Using Personal Titles #15:
Other Common Titles

There are many other personal titles. The ones noted below
are particularly common:

Medical Doctors

Although there are many kinds of medical doctors, all of
them (famous specialists and general practitioners alike)
use the same title: doctor.

In speaking, use doctor with or without a name. If you use
a name, use the surname:

Thank you, doctor.

May I make an appointment for Tuesday,
Dr. Williams?

In writing the address of a letter to a doctor, two forms
are common:

Dr. Chet Williams
address

Chet Williams, MD
address

In writing the greeting of a letter, two forms are common:

Dear Doctor:

Dear Dr. Williams:

Nurses

Although nurses have specialized training and often have
advanced academic degrees, there is no formal title which
is commonly used in speaking to them. You can, however,
use nurse if you don't know the nurse's name.

In speaking, use nurse only if you don't know the
nurse's name:

Thank you, nurse.

Excuse me, nurse. May I ask you a question?

In speaking, use Ms., Mrs., Miss, or Mr. ( + a surname)
if you know the nurse's name:

Thank you, Miss Kato.

I appreciate your help, Mrs. Svensen.

I apprecaite what you've done for me,
Mr. Telemann.

In writing the address of a letter to a nurse, these forms
are common:

Nurse Tova Feldstein
address

Ms. Tova Feldstein, RN
address

Mr. Rubén Sánchez, RN
address

In writing the greeting of a letter to a nurse, these forms
are common:

Dear Nurse:

Dear Nurse Feldstein:

Dear Ms. Feldstein:

Dear Mr. Sánchez:

____________________________________________

Lawyers / Attorneys

The title most commonly used for attorneys in speaking
is counselor:

I appreciate your help, counselor.

What are my chances of winning, counselor?

You can also use sir or ma'am when speaking to lawyers.

In writing the address of a letter to an attorney, there are
several possibilities:

Sandra Kovacs, Attorney at Law
address

Ms. Sandra Kovacs, Attorney at Law
address

Mr. Steven Cheng, Esq.
address

In writing the greeting of a letter to an attorney, use
Ms. or Mr. plus a surname:

Dear Ms. Kovacs:

Dear Mr. Cheng:

_________________________________________

Special Notes: