Forms of address in the United Kingdom

Last updated: 2025-07-22 13:09:02

Forms of address used in the United Kingdom evolve in custom with societal change. Correct forms of address in current usage are detailed below.

Terminology

Abbreviations

Several terms have been abbreviated in the tables below. The forms of address used in the table are given first, followed by alternative acceptable abbreviations in parentheses. The punctuation of each abbreviation can vary such as, for example, "The Right Honourable": The Gazette favours "The Rt. Hon.", with some HMG circulars now preferring "The Rt Hon." or "The Rt Hon".

His/Her Majesty: HM (pl. TM)
His/Her Royal Highness: HRH (pl. TRH)
His/Her Grace: HG (pl. TG)
The Most Honourable: The Most Hon. (The Most Honble)
The Right Honourable: The Rt Hon. (The Rt Honble)
The Honourable: The Hon. (The Honble)
The Much Honoured: The Much Hon. (The Much Hon'd)
The Most Reverend: The Most Rev. (The Most Revd or Most Rev'd)
The Right Reverend: The Rt Rev. (The Rt Revd or Rt Rev'd)
The Very Reverend: The Very Rev. (The Very Revd or Very Rev'd)
The Venerable: The Ven. (The Venble)
The Reverend: The Rev. (The Revd or Rev'd)

"The Most Noble", which is shortened from "The Most High, Potent, and Noble",^[1] is rarely used nowadays for Dukes and Duchesses; when used, the forenames of the such noblemen can be used after "His Grace" but before "The Duke of [...]".^[2] This style can sometimes be used without "His Grace".^[3]

The prefix of "Right Honourable" has been discontinued by the House of Lords for those not sworn of the Privy Council, being replaced by HMG with the suffix "PC" (to denote Privy Counsellor).^[4]

Names and territorial designations

In the tables below, "Mary Brown" nominally represents a woman who married "John Brown", while "Jane Smith" represents an unmarried woman.

"London" nominally represents the territorial designation of any peerage
- "Edinburgh" represents any territorial designation in Scotland
- "Birmingham" represents any manor in England or Wales
"John" and "William" represent any male name
"Jane" and "Mary" represent any female name
"Smith" and "Brown" represent any surname, regardless of gender.

Royalty

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address
King	HM The King	Your Majesty	Your Majesty, and thereafter as "Sir" (or the archaic "Sire")
Queen	HM The Queen	Your Majesty	Your Majesty, and thereafter as "Ma'am" (to rhyme with "jam")^[5]^[6]
Prince of Wales	HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of Rothesay (in Scotland)	Your Royal Highness	Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as "Sir" (for males) or "Ma'am" (for females)
Princess of Wales	HRH The Princess of Wales HRH The Duchess of Rothesay (in Scotland)
Princess Royal	HRH The Princess Royal
Royal Peer	HRH The Duke/etc. of London, e.g. HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
Royal Peeress	HRH The Duchess/etc. of London, e.g. HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh
Sovereign's son (unless a Peer) Spouse of the Sovereign suo jure (in the case of Prince Philip)	HRH The Prince John
Sovereign's son's wife	HRH The Princess John
Sovereign's daughter (unless a Peeress)	HRH The Princess Mary
Sons of the Prince of Wales (unless a Peer)	HRH Prince John of Wales, e.g. HRH Prince George of Wales
Daughters of the Prince of Wales (unless a Peeress)	HRH Princess Mary of Wales, e.g. HRH Princess Charlotte of Wales
Sovereign's son's son Prince of Wales's eldest son's sons (unless a Peer)	HRH Prince John of London, e.g. HRH Prince Michael of Kent
Sovereign's son's son's wife	HRH Princess John of London, e.g. HRH Princess Michael of Kent
Sovereign's son's daughter Prince of Wales's eldest son's daughters if unmarried (unless a Peeress)	HRH Princess Mary of London, e.g. HRH Princess Lilibet of Sussex
Sovereign's son's daughter Prince of Wales's eldest son's daughters if married (unless a Peeress)	HRH Princess Mary, Mrs John Brown, e.g. HRH Princess Beatrice, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
Sovereign's son's son's son (unless a Peer) (except sons of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales)	The Lord John Windsor, e.g. The Lord Nicholas Windsor	Dear Lord John	Lord John
Sovereign's son's son's son's wife	The Lady John Windsor, e.g. The Lady Nicholas Windsor	Dear Lady John	Lady John
Sovereign's son's son's daughter (unless a Peeress) (except daughters of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales)	The Lady Mary Windsor, e.g. The Lady Helen Taylor	Dear Lady Mary	Lady Mary

Nobility

The particle of has been omitted in the title creation of some marquessates and earldoms and included in the form of various Scottish viscountcies; it rarely forms part of baronage titles or those of Lord of Parliament, though is always present in dukedoms and Scottish feudal baronies.

