A style of office or form of address, also called manner of address, is an official or legally recognized form of address for a person or other entity (such as a government or company), and may often be used in conjunction with a personal
title. A style, by
tradition or
law, precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or
political office, and is sometimes used to refer to the office itself. An
honorific can also be awarded to an individual in a personal capacity. Such styles are particularly associated with
monarchies, where they may be used by a wife of an office holder or of a prince of the blood, for the duration of their
marriage. They are also almost universally used for
presidents in
republic
A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...
s and in many countries for
members of
legislative bodies, higher-ranking
judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. A judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the barristers or solicitors of the case, assesses the credibility an ...
s, and senior constitutional office holders. Leading
religious figures also have styles.
Examples
Academia
Traditional forms of address at
German-speaking universities:
*His/Her Magnificence – rector (president) of a university
*His/Her Notability (; Professors have the privilege to use the Latin ) – dean of a faculty
Traditional forms of address at
Dutch-speaking universities:
*His/Her Great Honour () – rector magnificus (president) of a university
*Highly Learned Sir/Madam () – professor or dean of a faculty
*Well (Noble) Very Learned Sir/Madam () – a doctor
*Well (Noble) Learned Sir/Madam () – a
doctorandus
Doctorandus (drs., ; ) is a Dutch academic title according to the pre-Bachelor–Master system. The female form is doctoranda (dra., though this abbreviation is no longer used). The title is acquired by passing the ''doctoraalexamen'', the exam wh ...
*Well (Noble) Strictly Sir/Madam () – a master in laws () or a university engineer ()
Traditional forms of address at
Italian-speaking universities:
*Magnificent Rector () – rector (president, chancellor) of a university
*Amplified Headmaster () – dean of a faculty (now uncommon)
*Illustrious/Enlightened Professor () – a full professor
Government
Diplomats
*His
Most Reverend Excellency (abbreviation ''His Most Rev. Ex.'', oral address ''Your Excellency'') –
apostolic nuncios, because their rank is equal to that of an
ambassador
An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...
extraordinary and plenipotentiary, and they are simultaneously higher
prelates.
*His/Her
Excellency (abbreviation ''HE'', oral address ''Your Excellency'') – most
ambassador
An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...
s,
high commissioners and
permanent representatives to international organizations; sometimes also the presidents of
republic
A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...
s,
governors-general, governors of provinces and
prime ministers.
*
The Honorable (oral address ''Mr./Madam Ambassador'') – US ambassadors. Typically US ambassadors are addressed as "Your Excellency" by non-US citizens outside the United States.
Judiciaries
* My Lord/Your Honour is used to address judiciary representatives in
India.
*The Honorable (abbreviation ''The Hon.'', oral address ''Your Honor'') – Judges and justices in the
United States.
* Oral address ''Your Excellency'' – Judges of the
International Court of Justice.
* Oral address ''Your Worship'' – All courts in
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
(obsolete).
* Oral address ''Your Honour'' – All courts in
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
.
=United Kingdom
=
*
His/Her Honour Judge X (abbreviation ''HHJ X'', oral address ''Your Honour'') – Circuit judges in
England and Wales.
*
The Honourable Mr./Ms. Justice X (abbreviation ''X J'', referential ''His Lordship/Her Ladyship''; oral address ''My Lord/Lady'' or ''Your Lordship/Your Ladyship'') – Judges of the
High Court of Justice of England and Wales.
*
The Right Honourable Lord/Lady Justice X (abbreviation ''X LJ'') – Judges of the
Court of Appeal of England and Wales.
* The Lord/Lady/Baroness X (abbreviated to ''Lord/Lady/Baroness X'', referred to as ''His Lordship/Her Ladyship'', addressed orally as ''My Lord/My Lady'') – Judges in the
High Court of Justiciary and the
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland and constitutes part of the College of Justice; the supreme criminal court of Scotland is the High Court of Justiciary. The Court of Session sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh ...
in Scotland, and the
Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (initialism: UKSC or the acronym: SCOTUK) is the final court of appeal in the United Kingdom for all civil cases, and for criminal cases originating in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. As the Unite ...
