA Style blog . This search includes only sixth edition blog archive results:

ABOUT THE 6TH EDITION BLOG ARCHIVE

APA Style FAQs

• Abbreviations
• Advance online publication
• Announcements
• Author names
• Best of Blog
• Bias-free language
• Capitalization
• Common references
• Computer tips
• Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
• Direct quotations
• ebooks/Kindle
• Electronic references
• Grammar and usage
• Hyphenation
• In-text citations
• Journal Article Reporting Standards (JARS)
• Journal articles
• Movies and TV
• Numbers and metrication
• Paraphrasing
• Personal communications
• Principles of good writing
• Publication Manual help
• Publication process
• Punctuation
• Punctuation Junction
• Reference list
• Research participants
• Running heads
• Social media
• Tables and figures
• Tests and measures
• Translations

Recent Posts

Archiving the Sixth Edition APA Style Blog

Introducing the 7th Edition of the Publication Manual

The Seventh Edition of the Publication Manual Is Available for Preorder!

When to Include Page Numbers in a Reference List Entry

The Relation of Tables and Figures With Text

What Qualifies as a Table or a Figure in APA Style?

How to Cite Instagram in APA Style

Mastering APA Style

How to Cite a Government Report in APA Style

How to Cite Edition, Volume, and Page Numbers for Books

Recent Comments

• normgd557 on What’s in a Name? Names With Titles in Them
• Chelsea Lee on What’s in a Name? Names With Titles in Them
• D on What’s in a Name? Names With Titles in Them
• David Cory Enderby on What’s in a Name? Names With Titles in Them
• Pam Luke on What’s in a Name? Names With Titles in Them
• Jenniferj on What’s in a Name? Names With Titles in Them

Twitter Updates

Need to Know What a Suffix in a Name Means? Here’s the Key

Last Updated December 10, 2023

“What is a suffix in a name?” It’s one of the genealogical mysteries no one really talks about: What to make of those pesky letters and abbreviations that randomly appear after a person’s name in old documents and records.

These letters, commonly and collectively called a suffix or name suffix , can provide game-changing clues as to our ancestor’s identities, relationships, and accomplishments — no matter how random they may seem. Let’s take a closer look.

What is a suffix in a name, and how do they work?

In general terms, a suffix is one kind of affix (something that is added to the end of a word). This e ncompasses endings of verbs like -ing or -ed , which change the tense, and endings like -ism and -ship , which change a noun’s meaning.

Genealogists may also be familiar with a name suffix like -son which in ancient days was added to a father’s name (patriarch), creating a new surname (e.g. Jacob son ) which showed kinship (“son of Jacob”). We explain how this works in our article about understanding surnames. 

For our purposes, though, we’re interested in another way they are uses: When an abbreviation, an acronym, or other word or notation is added to the end of a person’s full name to apply some sort of meaning. Understanding these letter and number combinations can help us better understand our ancestors in a variety of fascinating ways.

How generational suffixes like Sr, Jr and III work

The most common examples American family historians will recognize are those indicating generational relationships, like Jr and Sr. 

These are usually included as Senior, Sr or Sr. for a father – Junior, Jr or Jr. for a son – or the roman numerals II, III, or IV for generations that follow. These are called patronymic or generational suffixes, and are traditionally used when a male is given the exact full name of his father .

In that case, Sr. or I will be added to the father’s name, while the son will be given a Jr. or II .  When a name is carried on to a third and fourth generation, most families switch to the numerical use of III and IV. When a family is the first to start assigning these suffixes the father will not show a Sr. on records until he has fathered the son who will become Jr.

Naturally, having three or four males with the same exact first, middle, and last names can be troublesome, especially in modern times, where longer life spans mean multiple generations are co-existing. For this reason, the younger generations sometimes adopt nicknames that indicate their place in the generational line-up, like “Trey” or “Tripp” if they are a III, or “Quaid” or “Cort” for the fourth in the namesake line.

Some people get pretty creative with their generational nicknames; for example, NFL quarterback Patrick Lavon Mahomes II, son of baseball great Patrick Lavon Mahomes, Sr., recently named his son Patrick Lavon Mahomes III, but calls him “Bronze” to indicate that he comes in “third place” in the line.

Important exceptions to the rule

As with most “rules” of genealogy, there are exceptions to the Jr. and Sr. or I, II, III naming conventions. For example, a researcher cannot just assume that two individuals with the same full name and Sr. and Jr. are father and son. In some communities, two men with the same name who were unrelated or distantly related were given Sr. or Jr. only to help the townspeople tell them apart in documents (“Sr.” being the older of the two).

Sometimes, a son will be given Jr. informally even if he doesn’t share the exact name as his father — perhaps they have slightly different middle names. A well-known example occurred with Francis Albert Sinatra and his son Francis Wayne Sinatra, who was sometimes called “Jr.”

Another anomaly occurs when a Sr. dies; in some cases, his same-named son, formerly a Jr., will drop the Jr. from his formal name. In other cases, the son will assume Sr.; this is especially common when there is a third generation with the same name. 

Lastly, males who are named after a relative who is not their father (e.g. an uncle, a grandfather, or even a deceased sibling) can also use a naming suffix; however, they typically choose the numerical form of II (“the second”), rather than Jr.

The British royal family uses this naming convention. For example, we know that the father of King Charles III was Prince Philip, and was not named Charles; rather, King Charles III is the third monarch to use the name Charles. This can certainly make the order of the British empire confusing, but can appear in genealogical records of common people as well so it is important to understand. 

Did women ever use Sr or Jr?

Occasionally, women who were given the exact name as their mother would add a Jr. to their name, but that naming convention is uncommon — perhaps because women would eventually change their surname (also known as family name) to that of their husband.

Take, for example, the family of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his wife, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt. The couple gave their third son their father’s name, dubbing him Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Jr. They also gave their only daughter her mother’s name, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, and historians often refer to the daughter as a Jr.

What are post-nominal letters?

To further muddy the water, it’s important to understand that the generational options discussed earlier aren’t the only ones you’ll come across in your genealogy pursuits. The majority have nothing to do with familial relationships , but they can be just as informative. Collectively, these letters are called post-nominals , and may indicate academic degrees, social standing, professional titles, accomplishments or affiliation, and even religious associations.

Here’s a fun one.

What the heck does esquire really mean?

It’s not at all uncommon to see the word “Esquire” or the abbreviation “Esq.” following male names in early American documents, like the 1829 listing below. 

Today, “Esquire” is most often used by the legal community as a title of courtesy for attorneys, or its abbreviation “Esq.” after their surname, mostly in formal correspondence. However, in England, it is not used professionally, but was once an honorific for principal parish landowners, holders of knights’ estates who hadn’t taken up their knighthood, eldest sons of younger sons of peers, eldest sons of baronets and knights, and some officials.

The English honorific has mostly fallen out of fashion, but until the early 19th century, it held a place in American social society. Generally, a man’s name might be followed by Esq. if he held a local office, was a member of a fraternal organization, was wealthy or a business owner, or was simply considered of high social standing.

In fact, at one time in the late 1700s, many people complained that it was being overused, and was given to any male who did not already have a different one. Therefore, it’s probably best not to assume that your ancestor with Esq. held a certain position or role, when it could stand for so many different honors.

The meaning of academic post-nominals such as BA, MBA or PhD

An academic suffix would be used to indicate a degree which the person earned at a college or university, and usually indicate the particular area of study in which the degree was achieved.

For example, BA stands for Bachelor of Arts, BS for Bachelor of Science – indicating different types of Bachelor’s degrees, etc. Master’s degrees follow the same suit (MA for Master of Arts, MBA for Master of Business Administration, etc.), as do academic and professional doctorates, including JD for Juris Doctorate (law degree) and PhD for Doctor of Philosophy.

Individuals holding advanced degrees are also entitled to use other options, such as Esq. for an attorney who has earned a Juris Doctorate, or the name prefix Dr. for someone who has their PhD. Traditionally, though, they will use one or the other notation (Dr. John Smith or John Smith, PhD), but not both (Dr. John Smith, PhD).

Although it is used today in the USA primarily as an honorary degree, the Doctor of Laws degree, which uses LLD, was a popular doctorate-level option in legal studies in early American universities. It is still awarded by schools in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and a number of European countries. 

It’s also interesting to note that in some early documents, such as the Catalog of Officers and Graduates of Columbian University above, the suffixes for bachelor’s and master’s degrees were written in reverse of what we use today. For example, a Master’s of Art was abbreviated as AM, while a Bachelor’s of Art was AB, an acronym for the Latin phrase artium baccalaureus.

Making sense of religious suffixes

Another version you might come across during your genealogical research are religious ones. These letters, which are mostly acronyms, represent the religious order or institute to which a person belonged. They are especially prominent in the Catholic Church, as priests, nuns, monks, and other members of the clergy will typically use their particular religious suffix in their formal signature.