The as a definite article in between two or more titles is sometimes capitalized, as in these tables. However this is controversial: traditional British etiquette guides use the lower-case the. By way of example, Debrett's Correct Form gives "Major-General the Lord ...",^[7] and Pears' Cyclopaedia's section on Modes of Address also cites several examples where the definite article anterior to a list of honours is lower-case.^[8]

Peers and peeresses

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter^[a]	Oral address
Duke	(The Most Noble) (His Grace) The Duke of London	My Lord Duke or Dear Duke (of London)	Your Grace or Duke^[9]
Duchess	(The Most Noble) (Her Grace) The Duchess of London	Madam or Dear Duchess (of London)	Your Grace or Duchess^[10]
Marquess	(The Most Hon.) The Marquess (of) London	My Lord Marquess or Dear Lord London	My Lord or Your Lordship or Lord London
Marchioness	(The Most Hon.) The Marchioness (of) London	Madam or Dear Lady London	My Lady^[11] or Your Ladyship or Lady London
Earl	The Earl (of) London	My Lord or Dear Lord London	My Lord or Your Lordship or Lord London
Countess	The Countess (of) London	Madam or Dear Lady London	My Lady^[11] or Your Ladyship or Lady London
Viscount	The Viscount (of) London	My Lord or Dear Lord London	My Lord or Your Lordship or Lord London
Viscountess	The Viscountess (of) London	Madam or Dear Lady London	My Lady^[11] or Your Ladyship or Lady London
Baron Lord of Parliament	The Lord London	My Lord or Dear Lord London	My Lord or Your Lordship or Lord London
Baroness (in her own right)	The Baroness London or The Lady London^[b]	Madam or Dear Lady London	My Lady^[11] or Your Ladyship or Lady London
Baroness (in her husband's right) Lady of Parliament (in her own or husband's right)	The Lady London	Madam or Dear Lady London	My Lady^[11] or Your Ladyship or Lady London

Eldest sons of dukes, marquesses and earls

Eldest sons of Dukes, Marquesses and Earls can use their father's most senior subsidiary title by courtesy, without "The" before the title.^[c] Where applicable, eldest sons of courtesy marquesses or courtesy earls also use a lower-ranking subsidiary title from their (great) grandfather. Eldest daughters not in remainder to a peerage do not use courtesy subsidiary titles; courtesy subsidiary titles borne by women are wives of peerage title heirs.^[d]

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address
Courtesy marquess	Marquess (of) London	My Lord or Dear Lord London	My Lord or Lord London
Courtesy marquess's wife	Marchioness (of) London	Madam or Dear Lady London	My Lady or Lady London
Courtesy earl	Earl (of) London	My Lord or Dear Lord London	My Lord or Lord London
Courtesy earl's wife	Countess (of) London	Madam or Dear Lady London	My Lady or Lady London
Courtesy viscount	Viscount (of) London	My Lord or Dear Lord London	My Lord or Lord London
Courtesy viscount's wife	Viscountess (of) London	Madam or Dear Lady London	My Lady or Lady London
Courtesy baron Courtesy Lord of Parliament	Lord London	My Lord or Dear Lord London	My Lord or Lord London
Courtesy baron's wife Courtesy Lord of Parliament's wife	Lady London	Madam or Dear Lady London	My Lady or Lady London

Heirs to Scottish peerages

The heir apparent or presumptive of Scottish peers use the titles "Master" and "Mistress"; these are substantive, not courtesy titles. If, however, the individual is the eldest son of a Duke, Marquess or Earl, then he uses the appropriate courtesy title, as noted above.

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address
Scottish peerage heir apparent or heir presumptive	The Master of Edinburgh	Sir or Dear Master of Edinburgh	Sir or Master
Scottish peerage heiress apparent or heiress presumptive	The Mistress of Edinburgh	Madam or Dear Mistress of Edinburgh	Madam or Mistress

Male offspring of peers

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address
Duke's younger son (Courtesy) Marquess's younger son	The Lord John Smith	My Lord or Dear Lord John (Smith)	My Lord or Lord John
Duke's younger son's wife (Courtesy) Marquess's younger son's wife	The Lady John Smith	Madam or Dear Lady John	My Lady or Lady John
(Courtesy) Earl's younger son (Courtesy) Viscount's son (Courtesy) Baron's son (Courtesy) Lord of Parliament's son	The Hon. John Smith	Sir or Dear Mr Smith	Sir or Mr Smith
(Courtesy) Earl's younger son's wife (Courtesy) Viscount's son's wife (Courtesy) Baron's son's wife (Courtesy) Lord of Parliament's son's wife	The Hon. Mrs John Smith	Madam or Dear Mrs Smith	Madam or Mrs Smith

Female offspring of peers

If a daughter of a peer or courtesy peer marries another peer or courtesy peer, she takes her husband's rank. If she marries anyone else, she keeps her rank and title, using her husband's surname instead of her maiden name.