.
* Oral address ''
Your Worship
Worship is an honorific prefix for mayors, justices of the peace and magistrates in present or former Commonwealth realms. In spoken address, these officials are addressed as Your Worship or referred to as His Worship, Her Worship, or Their Worsh ...
'' –
Justices of the peace (magistrates) in the
United Kingdom, usually by solicitors.
Monarchies
*
Sire
Sire is an archaic respectful form of address to reigning kings in Europe. In French and other languages it is less archaic and relatively more current. In Belgium, the king is addressed as "Sire..." in both Dutch and French.
The words "sire" a ...
(oral address first ''
Your Majesty'' and then ''Sire''; for a queen first ''Your Majesty'' and then ''
Ma'am'') – Reigning
kings in the
United Kingdom and in
Belgium. It has also been used in
France,
Italy,
Germany,
Portugal,
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
and
Spain.
*His/Her
Imperial Majesty, (abbreviation ''HIM'', oral address ''Your Imperial Majesty'') – Emperors and empresses. Formerly, for example, HIM the Shah of Iran. In modern times, the
Emperor of Japan more often uses the simpler style of "Majesty".
*His/Her
Imperial and Royal Majesty (abbreviation ''HI&RM'', oral address ''Your Imperial and Royal Majesty'') – Until 1918, the rulers of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire
Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...
, who were Emperors/Empresses of Austria while also Kings/Queens of Hungary, and the German emperors/empresses, who were simultaneously
Kings/Queens of Prussia.
*His/Her
Apostolic Majesty His (Royal) Apostolic Majesty was a styled title used by the Kings of Hungary, in the sense of being latter-day apostles of Christianity.
First creation
The origin of this title dates from about A.D. 1000 when it was conferred by Pope Silvester II ...
(abbreviation ''HAM'', oral address ''Your Apostolic Majesty'') – the
King of Hungary, usually styled Imperial Majesty or Imperial and Royal Majesty as Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary, also sometimes Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty.
*His/Her
Britannic Majesty – the
British monarch
The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the constitutional form of government by which a hereditary sovereign reigns as the head of state of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies (the Bailiwi ...
(not usual); used as a formal and official term in
diplomacy, the
law of nations, and
international relations, e.g. in
British passport
A British passport is a travel document issued by the United Kingdom or other British dependencies and territories to individuals holding any form of British nationality. It grants the bearer international passage in accordance with visa requ ...
s.
* His/Her
Most Gracious Majesty – an elaborate version of His/Her Majesty in the United Kingdom, only used in the most formal of occasions.
* His/Her
Most Excellent Majesty
Most Excellent Majesty is a form of address in the United Kingdom. It is mainly used in Acts of Parliament, where the phrase "the King's ueen'smost Excellent Majesty" is used in the enacting clause.
The standard is as follows:
The phrase is als ...
– another elaborate version of His/Her Majesty in the United Kingdom, mainly used in
Acts of Parliament.
* His/Her
Catholic Majesty (abbreviation ''HCM'', oral address ''Your Catholic Majesty'') – the
King of Spain
, coatofarms = File:Coat_of_Arms_of_Spanish_Monarch.svg
, coatofarms_article = Coat of arms of the King of Spain
, image = Felipe_VI_in_2020_(cropped).jpg
, incumbent = Felipe VI
, incumbentsince = 19 Ju ...
(not usual).
*His
Most Christian Majesty – the
King of France
France was ruled by monarchs from the establishment of the Kingdom of West Francia in 843 until the end of the Second French Empire in 1870, with several interruptions.
Classical French historiography usually regards Clovis I () as the first ...
until 1790 and from 1815 to 1830.
*His/Her
Faithful Majesty (abbreviation ''HFM'', oral address ''Your Faithful Majesty'') – the
King of Portugal
This is a list of Portuguese monarchs who ruled from the establishment of the Kingdom of Portugal, in 1139, to the deposition of the Portuguese monarchy and creation of the Portuguese Republic with the 5 October 1910 revolution.
Through the n ...
until deposed in 1910.