In the example below, the priest’s signature, “Fr. Clement OSB,” in this 1923 baptismal register indicates that Father Clement was a member of the Order of Saint Benedict, a monastic religious order of the Catholic Church. There are hundreds of different orders and institutes in the Catholic Church alone , and therefore hundreds of various post-nominals.

Clergy from other religions also used suffixes. For example, VDM (Verbi Dei minister or verbi divini minister) was often used by ministers or pastors within Lutheran and Reformed churches. Likewise, clergy from multiple religious used MG to denote their role as a Minister of the Gospel.

Post-nominals for theological degrees are also commonly found in genealogical records. DD, for example, indicates a Doctorate in Divinity, while MTh is used for a Master’s in Theology.

Professional and military suffixes

If you’ve studied any United States marriage records, you’re bound to have come across “JP.” Most family historians quickly learn that this is an acronym for Justice of the Peace, a judicial official who presides over a variety of court proceedings.

However, you’ll most often find JP after the name of the official who performed your ancestors’ weddings, if they were not married by a member of the clergy. In the example below, the marriage record of Horace Elliott and Mary Davis was performed by Justice of the Peace R.F. Love.

Military post-nominals are common as well. For example, USN is often included in the signature of a person in the U.S. Navy, while CSA was the option used by individuals fighting for the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.

In addition to a particular profession, professional inclusions often indicate a certification or membership in an organization. Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution may add DAR to their names, while Sons of Confederate Veterans may use the SCV.

Today, professional affiliation or credential options exist for practically every type of industry or area of expertise, from accounting to veterinary medicine. For example, PHR after a name means a person has completed the requirements to become a Professional in Human Resources, while CRT means they are a Certified Respiratory Therapist. Of course, most of the professional choices used today came about in the 20th century, so running across these within your genealogical studies prior to the early 1900s will be rare.

What about Mr. and Mrs.? The difference between a prefix and a suffix

Common titles, sometimes called name prefixes , include Mr., Mrs., Miss, and Dr., as well as military designations, like Col. for Colonel, Sgt. for Sergeant, Pvt. for Private, etc. and come before a given name.  These are not suffixes.

While we haven’t covered every possible variation you might discover in old records and documents, you can probably gather that they, whether denoting an academic, social, religious, or professional status or a generational continuance, are quite commonplace. Therefore, most genealogical software includes a “Suffix” field where you can add the appropriate designation (as seen in the “Add New Person” forms from Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org below).

You’ll notice that the second example above from FamilySearch.org includes a field for Title and is where prefixes, as explained above, should be included. 

Some family history researchers will use the Suffix field for other purposes, like nicknames or personal notes, which can be frustrating and confusing if the tree is online and public. Most genealogical software and online programs include fields for nicknames, notes, and other designations, such as Ancestry’s “Also Known As” fact field, shown below. For uniformity, it’s best to always use the fields provided in the system for the information they actually represent, or create a Custom Event or fact for your particular details.

How to include a suffix in a name

Figuring out how to include a suffix can be confusing. As mentioned, when including this information in your family tree, always place it in the designated box. When writing it out, you can use the standard format seen below.

In the past, a comma was used to separate the suffix from the surname and this is still a proper way to do so, but is less common today. Note that when surnames are listed before given names a comma is still used.

Examples of suffix use:

• Single suffix: Andrew Jones West, Jr.
• Multiple suffixes: Andrew Jones West, Jr., PhD
• Last Name First: West, Andrew Jones, Jr., PhD

In the past you may also have seen a married woman using her husband’s name along with one of more suffixes – such as Mrs. Andrew Jones West, Jr.

If your ancestor has attained multiple additions to their name, etiquette dictates that they be listed in a preferred order. 

Here is the proper order for adding suffixes:

• Generational
• Religious orders
• Theological degrees
• Academic degrees, arts before professions
• Honorary degrees, honors, decorations
• Professional licenses
• Professional certifications
• Professional associations & affiliations

Why this research is important to your family tree

Finding a suffix associated with an ancestor’s name can provide all sorts of clues for the family historian, whether it’s a “II” that provides a lead to a close family friend or relative who was honored as a namesake or a professional one that indicates their occupation or religious affiliation.

The key to puzzling these letter and number combinations out is to put them into context, considering the type of document on which it appears (court records, church documents, military files , etc.) and performing thorough research on the exact meaning. 

As a family historian, it’s important to look at these with a certain degree of skepticism, and not simply assume that the Sr. (father) and a Jr. or II held the same name. The only way to confirm these relationships is to perform exhaustive research.

Also keep in mind that the situations we’ve discussed here are typical uses in western culture in the English language, but varying countries and cultures have different traditions when it comes to naming their offspring or assigning post-nominals. 

And when searching for ancestors with a name suffix, please remember that they were not always included in documents or may have been included in various forms. You may see, for instance, Jr., Jr, J, II or junior for a son – or the record keeper may have skipped it altogether. Generally it is best to search for names and to use the dates of birth and other relationships (such as spouse or children) to ensure you have the correct generation.

Additional information to help making sense of names can be found in our online courses or in our other helpful guides. See this section of our site .

Also read: Finding the Hidden Clues in First Names: A Starter Guide

By Patricia Hartley. Patricia has been researching family history for over 30 years and has an M.A. in Public Relations/Mass Communications from Kent State University.

2 thoughts on “Need to Know What a Suffix in a Name Means? Here’s the Key”

thank you for this info, I really needed it! now maybe I can break down my brick wall, I have been following the wrong names due to exactly what you mentioned!

Military Awards are also very important. examples “VC” Victoria Cross the Highest award for Valour. or for the USA the C M of H.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Copy and paste this code: wuzopi *

Leave this field empty

Privacy Overview

How to Use Dr and PhD with a Name

In English, as in many other languages, professional titles have abbreviations. These are for writing convenience but people will sometimes annunciate them while speaking. Two of these, Dr and PhD, are very common references when talking about the specific name of a doctor.

Therefore, it means you’re referring to people and in this case, it’s a college-trained and licensed individual who practices things like medicine, psychology, science, mathematics or some other field of study. But, like with most other things in English grammar, there is a particular use of Dr and PhD.

To use “Dr” to indicate a doctor, most particularly in the fields of medicine and science, you will put it before a person’s name. You can indicate first and last name. But, if you want to be casual or informal, you can use Dr before only mentioning a first name.

Dr. Sherri Tenpenny

There are some people who receive doctorate degrees, the highest education one can receive in any given subject. While they are doctors, they aren’t medical, scientific or psychological doctors. For instance, they could have a doctorate in things like politics, journalism, economics or some other such thing.

Dr. Shane Ammora, PhD

Mnemonic Device

Whenever you want to write or mention the name of someone who’s a doctor, you’ll either use Dr or PhD to indicate their title. But, Dr comes before and PhD will be after.

How to Reference a Person With a PhD

How to sign your name when you have a bachelor of science in criminal ....

As you have probably noticed, many authors of books and articles are learned individuals who have received doctorates. Therefore, you may sometimes find that you need to cite authors who have the suffix "Ph.D." listed after their names. However, if you listed "Ph.D." after the name of every author who had one, your term paper would quickly devolve into alphabet soup. Both American Psychological Association (APA) and Modern Language Association (MLA) styles agree on this point: never include the suffix "Ph.D." after an author's name when you are citing sources.

Omit the suffix "Ph.D." from the author's name when citing sources in your reference list. For example, a book authored by Jordan Jones, Ph.D. would be listed as being authored by Jordan Jones. In MLA style this would appear as: Jones, Jordan. In APA style, this would appear as: Jones, J.

Omit as well any titles such as "Ph.D." from the names of translators, editors, or any other names that might appear in your reference list entries.

Omit titles such as "Ph.D." from your in-text citations as well. Use only the last names of authors, editors and other persons in parenthetical citations. In MLA style, an in-text citation for the work of Jordan Jones, Ph.D. should appear as follows: (Jones 86). In APA, the same citation should appear as follows: (Jones, 2009, p. 86).

Related Articles

How to Correctly Use the Titles Dr. & PhD With a Name

Proper Way to Notate College Degrees

How to Write a Source Card for an Internet Source

How to Locate PhD Dissertations

How to do citations for paradise lost.

How to Address a DVM

How to Do a Handout in APA Style

The History of the Doctoral Degree

• Purdue OWL: MLA Works Cited Page Basic Format

Stack Exchange Network

Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.

Q&A for work

Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.

Should I write "PhD" or "Ph.D."?

Question pretty self-explanatory. Should the abbreviation of the Latin term philosophiae doctor be written as PhD (no periods) or Ph.D. (with periods)?