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address
Duke's daughter (Courtesy) Marquess's daughter (Courtesy) Earl's daughter (unmarried or married to a commoner)	The Lady Mary Smith (if unmarried), The Lady Mary Brown (husband's surname, if married)	Madam or Dear Lady Mary	My Lady or Lady Mary
(Courtesy) Viscount's daughter (Courtesy) Baron's daughter (Courtesy) Lord of parliament's daughter (unmarried)	The Hon. Mary Smith	Madam or Dear Miss Smith	Madam or Miss Smith
(Courtesy) Viscount's daughter (Courtesy) Baron's daughter (Courtesy) Lord of Parliament's daughter (married to a commoner)	The Hon. Mrs Brown (husband's surname)	Madam or Dear Mrs Brown	Madam or Mrs Brown

Minor nobility and gentry

The honorary prefix of "Sir" is accorded to knights and baronets, the latter being hereditary and distinguished by the use of "Bt" (or, archaically, "Bart") after their surname (and by any post-nominal letters for additional honours). Esquires are distinguished by the use of "Esq" except in the case of a Scottish laird, whose territorial designation indicates equivalence in rank.^[14]

Baronets

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address
Baronet	Sir John Smith, Bt (or Bart)	Sir or Dear Sir John (Smith)	Sir or Sir John
Baronetess in her own right	Dame Mary Smith, Btss	Madam or Dear Dame Mary (Smith)	Madam or Dame Mary
Baronet's wife	Lady Brown	Madam or Dear Lady Brown	My Lady or Lady Brown
Baronet's divorced wife	Mary, Lady Brown
Baronet's widow	Mary, Lady Brown Dowager Lady Brown, or Lady Brown (if the heir incumbent is unmarried)

Scottish barons

Barons in Scotland are non-peerage noble titles in the baronage of Scotland. The Scottish equivalent to peerage barons is Lord of Parliament.

^[15]^[16]^[17]	Baron	Baroness or Baron's wife
Envelope	(The Much Hon.) John Smith [of Edinburgh], Baron of Edinburgh or (The Much Hon.) (The) Baron of Edinburgh (Incorrect: Baron Edinburgh) [of Edinburgh] if baron's territorial designation is recognised	(The Much Hon.) Jane Smith, Baroness of Edinburgh or (The Much Hon.) (The) Baroness of Edinburgh or (The) Lady Edinburgh
Salutation in a letter	Dear Baron (of Edinburgh) or Dear Edinburgh	Dear Baroness (of Edinburgh) or Dear Lady Edinburgh ("Dear Baroness Edinburgh" is incorrect)
Invitation / Place Card / Introduction	The Baron of Edinburgh Together: The Baron of Edinburgh and Lady Edinburgh	The Baroness of Edinburgh or Lady Edinburgh
Oral address	Baron or Edinburgh	Baroness or Lady Edinburgh^[16]

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address
Scottish baron's heir	The Younger of Edinburgh	Sir or Dear Younger of Edinburgh	Sir or Master
Scottish baron's heiress	The Maid of Edinburgh	Madam or Dear Maid of Edinburgh	Madam or Mistress
Scottish baron's heir's wife	Mrs Smith, yr of Edinburgh	Madam or Dear Mrs Smith, Younger of Edinburgh	Madam or Mrs Smith
Scottish baron's heir's wife (with recognised territorial designation)	Mrs Smith of Edinburgh, yr	Madam or Dear Mrs Smith of Edinburgh the Younger	Madam or Mrs Smith of Edinburgh
Scottish baron's younger daughters (with recognised territorial designation)	Miss Mary Smith of Edinburgh	Madam or Dear Miss Smith of Edinburgh	Madam or Miss Smith of Edinburgh

Knights and dames

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address
Knight (Bachelor or Order)	Sir John Smith	Sir or Dear Sir John (Smith)	Sir or Sir John
Lady (of the Garter or the Thistle)	Lady Mary Brown	Madam or Dear Lady Mary (Smith)	My Lady or Lady Mary
Dame (of other Orders)	Dame Mary Brown	Madam or Dear Dame Mary (Smith)	Madam or Dame Mary
Knight's wife	Lady Smith	Madam or Dear Lady Smith	My Lady or Lady Smith

Seigneurs of fiefs (Channel Islands)

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address
Feudal Seigneur	The Much Hon. John Smith of the fief de Sausmarez or The Much Hon. John Smith, Seigneur of the fief de Sausmarez or The Much Hon. Seigneur of the fief de Sausmarez ^[15]	Sir or Dear Sausmarez or Dear Sieur	Sausmarez or Seigneur or abbreviated Sieur (Sgr.)
Female Feudal Dame of a fief or Feudal Seigneur's wife	As feudal Seigneur, substituting "Madam" for first name and substituting "Dame" for "Seigneur", or Dame Sausmarez	Madam or Dear Dame or Dear Dame of Sausmarez	Madam or Sausmarez or Dame Sausmarez