*His/Her
Majesty (abbreviation ''HM'', oral address ''Your Majesty'') – kings, queens and some sultans. For example, HM Queen
Elizabeth II, HM King
Mohammed VI or HM King
Willem-Alexander.
*His/Her
Imperial Highness (abbreviation ''HIH'', oral address ''Your Imperial Highness'') – members of an imperial house. Currently used by the
Imperial House of Japan
The , also referred to as the Imperial Family or the House of Yamato, comprises those members of the extended family of the reigning Emperor of Japan who undertake official and public duties. Under the present Constitution of Japan, the Emperor i ...
.
*His/Her
Imperial and Royal Highness (abbreviation ''HI&RH'', oral address ''Your Imperial and Royal Highness'') – formerly,
archduke
Archduke (feminine: Archduchess; German: ''Erzherzog'', feminine form: ''Erzherzogin'') was the title borne from 1358 by the Habsburg rulers of the Archduchy of Austria, and later by all senior members of that dynasty. It denotes a rank within ...
s of the
House of Habsburg, the German crown prince/princess and (post-monarchy) members of the deposed
Brazilian Imperial Family
The Brazilian Imperial Family (Brazilian Portuguese: ''Família Imperial Brasileira'') is a Brazilian Dynasty of Portuguese origin that ruled the Empire of Brazil from 1822 in Brazil, 1822 to 1889 in Brazil, 1889, after the proclamation of indepe ...
; also some women entitled to imperial style by birth and to royal style by marriage (e.g.,
Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna of Russia, Duchess of Edinburgh.
*His/Her
Royal Highness (abbreviation ''HRH'', oral address ''Your Royal Highness'') – some monarchs, members of a
royal family
A royal family is the immediate family of kings/queens, emirs/emiras, sultans/ sultanas, or raja/ rani and sometimes their extended family. The term imperial family appropriately describes the family of an emperor or empress, and the term ...
(other than monarchs,
queens consort and
queens dowager);
grand duke
Grand duke (feminine: grand duchess) is a European hereditary title, used either by certain monarchs or by members of certain monarchs' families. In status, a grand duke traditionally ranks in order of precedence below an emperor, as an approxi ...
s/duchesses who have
reigned (but not those grand dukes who were
cadet
A cadet is an officer trainee or candidate. The term is frequently used to refer to those training to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. Its meaning may vary between countries which can include youths in ...
s of the former Russian Imperial Family), consorts of grand dukes, grand ducal
heirs apparent and, in Luxembourg, all dynastic male-line cadets;
British princes, their
dynastic wives (including the princes consort of queens
Victoria and
Elizabeth II), sons, daughters,
patrilineal grandsons and granddaughters of
Ibn Saud
Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud ( ar, عبد العزيز بن عبد الرحمن آل سعود, ʿAbd al ʿAzīz bin ʿAbd ar Raḥman Āl Suʿūd; 15 January 1875Ibn Saud's birth year has been a source of debate. It is generally accepted ...
of the
House of Saud
The House of Saud ( ar, آل سُعُود, ʾĀl Suʿūd ) is the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia. It is composed of the descendants of Muhammad bin Saud, founder of the Emirate of Diriyah, known as the First Saudi state (1727–1818), and ...
.
*
His/Her Grace (oral address ''Your Grace'') is a style used for various high-ranking personages. It was the style used to address
Kings of England until King
Henry VIII
Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disa ...
and the
King or Queen of Scots up to the
Act of Union of 1707, which united the
Kingdom of Scotland and the
Kingdom of England. Today, the style is used when referring to non-royal dukes and duchesses, and archbishops, in the United Kingdom. For example, His Grace The
Duke of Devonshire
Duke of Devonshire is a title in the Peerage of England held by members of the Cavendish family. This (now the senior) branch of the Cavendish family has been one of the wealthiest British aristocratic families since the 16th century and has be ...
in the United Kingdom, or His Grace The
Archbishop of Canterbury
The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. The current archbishop is Justi ...
; or ''Your Grace'' in spoken or written address.