• abbreviations

• 1 You have a couple of correct answers below. Personally I avoid periods in abbreviations, so I would use PhD, just as I would say Washington DC using the postal code abbreviation DC rather than the historical abbreviation D.C. (District of Columbia). –  Wayne Commented May 17, 2011 at 12:38

6 Answers 6

Actually both are correct. I could easily find both on my NOAD, and there are plenty of pages on the net where you find it written as "PhD".

The OALD gives an interesting distinction, stating that Ph.D. is especially North American English.

Now, being a non-native speaker, I can only rely on official sources to state who uses what , but there's no doubt that both variants are used.

Lastly, I think there's really no point in distinguishing them as " Philosophiae Doctor " or " Doctor of Philosophy " because it's the same exact expression, although considering the abbreviation, the former is the correct and original long version, the latter is just the English translation.

• 1 Collins English Dictionary shows a separate abbreviation if you want to specify the degree in English: "DPhil". (Also at dictionary.reference.com/browse/phd , just further down the page.) –  MT_Head Commented May 17, 2011 at 9:52
• @MT_Head: Thanks for commenting. With "if you want to specify the degree in English" you mean "being unambiguous"? –  Alenanno Commented May 17, 2011 at 9:54
• Indeed. To give an anecdotal example: in the company I used to work for, which was British, people didn't tend to use periods for abbreviations of degrees, e.g. MSc , PhD . I now work for an American company, where the convention is to use them, hence Ph.D. –  Steve Melnikoff Commented May 17, 2011 at 9:55
• I see, I was thinking of that before honestly, since PhD (or PHD) can be other things too... Thanks for pointing it out! –  Alenanno Commented May 17, 2011 at 10:04
• 6 @MT_Head DPhil is also what a PhD is called at Oxford. If you use DPhil then a BE speaker would assume you specifically mean Oxford. –  mgb Commented May 17, 2011 at 15:07

PhD and Ph.D. are both correct. Canadians tend to omit the periods and those from the U.S. tend to keep them. A reference grammar explains it like this:

2  abbreviations and acronyms 1  punctuation We usually write abbreviations without full stops in modern British English. Full stops (AmE ‘periods’) are normal in American English.   Mr (AmE Mr. ) = Mister (not usually written in full)   kg (AmE kg. ) = kilogram  […]

Quote source: Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage (Third Edition). page 2.

I tend to use both 'PhD' and 'Ph.D'. A DPhil is awarded at both Oxford Uni and Sussex Uni in England. All others award PhDs to my knowledge.

It bugs me when people use 'Dr' before their name and then also state the award following it. I feel it should be one or the other.

• Agree with Dr being used with PhD part. –  Failed Scientist Commented Jul 28, 2016 at 10:19
• 4 "Oh, I'm going to get some cash out of this ATM machine." –  hBy2Py Commented Mar 31, 2017 at 17:00
• 1 @hBy2Py : Ha! That's an example of the ironically named RAS syndrome (Redundant Acronym Syndrome syndrome). According to Wikipedia the term was coined in 2001 in a light-hearted column in New Scientist, though I haven't a reference for the original article. On the original question, during my lifetime (started in the 1950s) in the UK there has been a slow but steady move to reduce the use of punctuation and capitalisation in print. This has been driven in part by the newspaper industry, though I can't give any source other than the say-so of journalist friends. –  Duckspindle Commented Sep 3, 2022 at 12:17

As many noted, both are accepted, so it is a matter of convention and taste.

The important is to be consistent with the other abbreviations you use throughout your text. Compare:

• I got a Ph.D. in A.I. at U.C.L.A in the U.S.
• I got a PhD in AI at UCLA in the US.

My personal preference goes for omitting periods, given that this is an abbreviation, following the Guardian style guide :

Do not use full points in abbreviations, or spaces between initials, including those in proper names

I remember discussing this with a trained secretary a long time ago. We eventually decided that the use of camel case (starting each abbreviated word in upper case) removes the need for the periods when abbreviating titles. However, when an abbreviation is relatively new or used in an unusual context, the periods help to avoid ambiguity.

For my own use, the overriding consideration is 'house style'. It is more important for a document to be internally consistent, to avoid confusion.

• Bobble's "house style" consideration typically applies not just to a single document but also, as the name implies, to all documents emanating from the same "house". For example, my academic discipline (linguistics) traditionally employs the no-periods convention for all titles (not only PhD, MA, and BA but also Mr, Dr, and Prof), while the style enforcer at my academic institution (an American university) insists that I sprinkle periods around (for a total of 9 in my 6 examples). –  H Stephen Straight Commented Feb 12, 2013 at 22:32

The most common I have seen are:

I have rarely come across a Ph.D. (with two periods).

• 28 Ugh. Ph.D looks like the inconsistent worst of all worlds. –  user1579 Commented May 17, 2011 at 16:57

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for browse other questions tagged abbreviations latin periods ..

• Featured on Meta
• Preventing unauthorized automated access to the network
• User activation: Learnings and opportunities
• Join Stack Overflow’s CEO and me for the first Stack IRL Community Event in...

Hot Network Questions

• Since when is Pennsylvania "midwestern"?
• How does 自由に不自由していない work here?
• Propagation of Sansevieria – Is My Cutting Going to Succeed?
• How to enable (turn on) a 5V power rail with a 3.3V MCU power rail?
• Evil machine/Alien entity kills man but his consciousness/brain remains alive within it, and he spends eons reading its mind to defeat it and escape
• What is the average result of rolling Xd6 twice and taking the higher of the two sums?
• How can ngrok reach my system but not No-IP?
• Modern x86-64 architecture diagram?
• In the Silmarillion or the Appendices to ROTK, do the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm know about the Balrog below prior to Durin receiving the ring?
• Incorporated dough mix into sourdough starter
• Can I possibly win in this kind of situation?
• How long could the Deep Space Network remain in contact with Voyager if the antenna was double the size?
• How many natural operations on subsets are there?
• What does 'Universal Election' mean?
• Remove an entire inner list that has any zeros
• Is it considered vulgar to use "massive" to describe female breast size?
• Why does not Earth radiate more energy into the space while it gets warmer?
• Will a Palm tree in Mars be approximately 2.5 times taller than the same tree on Earth?
• Carpet pages from Leningrad Codex
• How to write an Antagonist that is hot, manipulative, but has good reasoning for being the 'villain'?
• Is there no diagonal relationship for carbon and phosphorus?
• Is the light reflected from an object the same as the incident light, or does the object emit a new beam?
• God the Father punished the Son as sin-bearer: how does that prove God’s righteousness?
• What happens if parents refuse to name their newborn child?

Learn about  DNA Tests

• Best for Accuracy
• Best For Health
• Best For Ancestry
• Best for Privacy
• Best DNA Test for Dogs
• Best DNA Test for Cats
• 23andMe Review
• Ancestry DNA Review
• Living DNA Review

Learn about  Interpreting Results

• Download DNA
• 23andMe Results
• Data Deletion
• Chromosome Analysis
• DNA Painter
• DNA Statistics

What Does a Suffix in a Name Mean?

In This Article

A suffix in a name is an additional element, mostly additional letters, that tells more about a person.

Having the same name, a suffix can show if someone is the father (Sr.) or the son (Jr.). The suffix can highlight academic achievements like Ph.D. or MBA, indicate professional roles like Esq., or reveal religious or military affiliations.

Knowing suffixes is important in exploring family history, helping uncover details about ancestors’ identities, relationships, and societal roles from old records and documents.

What is a Suffix in a Name?

When it comes to family history and looking at historical records, a suffix in a name can tell you a lot.

A suffix helps identify family connections. It also helps determine if someone has a professional role or special title.

So, when exploring a family tree or digging into historical documents, paying attention to a suffix in a name can unlock information about your ancestors’ lives and their roles in society.

How Do Suffixes Differ from Prefixes?

Suffixes and prefixes in names are additional elements that serve distinct roles based on their positions within a person’s name.

Suffixes are added at the end of a name. Typically, they follow the surname and provide additional information about a person.

Meanwhile, prefixes are found at the beginning of a name, preceding the given name, and often represent titles or honorifics.

Common prefixes include Mr., Mrs., Dr., and others, indicating gender or professional status. 

Essentially, suffixes modify the end of a name, offering details about relationships, achievements, or titles. Prefixes are placed at the beginning of a name, disclosing titles, gender, or other specific attributes.

Historical Origins of Suffixes

Adding suffixes to names goes way back, rooting in diverse cultural practices and language use. Adding extra letters like Jr., Ph.D., or Esq. aren’t just random—they provide more meaning.

Whether it’s highlighting a family connection, showing academic achievements, or pointing to a professional role, name suffixes have been evolving for centuries.

From Roman numerals indicating generations to letters denoting academic degrees, these additions to names tell a story of how people have expressed their identities throughout history. 