Chiefs, chieftains and lairds

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address
Chief, chieftain or laird (Only lairds recognised in a territorial designation by the Lord Lyon)	John Smith of Smith or John Smith of Edinburgh or John Smith of That Ilk or The Smith of Smith or The Smith of Edinburgh or The Smith^[e] (only the 2nd form of address above applies to lairds)	Sir or Dear Edinburgh (if placename in title) or Dear Smith (otherwise)	Edinburgh (if placename in title) or Smith (otherwise)
Female Chief, chieftain or laird or Chief, chieftain or laird's wife	Chief, chieftain or laird's wife, substituting "Madam" or "Mrs" for first name or "The" or Lady Edinburgh^[18]^[19]^[20]	Madam or as on envelope	Madam or as on envelope
Chief (etc.)'s heir-apparent	John Smith of Edinburgh, yr or John Smith, yr of Edinburgh or John Smith of Edinburgh (last only if different first name to father)	Sir or Dear Younger of Edinburgh or Dear Mr Smith of Edinburgh	Sir or Young Edinburgh or The Younger of Edinburgh
Chief (etc.)'s heir-apparent's wife	Mrs Smith of Edinburgh, yr or Mrs Smith, yr of Edinburgh	Madam or Dear Mrs Smith of Edinburgh the Younger	Madam or Mrs Smith of Edinburgh
Chief (etc.)'s eldest daughter (if none senior)	Miss Smith of Edinburgh or Jane Smith, Maid of Edinburgh	Madam or Dear Miss Smith of Edinburgh or Dear Maid of Edinburgh	Madam or Miss Smith of Edinburgh or Maid of Edinburgh
Chief (etc.)'s younger daughter	Miss Mary Smith of Edinburgh	Madam or Dear Miss Smith of Edinburgh	Madam or Miss Smith of Edinburgh

Lords of the manor (England and Wales)

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address
Lord of the Manor	John Brown, lord of the manor of Birmingham^[21] or Lord of the manor of Birmingham or John Brown, Esq	Sir or Dear Lord of the manor of Birmingham	Sir or Lord of the manor
Lady of the Manor	Jane Brown, lady of the manor of Birmingham^[21] or Lady of the manor of Birmingham	Madam or Dear Lady of the manor of Birmingham	Madam or Lady of the manor

Clergy

Church of England

Similar styles are also applied to clergy of equivalent status in other religious denominations. The words clergy and cleric/clerk are derived from the proper term for bishops, priests and deacons still used in legal documents: Clerk in Holy Orders (e.g. "Vivienne Frances Faull, Clerk in Holy Orders"). Clergy in the Church of England are not nowadays addressed as "Revd (Surname)".^[22]

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address
Archbishop	The Most Revd and Rt Hon. the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury/York	Dear Archbishop	Your Grace or Archbishop
Diocesan bishop in Privy Council	The Rt Revd and Rt Hon. the Lord Bishop of London	Dear Bishop	My Lord/Lady Bishop or Bishop
Bishop, diocesan or suffragan	The Rt Revd the Bishop of Dover	Dear Bishop	My Lord/Lady or Bishop
Dean	The Very Revd the Dean of York	Dear Mr/Madam Dean	Dean or Mr/Madam Dean
Archdeacon	The Ven. the Archdeacon of London	Dear Archdeacon	Archdeacon
Prebendary	The Revd Preb. John Smith	Dear Prebendary Smith	Prebendary or Prebend
Canon	The Revd Canon John Smith	Dear Canon	Canon
Priest	The Revd John Smith or The Revd Mr John Smith or The Revd Dr John Smith (if applicable)	Dear Dr/Mr/Ms Smith	Dr/Mr/Ms Smith or Rector/Vicar/Prebendary/Curate/Chaplain as applicable
Deacon	The Revd Deacon John Smith or The Revd John Smith	Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Smith or Dear Deacon Smith	Deacon Smith or Mr/Mrs/Ms Smith

Church of Scotland

The Church of Scotland, as a Presbyterian denomination, recognizes state-awarded titles only by courtesy. In court (assembly, presbytery and session) a person may only be addressed as Mr, Mrs, Miss, Dr, Prof. etc depending on academic achievement. Thus ministers are correctly addressed as, for example, Mr Smith or Mrs Smith unless they have a higher degree or academic appointment e.g. Dr Smith or Prof. Smith. It is 'infra dig' to use the style Rev and even the use of the Rev Mr requires sensitivity to official style.

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address
Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly	His Grace the Lord High Commissioner	Your Grace	Your Grace or Sir/Ma'am
Clergy	The Rev. John Smith	Dear Mr Smith	Mr Smith/Dr Smith etc.
Current Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland	The Right Rev. John Smith	Dear Mr Smith	Mr Smith/Dr Smith etc.
Former Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland	The Very Rev. John Smith	Dear Mr Smith	Mr Smith/Dr Smith etc.