Royal dukes, for example the
Duke of York
Duke of York is a title of nobility in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of English (later British) monarchs. The equivalent title in the Scottish peerage was Du ...
, are addressed with their higher royal style, ''
Royal Highness''.
*His/Her
Grand Ducal Highness (abbreviation ''HGDH'', oral address ''Your Grand Ducal Highness'') – cadets of some former ruling grand ducal dynasties (
Hesse and by Rhine and
Baden).
*His/Her
Highness
Highness (abbreviation HH, oral address Your Highness) is a formal style used to address (in second person) or refer to (in third person) certain members of a reigning or formerly reigning dynasty. It is typically used with a possessive adjecti ...
(abbreviation ''HH'', oral address, ''Your Highness'') – some monarchs, i.e.,
emirs, some
sultan
Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...
s, the
Aga Khan
Aga Khan ( fa, آقاخان, ar, آغا خان; also transliterated as ''Aqa Khan'' and ''Agha Khan'') is a title held by the Imām of the Nizari Ismāʿīli Shias. Since 1957, the holder of the title has been the 49th Imām, Prince Shah Karim ...
; formerly reigning dukes, some
maharajahs and
rajahs and the members of their dynasties; cadets of most former grand ducal houses; male-line grandchildren and remoter male-line descendants of some kingly dynasties (i.e., Denmark and formerly Brazil, Italy, Japan, UK, Yugoslavia); Belgium's
House of Ligne; members of France's former
Foreign Princely class, members of
cadet branches of the
House of Saud
The House of Saud ( ar, آل سُعُود, ʾĀl Suʿūd ) is the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia. It is composed of the descendants of Muhammad bin Saud, founder of the Emirate of Diriyah, known as the First Saudi state (1727–1818), and ...
.
*His/Her
Ducal Serene Highness (abbreviation ''HDSH'', oral address, ''Your Ducal Serene Highness'') – members of the formerly reigning ducal
House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
*His/Her
Serene Highness (abbreviation ''HSH'', oral address ''Your Serene Highness'') – German: ; Italian: ; Russian: . Sovereigns of a
principality
A principality (or sometimes princedom) can either be a monarchical feudatory or a sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a regnant-monarch with the title of prince and/or princess, or by a monarch with another title considered to fall under ...
(i.e., Liechtenstein, Monaco); members of formerly reigning princely families (Lippe, Schaumburg-Lippe, Waldeck and Pyrmont and Schwarzburg); members of
mediatized families headed by a ("prince"); members of several formerly noble, princely families of Austria, Germany, Bohemia, Hungary and Poland; and a few formerly noble families granted the princely title in Imperial Russia (the style is more literally translated "His/Her Serenity").
*His
Most Serene Highness
His/Her Serene Highness (abbreviation: HSH, second person address: Your Serene Highness) is a style used today by the reigning families of Liechtenstein, Monaco and Thailand. Over the past 400 years, it has also used as a style for senior members ...
(abbreviation ''HMSH'', oral address, ''Your Most Serene Highness'') –
Prince-electors of the
Holy Roman Empire.
*His/Her
Illustrious Highness
His/Her Illustrious Highness (abbreviation: H.Ill.H.) is the usual English-language translation for ''Erlaucht'', a style historically attributed to certain members of the European aristocracy. It is not a literal translation, as the German word ...
(abbreviation ''HIllH'', oral address ''Your Illustrious Highness'', German: ); Italian: ; Spanish: ; Russian: . Mediatized
counts and, sometimes, members of their families.
*His/Her Princely Grace () - former style for members of a few noble families of monarchical Germany.
*The High-born () – counts in some Scandinavian and Benelux monarchies and, formerly, Germany and Austria.
*The High Well-born () – Dutch barons; knights and untitled members of the lower nobility in German-speaking monarchies.
*His/Her
Excellency (abbreviation ''HE'', oral address ''Your Excellency'') –
governors-general, British colonial governors, state officials, and generals of Imperial Russia. Occasionally,
prime ministers and cabinet ministers. For example, the
Prime Minister of the Netherlands; in Denmark, a few high-ranked nobles (e.g.,
Counts af Danneskiold-Samsø,
Counts of Rosenborg, , knights of the
Order of the Elephant
The Order of the Elephant ( da, Elefantordenen) is a Danish order of chivalry and is Denmark's highest-ranked honour. It has origins in the 15th century, but has officially existed since 1693, and since the establishment of constitutional ...