Suffixes provide a deeper understanding of the roles names play in different times and cultures.

Where Did Name Suffixes Originate?

Name suffixes originated from different backgrounds and histories across cultures. Adding a suffix to a name started as a way to show family connections, jobs, social standing, or where someone came from.

Here are some general insights into the origins of name suffixes:

• Generational Suffixes – Using “Jr.” (Junior) and “Sr.” (Senior) has its roots in distinguishing between generations within a family, especially when people share the same name. 1
• Roman Influence – Roman numeral suffixes (e.g., II, III, IV) are generational suffixes in ancient Rome. It denoted the order of sons sharing the same name in a family. 2
• Honorary Titles – Suffixes like ‘Esq.’ (Esquire) have historical roots in English culture, traditionally indicating a rank below a knight but above a gentleman.
• Academic Degrees – Suffixes such as “PhD” (Doctor of Philosophy) and “MD” (Medical Doctor) originated to indicate a person’s educational or professional qualifications. These suffixes help convey specific expertise or achievements.
• Legal Significance – Using correct name suffixes is important for identification in legal contexts. This is particularly relevant in cases of inheritance, property rights, and formal legal documents.
• Global Differentiations – Different cultures worldwide have specific suffixes or honorifics that are added to names as a mark of respect, familiarity, or to denote relationships within the family.

Evolution of Suffix Use Over Time

Over time, the use of suffixes in names has changed.

In ancient times, like in Rome, they used Roman numerals (like II or III) to tell who was in the same family.

In the Middle Ages, English people started using titles like “Esq.” to signify a middle rank between a knight and a gentleman.

Families with noble backgrounds used Junior and Senior to show which generation someone belonged to, preserving lineages.

As education and jobs became a big deal, especially around the Renaissance, people used suffixes like “PhD” and “MD” to highlight someone’s profession.

When societies got more organized, using the right suffixes became important in legal matters. 

With the world getting smaller and people connecting from all over, different cultures influence how we add bits to names, making it a mix of tradition and new ideas.

Types of Suffixes in Names

What are generational suffixes.

Generational suffixes are added at the end of names to provide information about family lineage and generational relationships.

These generational suffixes play a crucial role in distinguishing between family members who share the same given name, such as:

• Senior (Sr.) – Sr. is used for fathers who share their name with their son(s). This suffix is only applied once a Jr. exists within the family. For instance, if there is a Robert Downey Sr., it means he is the father of Robert Downey Jr.
• Junior (Jr.) – This suffix means a son shares the exact name as his father. It helps differentiate between the father (Sr.) and the son (Jr.) within family or legal contexts. For example, Robert Downey Jr. indicates that he is the son of someone named Robert Downey.
• Roman Numeral Suffixes – These are used when more than one family member shares the same name. For example, if a son is named John Smith III, it signifies that he is the third consecutive generation with that name. The Roman numeral suffixes help in tracing the order of generations.

Academic and Professional Suffixes

Academic and professional suffixes are added to names to tell us about a person’s education or job.

Here are some common academic and professional suffixes:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – This academic suffix is awarded to people with the highest academic excellence in various fields. It means an advanced degree of research skills and expertise within a specific domain, not necessarily limited to philosophy.
• Medical Doctor (MD) – This is an essential suffix for healthcare professionals.
• Juris Doctor (JD) – This suffix is commonly associated with professionals who completed law school and earned their Juris Doctor advanced degree, a prerequisite for practicing law.
• Registered Nurse (RN) – This suffix is for those who have completed the necessary educational degrees and licensing requirements to practice as registered nurses in the healthcare field.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) – This professional suffix is given to accountants who have passed the CPA examination, showcasing their expertise in accounting and finance.

Cultural Variations in Suffix Usage

How do suffixes vary across cultures.

Suffixes in names vary a lot around the world. They show how people express respect, family ties, and job titles differently.

Let’s look at a few examples:

• Western Professional Titles – In the West, people use professional suffixes like “Esq.” (Esquire) and academic titles such as “PhD” and “MD” to indicate legal or educational qualifications.
• Hispanic Naming Traditions – People use “y” to combine both parents’ last names in many Hispanic cultures. For example, Maria Hernandez y Sanchez means Maria is from both the Hernandez and Sanchez families.
• Japanese Honorifics – In Japan, people add suffixes such as “san,” “kun,” or “chan” to names. It’s a way of being polite or showing closeness. So, if someone calls you “san,” it’s like saying Mr. or Ms. 3
• Russian Family Names – Family names often have endings that tell you if someone is male or female. For instance, women commonly add “ova” to a surname.
• Chinese Family Names – Nationals use suffixes to show who’s who in the family. “Er” means the second, so someone named Zhang San Er is the second son in the Zhang family.
• Arabian Family Suffix – Arabic names often include “nisba,” showing where someone’s from or their family. Like “Al-Masri” means “the Egyptian.”

Practical Aspects of Suffixes

When and how to use suffixes in formal situations.

Using suffixes correctly is important in formal situations. It’s about showing respect and getting things accurate.

When dealing with titles or degrees, like Dr. Susan Johnson, PhD, you generally stick those suffixes after the full name in formal papers or work emails.

If you’re talking about family members in a formal way or putting things in legal documents, using Jr., Sr., II, III after the last name helps clear up who’s who in the family.

Moreover, if you’re talking to someone from a different culture, knowing what honorifics they use is good.

Like in Japan, using “San” after a name is proper.

When sending out formal invitations or doing business events, it’s common to include the right titles and suffixes to keep things professional and show that you recognize people’s qualifications.

Being aware of these things helps ensure names are right and respects everyone’s background.

Legal Implications of Suffixes in Names

Using the right suffixes in legal documents is legally important for accurate identification.

Here are some key legal implications related to name suffixes:

• Identification and Specificity – In cases involving inheritances, property rights, or legal transactions, having the right suffix helps avoid confusion and establishes a precise identity.
• Avoiding Confusion in Legal Matters – Using the correct suffix helps differentiate between people, preventing legal complications arising from mistaken identity.
• Formal Protocol – When drafting contracts or court-related papers, including academic or professional suffixes correctly, it is essential for maintaining legal accuracy and formality.

Academic Qualifications in Legal Affairs – Deliberate mislabeling of professional credentials may lead to defamation lawsuits or nullification of contracts, emphasizing the need for accuracy in legal documentation.

Related Pages

Are Blue Eyes Genetically Recessive or Dominant?

• “ Suffix. ” Wikipedia.
• “ Guide to Writing Men’s Names with Suffixes. ” Emily Post.
• “ Japanese Honorifics. ” Wikipedia.

Physical Address

304 North Cardinal St. Dorchester Center, MA 02124

Unraveling the Mystery: What is a Suffix in a Name?

• November 28, 2023
• Family Tree Research , Geneology

Have you ever wondered about those extra elements in some people’s names? The little ‘Jr.,’ ‘III’ or ‘Esq’? Well, today, we are about to dive deep into understanding what exactly a suffix in a name is, the role it plays, and where it originates from. Stick around as we explore this fascinating feature of personal monikers that carries significant weight.

So, what is a suffix in a name? In simplest terms, it’s an additional piece of information attached to the end of someone’s name. They can be generational markers like ‘Jr.’ and ‘Sr.’ or represent professional titles and academic credentials like ‘PhD,’ ‘MD,’ etc. Either way, they serve to provide further context about an individual’s identity.

What is a name suffix?

Generational suffixes, professional & academic suffixes, cultural importance, legal importance, putting it all together, misuse & confusion, can i add a suffix to my name, is there any significance to order when listing multiple academic degrees as suffixes, how do i properly address someone with a junior or second (‘ii’) at the end of their name, could you please tell me if generational suffices are important legally, what does it mean if there is an ‘md’ after someone’s name, understanding names: prefixes, base names, and suffix.

Let’s strip down our names to understand them better. A complete name typically consists of various parts – a prefix (like Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc.), a base or given name (your actual name), and occasionally a suffix (like Jr., Sr., III).

So, coming back to your question – “What is a Suffix in a Name?” A suffix in this context is an addition at the end of one’s base name that offers clues about an individual’s relationship within their family or their professional qualifications.

For instance:

• In the case of generational lines, Robert Downey Jr.
• Based on academic achievement: Alan Turing Ph.D.

Here are some factors which explain a ‘suffix’ role in our names:

• It helps provide an insight into family lineage.
• It showcases educational qualifications or professional achievements.
• Some cultures use it as part of honorifics or addresses.

I hope this clarifies what exactly constitutes a ‘suffix’ in naming conventions and its significance.

Also Read: Isostatic Rebound: Uncovering Post-glacial Rebound Process

Types of Suffixes in Names

While we’ve established what a suffix is, it’s worth noting that several different types can be added to a person’s name. Each type has its own significance and usage.

For this section, we’ll dive deeper into two main forms of suffixes: generational suffixes and professional or academic polish.

Generational suffixes are commonly used in names to indicate lineage or familial relationships. These typically appear as ‘Jr.,’ ‘Sr.,’ or ‘III,’ following the surname. Here’s how each one works:

• Jr. (Junior): This indicates the son who shares the same name with his father. It helps distinguish between the two within family or legal documents.
• Sr. (Senior): Similarly, this is used for fathers who share their name with their son(s). Note, though, that Sr. will only come into use once a Jr. exists.
• III, IV, V, etc.: Roman numerals are used after the surname when more than one son shares a common name in an extended family tree.

Coming across these kinds of suffixes might spark curiosity about someone’s heritage – if you see “IV” at someone’s end-name, you can tell you’re dealing with the fourth consecutive generation bearing that moniker.

In contrast to generational distinctions, professional and academic suffixes denote an individual’s achievements and credentials:

• PhD : This abbreviation stands for Doctor of Philosophy – not necessarily philosophy majors; many disciplines award PhD degrees! Achieving this degree tells others about your high-level research skills and expertise in specific domain areas.
• MD : Those with the letters MD after their name are medical doctors. This suffix is a sign of the person’s profession – should you need medical help, look for an MD!
• Esq. : Traditionally, Esq. (or Esquire) marked male attorneys, but it’s now properly used by legal professionals regardless of gender.

Apart from these, there are many other professional suffixes, such as RN (Registered Nurse), CPA (Certified Public Accountant), etc., which depend upon the specific profession and its corresponding certification or degree.

Example: Here’s how it might look – meet Martin King PhD or Linda Brown MD. The usage of these suffixes not only shows respect for their accomplishments but also provides recognition for their expertise within specialized fields.

In this way, types of name suffixes and their correct usage play a significant role in identifying an individual more precisely – whether through lineage or scholarly achievement.

The Importance of Using Correct Name Suffix

A name suffix can reveal a lot about an individual’s background, accomplishments, status, and even family history. Using the correct suffix shows respect and acknowledges an individual’s precise identity.

This acknowledgment extends beyond personal conversations and into important realms like culture and legal matters.

In many cultures across the globe, the use of name suffixes is a deeply rooted tradition. Their use can indicate respect, hierarchy, or familial bonds. Here are some key points:

• In Japan, attaching ‘san,’ ‘kun,’ or ‘chan’ to a person’s base name is common. These suffixes reflect levels of familiarity and respect.
• In Russia, surname endings vary between male and female, with ‘-ova’ commonly added to female surnames.
• In many Hispanic traditions, both parents’ last names are merged using ‘y’, meaning ‘and.’ For example: Maria Hernandez y Sanchez.
• Some cultures use patronymic or matronymic name suffixes derived from one’s parent’s given names.

Understanding these cultural variations manifests global awareness and promotes respectful communication.

Using the correct name suffix carries considerable weight in legal contexts. Whether we’re looking at contracts or court documents, having an accurate full name that includes correct usage of proper suffixes is crucial because:

• It ensures specificity when identifying persons involved in legal affairs, thus potentially avoiding serious consequences for mistaken identity.
• It aids in differentiating individuals with similar names, especially in large families that use generational endings like Jr., Sr., III, etc.
• It adheres to the official protocol in formal documents where academic qualifications, such as Ph.D., MD, etc., should be reflected appropriately.

Neglecting to observe proper suffix usage or misrepresenting them either deliberately or inadvertently may result in severe repercussions such as defamation lawsuits or nullification of important contracts.

Remember this: An individual’s whole identity encompasses their given base name, prefixes, and relevant suffixes, too. These all amalgamate into creating a unique identity signature crucial both in casual conversation as well as in different cultural and legal contexts.

So, the next time you write or state someone’s name, pause for that moment to ensure that every element, including the suffix, is correctly presented.

Also Read: Identifying Bacillus Anthracis: A Guide to Biochemical Testing

How do you correctly use suffixes in a name?

Getting our names right is fundamental, and usually, these names come with additional components like prefixes and suffixes. However, the correct use of suffixes in names can be confusing for many people. For clarity, let’s break it down and examine how we put all these together.

Understanding the components of a name can simplify this process immensely. Here’s what you need to know:

• Prefix: This is optional and comes before the personal name (base name). The common prefixes include Mr., Mrs., Dr., among others.
• Base Name: This is your actual given personal name, which includes your first name, middle initial or name (if applicable), and last name.
• Suffixes: These come after your base name. Suffixes add necessary distinction or additional information about yourself that isn’t covered by just your basic given name.

Now let’s illustrate how this would look altogether; consider “Dr. John Alex Doe Jr., Ph.D” In this case:

• “Dr.” is the prefix.
• “John Alex Doe” is his base name.
• “Jr.” indicates that he shares his full base name with his father.
• “PhD.” is an academic credential as an additional suffix attached to his base already possessing a generational suffix, which acts as a qualifier of sorts, providing information about him beyond merely distinguishing him from others bearing similar base names.

Take note that while writing out full names, commas are only used when listing multiple academic credentials as suffices like ‘John Doe, MD, Ph.D.’

Also worth noting here;

Never combine professional or honorary titles with post-nominals (academic degrees) on one line without separating them with commas e.g. ‘Dr. John Doe PhD, instead of correctly writing them as ‘Dr. John Doe, PhD’.

It might seem minor, but the correct usage of prefixes, base names, and suffixes can communicate a lot about an individual’s social or professional status. While it may seem challenging at first, with practice, the correct use of name suffixes will become second nature to you!

Common Mistakes When Using Name Suffixes

Navigating our way through the appropriate utilization of name suffixes can sometimes feel like walking through a lexical labyrinth.

There are various pitfalls and challenges that we might encounter. With that said, let’s highlight some of the common mistakes people make when it comes to employing suffixes in names.

One major area where many people stumble is the misuse of suffixes; this usually results from confusion about what each suffix denotes, their correct placement, or how to use them in different circumstances appropriately. Here are a few key points illustrating some common errors:

• Incorrect Placement: A frequent mistake involves placing the suffix at an inappropriate location within a name. Typically, generational suffixes such as Jr., Sr., and III appear after the last name. At the same time, professional or academic credentials show up after the first and last name but not directly succeeding it.

For instance, John Doe Jr., Ph.D., is wrong – it should be John Doe, Jr., Ph.D.

• Mislabeling Generations: Misinterpretation often comes into play with generational style adaptations, especially when they extend beyond ‘Jr.’ and ‘Sr.’ People sometimes erroneously apply these labels due to confusion about how they work. Remember, ‘II’ is used if someone carries their grandfather’s or older relative’s exact name, while ‘III’ applies to great-grandsons or similarly named male relatives.
• Incomplete Name Usage: When using a full naming structure (first name-middle-last-suffix), all parts should ideally be involved for absolute clarity.
• Excessive Academic Credentials: Another common slip-up involves overloading on academic referencing by indicating all achieved degrees as part of your regular signature; it can seem pretentious and is widely seen as unnecessary except for specific formalities or professional settings.

Understanding the diverse range of suffixes and their appropriate application indeed leans towards the complex side, but like any language-related subject – practice and knowledgeable exposure make perfect!

Next time you come across a ‘Sr.’ or a bundle of academic letters trailing after a name, you’ll be well on your way towards correctly deciphering them.

After all, each suffix carries with it its own unique meaning and story, which is an integral part of our identities. Remember, names represent people, so let’s get them right!

Also Read: Distinguishing between Anthrax Bacilli and Anthracoid Bacilli

Yes, you can add a suffix to your name but it should appropriately represent your status or achievement, such as an academic degree (PhD), professional title (Esq.), or distinguish generations within families (Jr.).

Yes, there is significance. Generally speaking, academic degrees should be listed in order of highest degree first. For instance, Jane Doe, PhD, MBA.

When addressing someone with a junior or second at the end of their name, you should include the suffix. For example, “Mr. John Doe Jr.” instead of just “Mr. John Doe”.

Yes, generational suffixes like Jr., Sr., or III can hold legal importance, especially in situations involving inheritances, property rights, or legal documents where the exact identity of individuals matters.

An ‘MD’ after someone’s name indicates that they are a Medical Doctor. It’s a professional suffix used to denote their educational background and profession.

Also Read: Mastering Polymerase Chain Reaction: Principle & Application

As we’ve been discussing, understanding the concept of a suffix in a name is more profound than it may initially seem. From generational markers like ‘Jr.’ and ‘Sr.’ to professional and academic credentials such as ‘Ph.D.,’ ‘MD,’ or ‘Esq.’, these suffixes provide key information about an individual’s identity, legacy, or achievements.