Judiciary

United Kingdom

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address	In court
Male Justice of the Supreme Court holding a peerage	The Right Honourable the Lord Smith	The Lord Smith	Lord Smith	My Lord^[23]
Male Justice of the Supreme Court	The Right Honourable Lord Smith	Lord Smith	Lord Smith	My Lord^[23]
Female Justice of the Supreme Court holding a peerage	The Right Honourable the Lady Smith	The Lady Smith	Lady Smith	My Lady^[23]
Female Justice of the Supreme Court	The Right Honourable Lady Smith	Lady Smith	Lady Smith	My Lady^[23]

England and Wales

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address	In court
Lord Chief Justice	The Rt Hon. the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales	Lord Chief Justice	Lord Chief Justice	My Lord^[24]
Male Lord Justice of Appeal	The Rt Hon. Lord Justice (John) Smith	Lord Justice	Lord Justice	My Lord
Retired male Lord Justice of Appeal	The Rt Hon. Sir John Smith	Judge or Sir John	Sir John	My Lord
Female Lord Justice of Appeal	The Rt Hon. Lady Justice (Mary) Smith	Lady Justice	Lady Justice	My Lady
Retired female Lord Justice of Appeal	The Rt Hon. Dame Mary Smith	Judge or Dame Mary	Dame Mary	My Lady
Male High Court Judge	The Hon. Mr Justice (John) Smith	Judge	Judge	My Lord
Retired male High Court Judge	Sir John Smith	Judge or Sir John	Sir John	My Lord
Female High Court Judge	The Hon. Mrs Justice (Mary) Smith	Judge	Judge	My Lady
Retired female High Court Judge	Dame Mary Smith	Judge or Dame Mary	Dame Mary	My Lady
High Court Master	Master (John) Smith (KC, if applicable)	Master	Master^[f]	Master^[f]
Insolvency & Companies Court Judge	Insolvency & Companies Court Judge (John) Smith (KC, if applicable)	Judge	Judge	Judge
Circuit Judge^[g]	His Honour Judge (John) Smith (KC, if applicable)	Judge	Judge	Your Honour
Retired Circuit Judge	His/Her Honour Mr (or Mrs) Smith	HH John/Jane Smith	Judge	Your Honour
Recorder	Mr (or Mrs) Recorder Smith (KC, if applicable)	Judge	Judge	Your Honour
District Judge	District Judge (John) Smith (KC, if applicable)	Judge	Sir or Madam	Sir or Madam
Justice of the Peace/Magistrate	Mr John Smith, JP	Mr Smith	Mr Smith, Sir or Madam^[25]^[26]	Your Worship, Sir or Madam (if Chair of the Bench)^[25]^[27]^[26]
Chancellor of a diocese (ecclesiastical)	The Worshipful Mr (or Mrs) Smith (KC, if applicable)	Chancellor	Chancellor	Your Worship

A judge's first name only forms part of their judicial style if, at the time of their appointment, there is a senior judge with the same or a similar surname. Thus, if there is a "Mr Justice Smith", subsequent judges will be "Mr Justice John Smith", "Mrs Justice Mary Smith", etc. High Court Judges and above who are King's Counsel do not use the post-nominal letters following appointment or after retirement.

A member of the Bar (but not a solicitor) addresses a Circuit Judge or higher, out of court, as "Judge".

Scotland

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address	In court
Lord President of the Court of Session/Lord Justice General of Scotland	The Rt Hon. (the) Lord/Lady Smith Lord President of the Court of Session/Lord Justice General of Scotland	Lord President/Lord Justice General	Lord President/Lord Justice General	My Lord/Lady
Lord Justice Clerk	The Rt Hon. (the) Lord/Lady Smith Lord Justice Clerk	Lord Justice Clerk	Lord Justice Clerk	My Lord/Lady
Senator of the College of Justice and the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court	The Hon./Rt Hon. (the) Lord/Lady Smith	Lord/Lady Smith	Lord/Lady Smith	My Lord/Lady
Sheriff Principal	Sheriff Principal Smith (KC, as applicable)	Sheriff Principal Smith	Sheriff Principal Smith	My Lord/Lady
Sheriff	Sheriff Smith (KC, as applicable)	Sheriff Smith	Sheriff Smith	My Lord/Lady
Summary Sheriff	Sheriff Smith (KC, as applicable)	Sheriff Smith	Sheriff Smith	My Lord/Lady
Justice of the Peace	Mr John/Mrs Mary Smith	Mr/Mrs Smith	Mr/Mrs Smith	Your Honour^[28]

Academics

The forms of address for academics can interchange socially and formally, although in formal use their surnames are suffixed in order of national honour, academic degree, fellowship(s).^[29]^[30]

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address	In conversation
Chancellor (formal)	The Chancellor of [University name]	Dear Chancellor	Chancellor (if on a platform) or by name and title	The Chancellor or by name
Chancellor (social)	[Name],^[h] Chancellor of [University name]	By name	By name or Chancellor	The Chancellor or by name
Vice-Chancellor (formal)	The Vice-Chancellor of [University name]^[i]	Dear Sir/Madam/Vice-Chancellor	Vice-Chancellor (if on a platform) or by name	The Vice-Chancellor or by name
Vice-Chancellor (social)	[Name],^[j] Vice-Chancellor of [University name]	By name or Dear Vice-Chancellor	Vice-Chancellor (if on a platform) or by name	The Vice-Chancellor or by name
Professor (formal)	Professor Jane Smith^[k]	Dear Sir/Madam	Professor Smith	Professor Smith
Professor (social)	Professor Jane Smith	Dear Professor Smith	Professor Smith	Professor Smith
Doctor (formal)^[l]	Dr Jane Smith or The Revd John Smith DD or Mrs/Ms Susan Brown MD, FRCS or Tom Brown DSc, FRS etc.^[m]	Dear Sir/Madam	Dr Smith	Dr Smith
Doctor (social)^[l]	Dr Jane Smith	Dear Dr Smith	Dr Smith	Dr Smith