).
*''
Don'' (, , pt, Dom, links=no ), from the
Latin word (roughly, "Lord"), is an
honorific title used in Spain, Portugal, Italy,
Iberoamerica
Ibero-America ( es, Iberoamérica, pt, Ibero-América) or Iberian America is a region in the Americas comprising countries or territories where Spanish or Portuguese are predominant languages (usually former territories of Portugal or Spain). P ...
and the Philippines. The female equivalent is (), (), and (), abbreviated as "Dª" or simply "D." Although originally a title reserved for royalty, select nobles, and church hierarchs, it is now often used as a mark of esteem for a person of personal, social or official distinction, such as a community leader of long standing, a person of significant wealth, or a
noble, but it may also be used
ironically
Irony (), in its broadest sense, is the juxtaposition of what on the surface appears to be the case and what is actually the case or to be expected; it is an important rhetorical device and literary technique.
Irony can be categorized into d ...
. As a style, rather than a
title or
rank, it is used with, and not instead of, a person's name.
*In Portugal and Brazil, () is used for certain
hierarchs of the Roman Catholic Church and for
laymen
In religious organizations, the laity () consists of all members who are not part of the clergy, usually including any non-ordained members of religious orders, e.g. a nun or a lay brother.
In both religious and wider secular usage, a layperson ...
who belong to the royal and imperial families (for example, the
House of Aviz
The House of Aviz (Portuguese language, Portuguese: ''Casa de Avis''), also known as the Joanine Dynasty (''Dinastia Joanina''), was a dynasty of Portuguese people, Portuguese origin which flourished during the Portuguese Renaissance, Renaissance ...
in Portugal and the
House of Braganza
The Most Serene House of Braganza ( pt, Sereníssima Casa de Bragança), also known as the Brigantine Dynasty (''Dinastia Brigantina''), is a dynasty of emperors, kings, princes, and dukes of Portuguese origin which reigned in Europe and the Ame ...
in Portugal and Brazil). It was also accorded to members of families of the titled
Portuguese nobility.
Unless ennobling
letters patent
Letters patent ( la, litterae patentes) ( always in the plural) are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch, president or other head of state, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, titl ...
specifically authorised its use, was not attributed to members of Portugal's untitled nobility. Since hereditary titles in Portugal descended according to
primogeniture
Primogeniture ( ) is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn legitimate child to inherit the parent's entire or main estate in preference to shared inheritance among all or some children, any illegitimate child or any collateral relativ ...
, the right to the style of was the only apparent distinction between
cadet
A cadet is an officer trainee or candidate. The term is frequently used to refer to those training to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. Its meaning may vary between countries which can include youths in ...
s of titled families and members of untitled noble families.
* Most High, Mighty, and Illustrious Prince – for royal dukes, oral address Your Royal Highness.
*
Son of Heaven
Son of Heaven, or ''Tianzi'' (), was the sacred monarchical title of the Chinese sovereign. It originated with the Zhou dynasty and was founded on the political and spiritual doctrine of the Mandate of Heaven. Since the Qin dynasty, the secula ...
– Used by Chinese and some Japanese emperors.
*
High King
*
Great King
*
King of Kings
King of Kings; grc-gre, Βασιλεὺς Βασιλέων, Basileùs Basiléōn; hy, արքայից արքա, ark'ayits ark'a; sa, महाराजाधिराज, Mahārājadhirāja; ka, მეფეთ მეფე, ''Mepet mepe'' ...
– Used by especially Semitic, Persian and some Indian rulers.
* "Taewang" "Greatest of Kings" – was used by the later rulers of the Korean kingdom of
Koguryo
Goguryeo (37 BC–668 AD) ( ) also called Goryeo (), was a Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula and the southern and central parts of Northeast China. At its peak of power, Goguryeo controlled most ...
.