To miss these subtle yet powerful nuances could potentially lead to misinterpretations or errors in formal documentation — something we all want to avoid. Therefore, the importance of using correct name suffixes cannot be stressed enough, both from cultural and legal perspectives.

Related Posts

What is Genealogy Live Webinars and On-demand Recordings?

• July 15, 2024

What Information Does DNA Tests Give? – Can You Trust the Results?

• July 12, 2024

DNA Matches Aren’t Related? What Does That Mean?

Trending now.

Stack Exchange Network

Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.

Q&A for work

Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.

What's the proper order for multiple educational degrees/certificates?

Assuming someone has a PhD, MD, CISSP, CPA, CFA, MS, etc. etc. What's the proper way to order them after their name and is the comma needed after the last name? (i.e. Jane Smith, PhD, MD, etc. or John Smith MD, PhD, etc.)

• personal-name
• certification

• Why the down vote? –  Michael Commented Apr 27, 2017 at 20:38
• Comma following depends on what comes next. –  GEdgar Commented Apr 27, 2017 at 20:41
• 12 "John Smith" or maybe "John Smith, badass" –  JeffE Commented May 28, 2017 at 1:48
• What context are you writing out their name? –  Malady Commented Oct 26, 2018 at 2:10

4 Answers 4

Questions over titling are almost always a matter of local convention and personal preference. You can read more than you wanted to know over at Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-nominal_letters

A few rules of thumb:

If you're naming someone in a friendly context then your biggest concern is usually etiquette rather than technical correctness. If someone insists on being called "Jane Doe, PhD, MD" rather than "Jane Doe, MD, PhD" then it would be incredibly rude to object to them. Most people would not care, but if in doubt you should ask.

If you're establishing the credibility of someone, such as in a piece of journalism, then you list only relevant degrees starting with the highest degree. Even if multiple degrees are relevant it's likely that one degree will be most relevant.

If you follow the cite note for US degrees in the Wikipedia link above, you'll eventually get to this page , in which a protocol expert says that this is the appropriate order, with ties within each category being broken alphabetically:

Don't list degrees that have been superseded by another degree. That is, don't say "John Doe, PhD, MS, BS" because the MS and BS degrees have been eclipsed by the PhD.

• That all said, "MD, PhD" is the typical order; and not all master's or bachelor's degrees are superseded by the next degree. I know a physician who goes with "MD, MS" although I have no idea what the MS is in. –  Azor Ahai -him- Commented May 21, 2019 at 17:05

This suggestion by David may be a reasonable one in many contexts, particularly where you want to give a succinct summary of the expertise of the person. However, there are some contexts where it is appropriate to list all the tertiary qualifications of a person, even if some are undergraduate degrees that are eclipsed by higher degrees in the same field. For example, some staff pages for academics list all the degrees held by those academics, even though the undergraduate degrees are usually eclipsed by a PhD. This is often useful because it allows the reader to see the educational progression of that person, how they started their tertiary education, and where it led.

• 2 The question seems to be specifically about listing titles immediately after a name, not about listing degrees on a CV or a webpage. –  David Ketcheson Commented May 21, 2019 at 15:41

I don't think there's a clear consensus on this (the best guide I can find on the subject is the AMA Manual of Style , though they suggest personal choice determines the primary order) but it's usually something like

Firstname Lastname, MD, PhD, ABC, XYZ

where ABC and XYZ may be professional affiliations or specialized degrees like MPH.

See also the Chicago Manual of Style , though they don't really specify one consistent order.

My understanding is that two degrees may be listed if they are in different disciplines, even though in one discipline a degree may be lower in status. e.g. PhD, MPH where the PhD is in psychology and the MPH is in public health.

How else would one establish credentials in both fields.

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for browse other questions tagged education personal-name certification ..

• Featured on Meta
• Preventing unauthorized automated access to the network
• User activation: Learnings and opportunities
• Join Stack Overflow’s CEO and me for the first Stack IRL Community Event in...

Hot Network Questions

• Oxidation of methanoic acid (formic acid) to carbon dioxide and water
• If I'm turning humans into crude oil, would removing their skeletons accelerate this process?
• What is Poirot saying about the feather pen in "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd"?
• What are major reasons why Republicans support the death penalty?
• Is mathematical Platonism possible without mind-body dualism?
• Do all Lie groups possess finite dimensional representations?
• Seeking a Brisker-style shiurim book on Masechet Beitza (besides Birkat Avraham)
• Can I possibly win in this kind of situation?
• Increased thickness at the edges after "Bevel"
• In a shell script, how do I wait for a volume to be available?
• Will using ADSL filters with full-fibre broadband create any issues?
• Is it considered vulgar to use "massive" to describe female breast size?
• Would a stream cipher gain any benefit from a more complicated function than XOR?
• Why does not Earth radiate more energy into the space while it gets warmer?
• Why do communists claim that capitalism began at the Industrial Revolution?
• How do you measure exactly 31 minutes by burning the ropes?
• can 14ga wire be used off of a 20amp GFI
• Did Sauron refer to Morgoth as "Morgoth" (Sindarin for "Black Foe" or "Dark Tyrant")?
• Score the science points in 7 Wonders
• What is the name of a movie containing a futuristic plane using solid state fuel?
• How to write an Antagonist that is hot, manipulative, but has good reasoning for being the 'villain'?
• Can I redeem myself with a better research paper if my thesis sucks?
• Switch or switches in the context of trains in American English?
• Carpet pages from Leningrad Codex

When Can I Use The Title Doctor After PhD? When Can A PhD Be Called Doctor?

The PhD title is awarded to those who have completed a doctoral degree but, not many people know how to use it once they have it. You may wonder this – When can I use the title Doctor after PhD? When can a PhD be called Doctor?

You can use the title Doctor once you fulfilled graduation requirements. A PhD can be called Doctor when in less formal situations, such as when in speaking in classroom or when writing emails. 

This article will go through everything you need to know about using the PhD title and when you can start using it.

The “rules” are relatively simple and can be broken as they are not officially set in stone – other than when you can officially call yourself a doctor.

There is no one correct answer but it may be misleading if you use the PhD title incorrectly. Here are the recommendations for effective communication for a PhD graduate.

It very much depends on the setting. Here are some examples of how I would use both the titles awarded to me after my PhD degree.

How Do You Write PhD Correctly After A Name? Is It ph d, phd or ph.d? Abbreviation Explained

It can be confusing to know exactly how to write PhD after your name as a person with a doctoral degree. Which bits are capitalised for a person with a doctoral degree? Is there a ‘.’ In the middle?

When writing a name with a PhD after it, the correct way to do so is to use “PhD” or “Ph.D. or Ph D”

Depending on the preference of the individual, either form can be used.

However, if the individual has a business card that states their degree in full, then the more formal “Doctor of Philosophy” should be used.

It is important to note that using “PhD” without any periods is incorrect; this abbreviation should only be used in informal contexts such as emails or text messages. I tend to use PhD in my YouTube videos and some people have pointed out that this is incorrect…

Following the individual’s preferred format will ensure that their name and credentials are properly represented.

Should You Use Dr As Well As PhD?

Some people like to use Dr and PhD in their official titles. There are a couple of important points that you need to know about markers and academic titles.

This could mean that I have two PhD’s, it could mean that I have a PhD and is a medical doctor, or it could just be that I want to use both the doctor and the PhD tags for the one degree.

However, in my experience, I still like to use both the title of doctor at the front and the PhD tag at the end of my name for official purposes.

Academia members would rarely use the PhD suffix in everyday communication. They would much rather just use the doctor title.

What Is The Proper Title For A PhD With A Doctorate Degree?

The proper title for a PhD is Doctor of Philosophy. However, some teachers and professors like to be referred to without their official title.

If you are not sure about how your professor, lecturer, or friend with a PhD wishes to be officially addressed you can ask them.

Most of the time, I like to refer to my colleagues with their doctor title for official purposes, but I do not include the type of doctoral degree at the end of their name. That is much better suited to a business card.

Your lecture may wish to be referred to as:

• Dr [last name]
• Dr [first name]

Asking them in the early stages of your relationship is the best way to work out which one they prefer.

If in doubt, always go for the more formal name and nomenclature.

When Can You Start To Use Your PhD Title After Your Doctorate? As A PhD student? After Your PhD Thesis?

When you have earned your PhD, you, as a person with a doctoral degree, can start using your title immediately. Although, it can be a little bit confusing as to when you have actually passed your PhD.

Is it when you have submitted your dissertation for the advanced degree? Is it when you have received the comments back?

The University of Adelaide says that you can use it from your conferral date:

Students can be conferred on one of five dates during the year and for PhD students the conferral date will be the first available following the completion of all the academic requirements of your degree including final thesis lodgement and the disbursement of any outstanding financial obligations to the University.