Notes

↑ The forms given under "Salutation in Letter" are for use in social correspondence only. In formal letters, "Sir" or "Madam" would be used instead.
↑ Nowadays it is more common to use the form of "The Baroness (of) X" when addressing a baroness in her own right, instead of the more archaric form of "The Lady (of) X", and to distinguish her from a baron's wife. This is customary when addressing female members of the House of Lords who have a life peerage, and as well the directive of Her Majesty's Passport Office.^[12]^[13]
↑ Some sources do not recommend the use of the definite article before certain courtesy titles (particularly heirs-in-line who have prospects of promotion within the family's titles), but it is cited by official Court publications such as the Court Circular.
↑ If the definite article is not used before courtesy titles and The Hon. Elizabeth Smith marries Sir William Brown, she becomes The Hon. Lady Brown, but if she marries the higher-ranked Lord Brown, a courtesy Baron, she becomes The Lady Brown. If this Sir William Brown's father is created Earl of London and Baron Brown, as a result of this ennoblement his wife's style will actually change, from "The Hon. Lady Brown" to "The Lady Brown". While the style may appear diminished, the precedence taken increases from that of a wife of a knight to that of a wife of an earl's eldest son.
↑ The exact form of a Scottish chief's style varies from family to family, and is generally based on tradition rather than formal rules.
1 2 "Master" is used as the form of address whether the High Court Master is male or female.
↑ Some circuit judges – for example, the Recorder of Liverpool or circuit judges sitting in the Central Criminal Court – are addressed in court as "My Lord" or "My Lady".
↑ This is the full name and title as it would be according to the rules elsewhere on this page, e.g. The Viscount London, Sir John Smith, KBE, Professor Jane Doe, Dr Tom Brown.
↑ Check official title for the university concerned: The Reverend the Vice-Chancellor (Oxford) The Right Worshipful the Vice-Chancellor (Cambridge), The Vice-Chancellor and Warden (Durham), The President and Provost (UCL), etc.
↑ Title
↑ If a professor holds an ecclesiastical rank this, strictly speaking, supersedes the academic rank. However, the academic style may still be used within academia and the two can be combined, e.g. as The Reverend Professor Jane Smith. If a professor holds a peerage or a knighthood, this title can be combined, e.g. Professor Lord Smith, Professor Sir John Smith, Professor Dame Jane Smith.
1 2 The forms off address for a doctor applies to "the recipient of a doctorate conferred by a university or other body, such as the Council for National Academic Awards", not just those working in academia. The exception is surgeons, who are never addressed as Doctor even if they hold a doctorate.
↑ Doctorates in divinity and medicine are always given as letters after the name, and this form may optionally be used for doctorates in other faculties. If "Dr" is used before the name, degrees are not given after it.