*
Lord of the Isles
The Lord of the Isles or King of the Isles
( gd, Triath nan Eilean or ) is a title of Scottish nobility with historical roots that go back beyond the Kingdom of Scotland. It began with Somerled in the 12th century and thereafter the title w ...
– Used by an
heir apparent of the
British monarchy.
*
High Steward of Scotland – Used by an
heir apparent of the
British monarchy.
*
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (abbreviation CTHM) ( ar, خادم الحرمين الشريفين ), sometimes translated as Servant of the Two Noble Sanctuaries or Protector of the Two Holy Cities, is a
royal style that has been used by many Islamic rulers including the
Ayyubids, the
Mamluk Sultans of Egypt
The Mamluk Sultanate ( ar, سلطنة المماليك, translit=Salṭanat al-Mamālīk), also known as Mamluk Egypt or the Mamluk Empire, was a state that ruled Egypt, the Levant and the Hejaz (western Arabia) from the mid-13th to early 16t ...
, the
Ottoman Sultans, and the modern
Saudi kings.
The title refers to the ruler taking the responsibility of guarding and maintaining the two holiest
mosques
A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers ( sujud) are performed, i ...
in
Islam
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
,
Al-Masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) in
Mecca and
Al-Masjid an-Nabawi
Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (), known in English as the Prophet's Mosque, is a mosque built by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the city of Medina in the Al Madinah Province of Saudi Arabia. It was the second mosque built by Muhammad in Medina, after Qub ...
(the Prophet's Mosque) in
Medina.
In
Saudi Arabia, it is used as the official title of the king, in place of "His Majesty".
*
Amīr al-Mu'minīn ( ar, أمير المؤمنين), usually translated Commander of the Faithful or Leader of the Faithful, is the Arabic style of some
Caliphs and other independent sovereign
Muslim
Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
rulers that claim legitimacy from a community of Muslims. It has been claimed as the title of rulers in Muslim countries and empires and is still used for some Muslim leaders. The use of the title does not necessarily signify a claim to caliphate as it is usually taken to be, but described a certain form of activist leadership which may have been attached to a caliph but also could signify a level of authority beneath that. The Ottoman sultans, in particular, made scant use of it. Moreover, the term was used by men who made no claim to be caliphs.
Used by the former leader of
ISIS Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the Ahmadiyya Muslim leader
Mirza Masroor Ahmad,
the
King of Morocco, the
Sultan of Sokoto, and the supreme leaders of the Afghan
Taliban.
*Kabiyesi (variously translated as His or Her Royal Majesty, His or Her Royal Highness or His or Her Highness, lit. ''The One whose words are beyond question'') – Used by the
Obas of
Yorubaland, other aboriginal
Yoruba
The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba consti ...
high chiefs of royal background, and their counterparts in the tribe's diaspora communities.
=Styles and titles of deposed monarchs
=
General tradition indicates that monarchs who have ceased to reign but not renounced their hereditary titles, retain the use of their style and title for the duration of their lifetimes, but both die with them. Hence Greece's deposed king is often still styled ''His Majesty
King Constantine II'', as a ''personal'' title, not as occupant of a constitutional office, since the abolition of the monarchy by the Hellenic Republic in 1974. Similarly, until his death, the last King of Italy,
Umberto II, was widely referred to as ''King Umberto II'' and sometimes addressed as ''Your Majesty''. In contrast,
Simeon of Bulgaria who, subsequent to the loss of his throne in 1947, was elected to and held the premiership of his former realm as "Simeon Sakskoburggotski", and therefore is as often referred to by the latter name as by his former royal title and style.
While this rule is generally observed, and indeed some exiled monarchs are allowed diplomatic passports by their former realm, other republics officially object to the use of such titles which are, nonetheless, generally accorded by extant monarchical regimes. In 1981, the then Greek President
Konstantinos Karamanlis declined to attend the wedding of
Charles, Prince of Wales when it was revealed that Greece's deposed monarch, a cousin of the Prince, had been referred to as "King" in his invitation. The current Hellenic Republic has challenged King Constantine's right to use his title and his passport was revoked in 1994 because he did not use a surname, as his passport at the time stated "Constantine, former King of the Hellenes". However, Constantine II now travels in and out of Greece on a
Danish diplomatic passport as a descendant of
Christian IX of Denmark, by the name ''Constantino de Grecia'' (
Spanish for "Constantine of Greece").