I started using my PhD title as soon as my confirmation letter arrived at my house. It was the first letter from the University that referred to me as Dr Stapleton. I was incredibly excited.

Generally, it is acceptable to use the title “Dr.” both professionally and socially but socially, people very rarely use it – at least in Australia. But you should never use it if you are a PhD student, PhD candidate or enrolled in a PhD program without a previous PhD qualification. 

I do use it in professional settings but it always makes me feel a little bit awkward.

However, there may be some restrictions for certain settings . For example, if have a research degree resulting in a doctor title and you are working in a medical setting – some institutions do not like you to use Dr as it can confuse patients into thinking that you have a medical degree. 

Instead, they ask that you use the PhD tag at the end of your name rather than the doctoral title for official and professional communications.

What Is The Correct Way To Write PhD?

When writing about someone’s PhD, the correct way is to write the term in full and capitalize each letter.

This should be done for all academic degrees, not just PhDs.

For example, it would be “Doctor of Philosophy” or “PhD” instead of “Ph.D.”, “Dr.”, or “DPhil”.

Additionally, it is common to mention the field of study in which the degree was earned if known, such as “Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics”. It is also good practice to include the institution that granted the degree if it is a recognized one.

When writing about someone’s PhD, use proper capitalization and include relevant information like field of study and institution if known to ensure accuracy.

How Do You Put A PhD In A Title?

Putting a PhD in a title is not as complicated as it may sound.

Generally speaking, the proper way to list a PhD in an academic or professional setting is by writing “Dr.” before the name, followed by the person’s full name and the appropriate abbreviations for their degree.

For example, if John Smith has earned a doctorate in psychology, his credentials would be listed as “Dr. John Smith, Ph.D.”

In some cases, such as when addressing someone formally in speech or on a business card, it may also be acceptable to list their credentials as “John Smith, Ph.D.”

Depending on context and personal preference, some people may also choose to list their higher degrees after their names by writing out the entire degree instead of just its abbreviation.

For example, John Smith could choose to write his full title as “John Smith, Doctor of Psychology”

However, I have not seen this in real academic life.

Should The Font Size Of Ph.D. Be The Same As Someone’s Name?

The question of whether the font size of a Ph.D. should be the same as someone’s name is an interesting one.

On one hand, it could be argued that the Ph.D. deserves to be highlighted and therefore should be given a larger font size than someone’s name to denote its importance.

On the other, it could be argued that this would not be necessary or appropriate, and that treating everyone equally regardless of their title or degree is more important.

It depends on context and usage – if both names appear in the same document then they should likely have the same font size.

However, if one appears in a formal setting such as a diploma or certificate, then it may make sense to give it a larger font size than someone’s name to emphasize its importance and significance.

Ph.Ds (or PhDs) are an important academic achievement and should be respected accordingly but without going overboard by giving them overly large fonts sizes which can take away from rather than add to their importance.

Wrapping up – Doctoral Title Rules

This article has been over everything you need to know that using the PhD title properly and effectively, since the person has worked hard to earn a degree very few people have.

The doctor title can be used in place of the PhD and for incredibly formal communications, such as a business email or card, you can use both.

However, sometimes using both can cause confusion as to whether or not there is a reason first using both the doctor and PhD tags. Nonetheless, many people still use both.

When Can I Use The Title Doctor After PhD – Frequently Asked Questions

1. what does phd stand for.

A PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy , which is a doctoral degree that represents the highest level of academic achievement in a specific field of study.

2. Is Ph.d the same as PhD?

Yes, Ph.d is the abbreviation for Doctor of Philosophy , and both terms are used interchangeably to refer to the same academic degree .

3. Can I use the title ‘Doctor’ with a PhD?

Individuals who hold a PhD have the right to use the title “Doctor” in front of their name as they are a person with a doctoral degree .

4. What is the correct way to write PhD?

The correct way to write PhD is with no spaces and with both letters capitalized, following the standard abbreviation for Doctor of Philosophy .

5. How do I abbreviate Doctor of Philosophy?

You can abbreviate Doctor of Philosophy as PhD , which is the most commonly used abbreviation for this type of doctoral degree .

6. Can I use both the title ‘Dr.’ and ‘PhD’ together?

Yes, you can use both the title ‘Dr.’ and ‘PhD’ together to denote your academic achievement as a holder of a doctorate degree .

7. What is a dissertation in relation to a PhD?

A dissertation is a scholarly document that Ph.D candidates are required to submit as part of their research degree in a specific field.

8. Who is considered a PhD candidate?

A PhD candidate is a student enrolled in a PhD program working towards the completion of their doctoral studies.

9. Is a PhD also referred to as a Doctorate?

Yes, a PhD is also commonly referred to as a Doctorate , signifying the attainment of the highest

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

Thank you for visiting Academia Insider.

We are here to help you navigate Academia as painlessly as possible. We are supported by our readers and by visiting you are helping us earn a small amount through ads and affiliate revenue - Thank you!