References

↑ "The Style of Prince outside the Royal Family". www.heraldica.org. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
↑ "No. 43264". The London Gazette. 6 March 1964. p. 2169.
↑ "No. 62855". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 13 December 2019. p. 214.
↑ Gov.uk. Title usage: HMG Guidance
↑ "Greeting a Member of The Royal Family". Royal.uk. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
↑ "Addressing the Royal Family". Debretts. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
↑ "Baron and Baroness". Debrett's. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
↑ Barker, L. Mary, ed. (1957–58). Pears Cyclopedia (66th ed.). Isleworth, Middlesex: A. & F. Pears Limited. pp. 649–650. Modes of Address to Persons of Rank
↑ Montegue-Smith, Patrick, ed. (1984). Debrett's Correct Form. London: Futura Publications. p. 27. ISBN 0-7088-1500-6.
↑ Montegue-Smith, Patrick, ed. (1984). Debrett's Correct Form. London: Futura Publications. p. 29. ISBN 0-7088-1500-6.
1 2 3 4 5 Montegue-Smith, Patrick, ed. (1984). Debrett's Correct Form. London: Futura Publications. pp. 38–39. ISBN 0-7088-1500-6.
↑ Addressing members of the Lords - official website of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
↑ Titles: Guidance for Her Majesty's Passport Office operational staff on how to add and record titles and observations on a passport -official website of the Government of the United Kingdom
↑ Adam, Frank; Innes, Thomas (1970) [1934]. "Highland Surnames and Titles". The Clans, Septs & Regiments of the Scottish Highlands (8th ed.). Clearfield. p. 410. ISBN 978-0-8063-0448-9. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
1 2 "Debrett's Forms of Address for Scottish feudal barons". Archived from the original on 2013-07-25.
1 2 "The Convention of the Baronage of Scotland". Archived from the original on 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
↑ "Female Barons (in their own right) or the wife of a baron". Convention of the Baronage of Scotland. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
↑ Frank Adams (1952) The Clans, Septs and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands
↑ Titles and Forms of Address. Bloomsbury Publishing. 31 January 2007. ISBN 9781408148129. Retrieved 26 January 2016. The widow of a chief or laird continues to use the territorial style and the prefix Dowager may be used in the same circumstances ... In rural Scotland (laird's) wives are often styled Lady, though not legally except in the case of the wives of chiefs.
↑ Adam, Frank (1970). The Clans, Septs & Regiments of the Scottish Highlands. Genealogical Publishing Com, 1970 - Page 410. ISBN 9780806304489. Retrieved 26 January 2016. In personal letters...(The) old pre-fix of a laird or chief was "The Much Honoured"...where husband and wife are referred to, the correct styles are "Glenfalloch and the Lady Glenfalloch"
1 2 "Manors: manorial titles and rights". HM Land Registry. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
↑ www.crockford.org.uk
1 2 3 4 "The Supreme Court". Archived from the original on 2012-06-23.
↑ "Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales". Archived from the original on 2013-01-06.
1 2 "The criminal courts". © Copyright 2010-2020 Full Fact. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2020. Professional magistrates are now called District Judge (Magistrates' Court), or DJ for short (they used to be called Stipendiary Magistrates, which is a term you will still hear being used)......In court, a DJ (Magistrate) will be called 'sir' or 'madam' as the case may be. If there is a lay bench, then you normally pretend you are speaking to the 'chair' and address them as 'sir' or 'madam'. Some people will address the whole panel as 'your worships', although this is becoming old-fashioned.
1 2 Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. "Bench Chairmen". Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
↑ "Justice of the Peace". Archived from the original on 2013-11-01.
↑ "Justices of the Peace". Archived from the original on 2013-07-19. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
↑ "Academics". A to Z. Debrett's. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
↑ "Academics". Forms of Address. Debrett's. Retrieved 13 August 2017.

External links

View original on Wikipedia

[9] The forms given under "Salutation in Letter" are for use in social correspondence only. In formal letters, "Sir" or "Madam" would be used instead.

[15] Nowadays it is more common to use the form of "The Baroness (of) X" when addressing a baroness in her own right, instead of the more archaric form of "The Lady (of) X", and to distinguish her from a baron's wife. This is customary when addressing female members of the House of Lords who have a life peerage, and as well the directive of Her Majesty's Passport Office.^[12]^[13]

[16] Some sources do not recommend the use of the definite article before certain courtesy titles (particularly heirs-in-line who have prospects of promotion within the family's titles), but it is cited by official Court publications such as the Court Circular.

[17] If the definite article is not used before courtesy titles and The Hon. Elizabeth Smith marries Sir William Brown, she becomes The Hon. Lady Brown, but if she marries the higher-ranked Lord Brown, a courtesy Baron, she becomes The Lady Brown. If this Sir William Brown's father is created Earl of London and Baron Brown, as a result of this ennoblement his wife's style will actually change, from "The Hon. Lady Brown" to "The Lady Brown". While the style may appear diminished, the precedence taken increases from that of a wife of a knight to that of a wife of an earl's eldest son.

[22] The exact form of a Scottish chief's style varies from family to family, and is generally based on tradition rather than formal rules.

[Master-30] 1 2 "Master" is used as the form of address whether the High Court Master is male or female.

[31] Some circuit judges – for example, the Recorder of Liverpool or circuit judges sitting in the Central Criminal Court – are addressed in court as "My Lord" or "My Lady".

[Title-38] This is the full name and title as it would be according to the rules elsewhere on this page, e.g. The Viscount London, Sir John Smith, KBE, Professor Jane Doe, Dr Tom Brown.

[39] Check official title for the university concerned: The Reverend the Vice-Chancellor (Oxford) The Right Worshipful the Vice-Chancellor (Cambridge), The Vice-Chancellor and Warden (Durham), The President and Provost (UCL), etc.

[40] Title

[41] If a professor holds an ecclesiastical rank this, strictly speaking, supersedes the academic rank. However, the academic style may still be used within academia and the two can be combined, e.g. as The Reverend Professor Jane Smith. If a professor holds a peerage or a knighthood, this title can be combined, e.g. Professor Lord Smith, Professor Sir John Smith, Professor Dame Jane Smith.

[Doctor-42] 1 2 The forms off address for a doctor applies to "the recipient of a doctorate conferred by a university or other body, such as the Council for National Academic Awards", not just those working in academia. The exception is surgeons, who are never addressed as Doctor even if they hold a doctorate.

[43] Doctorates in divinity and medicine are always given as letters after the name, and this form may optionally be used for doctorates in other faculties. If "Dr" is used before the name, degrees are not given after it.