Republics
*His/Her
Excellency (abbreviation ''HE'', oral address ''Your Excellency'') –
Presidents of republics (historically, this was first used to refer to George Washington during his tenure as Commander-in-Chief of the Army during the American War of Independence; its use for presidents of republics was established as he was the first president of the first modern republic). In some countries also the prime minister, ministers, governors, ambassadors and
high commissioners also use this style.
*The
President of the United States is properly directly addressed as "Mr./Madam President" and introduced as "The President of the United States"; however, His/Her/Your Excellency may properly be used in written communications and is sometimes used in official documents.
*The custom in
France is to call office holders acting within their official capacity or followed by the name of their offices. Thus, the President of the Republic is called or if a male, and if a female. Styles such as "excellency" or similar are not used, except for talking about foreign dignitaries. Traditionally after "Madame", the name of the office is not put into the feminine form, but this is becoming less common (hence, "Madame le président" is being replaced by "Madame la présidente").
*In
Italy, members of the lower house (Chamber of Deputies) of the
Parliament of Italy are styled ''Honourable'' ( it, Onorevole, abbreviation ). The correct form to address a member of the upper house (Senate) is ''Senator'' ( it, Senatore, abbreviation ; even though, for gravitas, they may also be addressed ''Honourable Senator'').
*The incumbent president of Finland is addressed (Mr./Ms. President of the Republic), while a former president is addressed as just .
*The style used for the
President of Ireland is normally His Excellency/Her Excellency ( ga, A Shoilse/A Soilse); sometimes people may orally address the President as 'Your Excellency' ( ga, A Shoilse
� ˈhəʎʃə, or simply 'President' ( ga, A Uachtaráin
� ˈuəxt̪ˠəɾˠaːnˠ(vocative case)).
* During the
Republic of the United Netherlands
The United Provinces of the Netherlands, also known as the (Seven) United Provinces, officially as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands (Dutch: ''Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden''), and commonly referred to in historiography ...
, the
States-General were collectively addressed as "Their High and Mighty Lords" ( nl, Hoogmogende Heren).
* The Honourable – Presidents, prime ministers, ministers, governors, members of parliament, senate and congress in some countries. (Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sri Lanka.)
Medicine
*Doctor – In the United Kingdom, university degrees supporting medical and dental licensure are all bachelor's degrees (MB, MBBS, BDS, MB BS BAO, BMed, etc.). These graduates are addressed as 'doctor' by courtesy and convention.
*Mr/Miss/Mrs – Surgeons in the UK revert to the title 'Mr', 'Miss' or 'Mrs' after obtaining the postgraduate qualification
MRCS. Other doctors, on the other hand, retain the title 'Doctor' after obtaining other postgraduate qualifications, such as
MRCP.
Nautical and aeronautical
*Captain – a person who commands and is responsible for the lives of crew and passengers on a naval or civil vessel or aircraft. In the US military, ''captain'' is used regardless of the actual rank of the person being addressed. For example, on a US naval vessel commanded by someone holding a rank of
lieutenant commander or lower is addressed as "Captain", in reference to his position in command of the ship, not his military rank. This would apply even to an
enlisted man in charge of a small boat.
Religious
*
His Holiness
The title His Holiness (and the associated form of address Your Holiness) is an official title or style referring to the pope; this use can be traced back several hundred years. It is also an official title for Oriental Orthodox patriarchs or ...
(abbreviation HH), oral address ''Your Holiness'', or ''Holy Father'' – the
Pope and the
Pope Emeritus (but ''Holy Father'' is not used for the latter).