2024 © Academia Insider

Name suffix

	A name suffix , in the Western naming tradition, follows a person’s full name and provides additional information about the person. There are academic, honorary, professional and social name suffixes. These include whole words and phrases, (“baronet”, “senior”) and post-nominal letters (“M.D.”, “MBA”). 3 Professional 4.1 Namesakes in the same family 4.2 Other social suffixes Academic suffixes indicate the diploma or degree earned at an educational institution, especially a college or university. These include the bachelor’s degree (A.B, B.A. or B.S. etc.) the master’s degree (M.A., MBA...) and the doctorate (Ph.D., J.D., M.D....) Such titles may be given by A monarch (an example would be ‘KBE’ which indicates a knighthood given to a recipient who is not a citizen of a Commonwealth Realm) A university (as in a PhD (doctor of philosophy) awarded in recognition of a person’s life achievements rather than their academic standing). Professional This includes such titles as ‘Esq.’ for an attorney in the United States who has passed a state bar examination, and ‘CSA’ (casting) and ‘ASCAP’ which indicate membership in professional societies. Social name suffixes are almost exclusively applied to men. Namesakes in the same family The most common name suffixes are ‘senior’ and ‘junior’, which may be written with a capital first letter (‘Sr.’) or in lower case (‘jr.’) after a comma following the person’s name. The term ‘junior’ is only correctly used if a son is given the exact same name as his father. When spelled out in full, these suffixes are always written with the first letter in lower case. In Western languages other than English, the designations are père and fils, from the French for ‘father’ and ‘son’. The foreign styling is usually retained, so, Alexandre Duman, fils, when writing about Dumas in English. Sons with a different middle name or initial are not called ‘junior’. An example is Ronald P. Reagan, the son of the late U.S. president, who is not titled ‘junior’ because his middle name, Prescott, differs from his late father’s middle name, which was Wilson. This notwithstanding, a son may sometimes be called ‘junior’ even if he is not titled as such, because ‘Junior’ is a popular familial nickname in the United States. One instance of this is George W. Bush, who is nicknamed ‘Junior’ by his family. Interestingly, the son of actor Lon Chaney, was billed by Hollywood as Lon Chaney, Jr. to capitalize on his father’s success, even though he had an entirely different birth name. Although there are instances in print of daughters who are named after their mothers also being titled ‘jr.’, this is usually for effect; it is not common practice. However, the title 'Jr.' is sometimes used in legal documents, particularly those pertaining to wills and estates, to distinguish among female family members of the same name. Boys who should be styled ‘junior’ are sometimes incorrectly called II, particularly if there is a third or fourth with the same name. Even if a legal title, this is socially incorrect; strictly speaking, ‘II’, pronounced ‘the second’, refers to a boy who is named after his grandfather, uncle or cousin. It is not proper to name a boy after his own living brother. The suffixes II, III, etc. are also correctly written 2nd, 3rd, etc. A wife traditionally uses the same suffix as her husband in formal society, speech and writing, or if it is her preference. Wives are also correctly addressed in less formal situations using their own first names; such references would not take any suffix. Hence: Mrs. Lon Chaney Jr. formally but Mrs. Shannon Chaney informally, particularly in conversation. Widows are entitled to retain their late husband's full names and suffixes but divorcees may not continue to style themselves with a former husband's full name and suffix, even if they retain the surname. There is no hard-and-fast rule over what happens to suffixes when the most senior of the name dies. Do the men retain their titles, or do they all ‘move up’ one? According to the late etiquette maven Emily Post , neither tradition nor etiquette provides a definitive answer. Not all specialists concur, columnist Judith Martin, for example, believes they should all 'move up', but most agree that this is left up to the individual families. Upon the death of John Smith, Sr., his son, John Smith, Jr. may decide to style himself John Smith, Sr., (causing confusion if his widowed mother and his wife both use the formal style ‘Mrs. John Smith, Sr.’, and necessitating that his son and grandson change their titles as well) or he may remain John Smith, Jr. for the rest of his lifetime. ‘Moving up one’ eliminates the extension of Roman numerals over the generations, i.e. a John Smith III, IV and V. A disadvantage is that it may cause confusion with respect to birth certificates, credit cards and the like. Other social suffixes The style ‘Esq.’ or ‘Esquire’ was once used to distinguish a gentleman from the rank and file. It is still used as a courtesy title in formal correspondence. Although still common in the United Kingdom it is used less frequently in a social sense in the United States, where ‘Esq.’ or ‘esq.’ is the professional styling for an attorney and its social use is becoming less and less common. ‘Esq.’ in its social sense is never used for a woman. Literature Workgroup History Workgroup Anthropology Workgroup Articles written in British English All Content Literature Content History Content Anthropology Content History tag Literature tag Anthropology tag Suggestion Bot Tag Navigation menu 468 IMAGES Is Phd A Suffix 45 Common Suffixes with Suffix Definition and Examples 100+ Suffixes with Meaning and Examples SUFFIX: 30+ Common Suffixes (with Meaning & Great Examples) • 7ESL how to write phd degree with name 100+ Suffixes with Meaning and Examples VIDEO "name every suffix in miner's haven" Chemistry Group and Their Suffix Name रसायन विज्ञान कक्षा -10 IUPAC Naming Qlikview Nomenclature Having a Name with a Suffix Bigeastation 97- Intro... Jun-chan! Jun-chan! Suffix. Suffixes. Ness Suffix Words. Suffix Ness. Root Words. English Grammar Suffix Prefix. #suffix COMMENTS How to Correctly Use the Titles Dr. & PhD With a Name Put a comma followed by the title "Ph.D." after the name of a person who has earned a Doctor of Philosophy doctoral degree. For example Stacey Childs, Ph.D. Do not combine the title of "Ph.D." with any other title even if the person could appropriately be addressed by a different title. For instance, even if the person being addressed ... Suffix (name) A name suffix in the Western English-language naming tradition, follows a person's surname (last name) ... (PhD, EdD, DPhil, DBA, LLD, EngD, etc.) In the case of doctorates, normally either the prefix (e.g. "Dr" or "Atty") or the suffix (see examples above) is used, but not both. In the United States, the suffix is the preferred format (thus ... How to use the PhD title and all the little doctorate "rules"... use ph When writing a name with a PhD after it, the correct way to do so is to use "PhD" or "Ph.D. or Ph D" Depending on the preference of the individual, either form can be used. However, if the individual has a business card that states their degree in full, then the more formal "Doctor of Philosophy" should be used. Is it correct for a PhD holder to sign as "Dr. J. Doe, PhD"? Academics rarely use the degree suffix: Because the PhD is so common among academics, we would rarely use this suffix outside of a CV. It is common for academics to use titles (e.g., Dr, Assoc Prof, Prof, etc.) in descriptions such as a signature block, staff page, etc. It is uncommon (but not incorrect) to additionally add the suffix "PhD". A Comprehensive List of Name Suffixes and Their Meanings Professional and Academic Suffixes. Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy): This suffix is used by individuals who have achieved a doctoral level of academic work. For example, Jill Biden, Ed.D., uses her academic suffix to highlight her doctorate in education. M.D. (Doctor of Medicine): This indicates a medical doctor. How to express an ongoing PhD degree in suffix 1. In Brazil, it is common to see people writing "doutorando" (for PhD) and "mestrando" (for Masters) to indicate that they are in the middle of the course of their degrees. The translation for these terms would be something almost like "PhDeing" and "Meing" (none of those sound well). What suffix should you use when you are a PhD Scholar filling out Names are complicated, and some people are very touchy about getting theirs exactly as they want it. In English-based naming, this can often include prefixes (e.g., "Sir" in "Sir Walter Scott") and suffixes (e.g., "Jr." as in "Martin Luther King, Jr.").. This form is making things more complicated and confusing by combining two orthogonal categories of suffix: Should I Write Ph.D. or PhD? (Complete Guide) A PhD is something you have. You work towards it, and once you've handed in all of your papers, you get a PhD. A PhD is also something you are. If you have a PhD, you might say "I'm a PhD." It can also be a title, similar to "Sir" or "OBE". If your name is James Smith, and you are PhD, your name and title could be, Mr James ... How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name: 1-2-3-4-5 —-#1) Holders of doctorates who work in academia or research institutions are addressed as 'Dr. (Name)' professionally and socially in a salutation or conversation.Thus, a Ph.D. professor at a college, a Ph.D. in biology doing scientific research, and a Ph.D. principal at an elementary school all use Dr. (Name) and everybody thinks it is ... What's in a Name? Names With Titles in Them Here are some common examples of academic credentials and professional titles to omit from references and citations (note this is not an exhaustive list—anything in a similar vein will count): Academic degrees or. licenses to omit. Professional titles to omit. PhD, PsyD, EdD (any doctorate degree) Reverend (Rev.) Need to Know What a Suffix in a Name Means? Here's the Key In general terms, a suffix is one kind of affix (something that is added to the end of a word). This e ncompasses endings of verbs like -ing or -ed, which change the tense, and endings like -ism and -ship, which change a noun's meaning. Genealogists may also be familiar with a name suffix like -son which in ancient days was added to a father ... How to Use Dr and PhD with a Name Therefore, you say or write their name and follow it with PhD. to indicate Doctor of Philosophy. But, you can also use it to be superbly formal with a medical or scientific doctor. This means you can use both Dr and PhD in the same line. But, here, you will add a comma (,) after the last name. Sarah Kimmons PhD. How to Reference a Person With a PhD Omit the suffix "Ph.D." from the author's name when citing sources in your reference list. For example, a book authored by Jordan Jones, Ph.D. would be listed as being authored by Jordan Jones. In MLA style this would appear as: Jones, Jordan. In APA style, this would appear as: Jones, J. How can one differentiate between Dr. (PhD) and Dr. (MD or DO)? 3. While both have the title of "doctor," that is identifying the fact that they both have the same education level, a doctorate. The meaningful difference here is occupation: one might be a professor, the other a physician. To differentiate between the two you can use the actual doctorate type or the job title: abbreviations PhD and Ph.D. are both correct. Canadians tend to omit the periods and those from the U.S. tend to keep them. A reference grammar explains it like this: 2 abbreviations and acronyms. 1 punctuation. We usually write abbreviations without full stops in modern British English. Name Suffix Origins: Tracing Historical Roots A suffix in a name is an additional element, mostly additional letters, that tells more about a person. Having the same name, a suffix can show if someone is the father (Sr.) or the son (Jr.). The suffix can highlight academic achievements like Ph.D. or MBA, indicate professional roles like Esq., or reveal religious or military affiliations. Putting the prefix "Dr." or suffix "PhD" when filling out any ... I rarely use either outside of professional/academic settings. However, the prefix Dr. should be used anytime Mr./Mrs./Rev./Capt. etc. would be used. I would never sign myself as Dr. Somebody. Signatures should be Somebody, Ph.D. I only use PhD as a suffix. Unraveling the Mystery: What is a Suffix in a Name? "PhD." is an academic credential as an additional suffix attached to his base already possessing a generational suffix, which acts as a qualifier of sorts, providing information about him beyond merely distinguishing him from others bearing similar base names. Doctor of Philosophy A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD or DPhil; Latin: philosophiae doctor or doctor in philosophia) [1] is a terminal degree, that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of graduate study and original research.The name of the degree is most often abbreviated PhD (or, at times, as Ph.D. in North America), pronounced as three ... education That is, don't say "John Doe, PhD, MS, BS" because the MS and BS degrees have been eclipsed by the PhD. This suggestion by David may be a reasonable one in many contexts, particularly where you want to give a succinct summary of the expertise of the person. When Can I Use The Title Doctor After PhD? When Can A PhD Be Called When writing a name with a PhD after it, the correct way to do so is to use "PhD" or "Ph.D. or Ph D" ... Academia members would rarely use the PhD suffix in everyday communication. They would much rather just use the doctor title. What Is The Proper Title For A PhD With A Doctorate Degree? The proper title for a PhD is Doctor of ... Name suffix A name suffix, in the Western naming tradition, follows a person's full name and provides additional information about the person. There are academic, honorary, professional and social name suffixes. These include whole words and phrases, ... A university (as in a PhD (doctor of philosophy) awarded in recognition of a person's life ... I recently graduated. Should I add 'PhD' as a suffix to my name on Definitely add it. I went back and forth on this too but LinkedIn is a professional site and having that PhD on your name will help others know your qualifications right off the bat. In my first job (consulting), my bosses both had PhDs and left it off their LinkedIn, business cards, e-mail signatures, what have you. assignment business plan case study course work essay report research paper speech term paper thesis