[heraldica-1] "The Style of Prince outside the Royal Family". www.heraldica.org. Retrieved 5 December 2021.

[2] "No. 43264". The London Gazette. 6 March 1964. p. 2169.

[3] "No. 62855". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 13 December 2019. p. 214.

[4] Gov.uk. Title usage: HMG Guidance

[5] "Greeting a Member of The Royal Family". Royal.uk. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.

[6] "Addressing the Royal Family". Debretts. Retrieved 27 August 2016.

[7] "Baron and Baroness". Debrett's. Retrieved 1 February 2017.

[8] Barker, L. Mary, ed. (1957–58). Pears Cyclopedia (66th ed.). Isleworth, Middlesex: A. & F. Pears Limited. pp. 649–650. Modes of Address to Persons of Rank

[10] Montegue-Smith, Patrick, ed. (1984). Debrett's Correct Form. London: Futura Publications. p. 27. ISBN 0-7088-1500-6.

[11] Montegue-Smith, Patrick, ed. (1984). Debrett's Correct Form. London: Futura Publications. p. 29. ISBN 0-7088-1500-6.

[Debrett38-12] 1 2 3 4 5 Montegue-Smith, Patrick, ed. (1984). Debrett's Correct Form. London: Futura Publications. pp. 38–39. ISBN 0-7088-1500-6.

[13] Addressing members of the Lords - official website of the Parliament of the United Kingdom

[14] Titles: Guidance for Her Majesty's Passport Office operational staff on how to add and record titles and observations on a passport -official website of the Government of the United Kingdom

[18] Adam, Frank; Innes, Thomas (1970) [1934]. "Highland Surnames and Titles". The Clans, Septs & Regiments of the Scottish Highlands (8th ed.). Clearfield. p. 410. ISBN 978-0-8063-0448-9. Retrieved 2023-11-26.

[debretts-19] 1 2 "Debrett's Forms of Address for Scottish feudal barons". Archived from the original on 2013-07-25.

[scotsbarons-20] 1 2 "The Convention of the Baronage of Scotland". Archived from the original on 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2010-03-09.

[21] "Female Barons (in their own right) or the wife of a baron". Convention of the Baronage of Scotland. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.

[23] Frank Adams (1952) The Clans, Septs and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands

[24] Titles and Forms of Address. Bloomsbury Publishing. 31 January 2007. ISBN 9781408148129. Retrieved 26 January 2016. The widow of a chief or laird continues to use the territorial style and the prefix Dowager may be used in the same circumstances ... In rural Scotland (laird's) wives are often styled Lady, though not legally except in the case of the wives of chiefs.

[25] Adam, Frank (1970). The Clans, Septs & Regiments of the Scottish Highlands. Genealogical Publishing Com, 1970 - Page 410. ISBN 9780806304489. Retrieved 26 January 2016. In personal letters...(The) old pre-fix of a laird or chief was "The Much Honoured"...where husband and wife are referred to, the correct styles are "Glenfalloch and the Lady Glenfalloch"

[Manor-26] 1 2 "Manors: manorial titles and rights". HM Land Registry. Retrieved 26 November 2023.

[27] www.crockford.org.uk

[supreme-28] 1 2 3 4 "The Supreme Court". Archived from the original on 2012-06-23.

[29] "Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales". Archived from the original on 2013-01-06.

[The_criminal_courts-32] 1 2 "The criminal courts". © Copyright 2010-2020 Full Fact. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2020. Professional magistrates are now called District Judge (Magistrates' Court), or DJ for short (they used to be called Stipendiary Magistrates, which is a term you will still hear being used)......In court, a DJ (Magistrate) will be called 'sir' or 'madam' as the case may be. If there is a lay bench, then you normally pretend you are speaking to the 'chair' and address them as 'sir' or 'madam'. Some people will address the whole panel as 'your worships', although this is becoming old-fashioned.

[Bench_Chairmen-33] 1 2 Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. "Bench Chairmen". Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. Retrieved 14 February 2018.

[34] "Justice of the Peace". Archived from the original on 2013-11-01.

[scotland-judiciary-35] "Justices of the Peace". Archived from the original on 2013-07-19. Retrieved 2013-05-20.

[36] "Academics". A to Z. Debrett's. Retrieved 13 August 2017.

[37] "Academics". Forms of Address. Debrett's. Retrieved 13 August 2017.

[1]

Forms of address in the United Kingdom

Terminology

Abbreviations

Names and territorial designations

Royalty

Nobility

Peers and peeresses

Eldest sons of dukes, marquesses and earls

Heirs to Scottish peerages

Male offspring of peers

Female offspring of peers

Minor nobility and gentry

Baronets

Scottish barons

Knights and dames

Seigneurs of fiefs (Channel Islands)

Chiefs, chieftains and lairds

Lords of the manor (England and Wales)

Clergy

Church of England

Church of Scotland

Judiciary

United Kingdom

England and Wales

Scotland

Academics

See also

Notes

References

External links