*
His All Holiness (abbreviation ''HAH''), oral address ''Your All Holiness'' – the
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
*His Holiness (abbreviation ''HH''), oral address ''Your Holiness'' – the
Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East,
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia,
Patriarch of Peć and the Serbs,
Catholicos of All Armenians,
Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia,
Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
Malankara Orthodox Catholicos and some other patriarchs of the
Christian Church
In ecclesiology, the Christian Church is what different Christian denominations conceive of as being the true body of Christians or the original institution established by Jesus. "Christian Church" has also been used in academia as a synonym fo ...
.
*His Holiness (abbreviation ''HH''), oral address ''Your Holiness'' – the
Dalai Lama, the
Panchen Lama, the
Karmapa, the
Sakya Trizin, and other holders of certain other
Tibetan Buddhist lineages.
*His Highness the
Aga Khan
Aga Khan ( fa, آقاخان, ar, آغا خان; also transliterated as ''Aqa Khan'' and ''Agha Khan'') is a title held by the Imām of the Nizari Ismāʿīli Shias. Since 1957, the holder of the title has been the 49th Imām, Prince Shah Karim ...
(abbreviation ''HH the Aga Khan.''), oral address ''Your Highness'' and then ''Sir'' – The Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims.
*His Beatitude ''or'' The Most Blessed, oral address ''Your Beatitude'' –
Eastern Orthodox,
Syriac Orthodox Catholicos of India,
Oriental Orthodox
The Oriental Orthodox Churches are Eastern Christian churches adhering to Miaphysite Christology, with approximately 60 million members worldwide. The Oriental Orthodox Churches are part of the Nicene Christian tradition, and represent o ...
and
Roman Catholic patriarchs,
Macedonian Orthodox Church and the
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych. If they have been elevated to the cardinalate by the Pope, they use the traditional "His Eminence" like other cardinals (more properly and formally, "His Beatitude and Eminence").
*
His Most Eminent Royal Highness (abbreviation ''HMERH''), oral address ''Your Most Eminent Royal Highness'' - The Lord of the
Rasulid Order.
*
His Most Eminent Highness
His Eminence (abbreviation H.Em. or H.E. or HE) is a style of reference for high nobility, still in use in various religious contexts.
Catholicism
The style remains in use as the official style or standard form of address in reference to a c ...
(abbreviation ''HMEH''), oral address ''Your Most Eminent Highness'' – The
Prince and
Grand Master of the
Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
*
His Eminence
His Eminence (abbreviation H.Em. or H.E. or HE) is a style (manner of address), style of reference for high nobility, still in use in various religious contexts.
Catholicism
The style remains in use as the official style or standard form of a ...
(abbreviation "H.Em."), oral address ''Your Eminence'' or ''Most Reverend Eminence'' –
Roman Catholic cardinals
*His Eminence (abbreviation "H.Em.") ''or'' The Most Reverend (abbreviation ''The Most Rev.''), oral address ''Your Eminence'' –
Eastern Orthodox metropolitans and
archbishop
In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...
s who are not the first
hierarch
An ordinary (from Latin ''ordinarius'') is an officer of a church or civic authority who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute laws.
Such officers are found in hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ...
of an
autocephalous church;
*His Eminence (abbreviation "H.Em.") – Certain high
lama
Lama (; "chief") is a title for a teacher of the Dharma in Tibetan Buddhism. The name is similar to the Sanskrit term ''guru'', meaning "heavy one", endowed with qualities the student will eventually embody. The Tibetan word "lama" means "hi ...
s or
rinpoches in
Tibetan Buddhism as well as presiding head bishops or priests of
Japanese Buddhist schools.
*His Eminence (abbreviation "H.Em.") – The
Sultan of Sokoto, spiritual leader of
Nigeria's Muslims, as well as those of his fellow
Fula high chiefs that choose not to style themselves as HRHs.
*His Eminence (abbreviation "H.Em.") – The Grand Master of the
Murjite Order.
*His Excellency ''or''
The Most Reverend (abbreviation ''The Most Rev.''), oral address ''Your Excellency'' –
Roman Catholic archbishop
In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...
s and
bishops in the United States and Canada (the oral address is not recognized by Canadian civil authorities, who prescribe ''Archbishop/Bishop'' instead
); or,
*His Grace ''or''
The Most Reverend (abbreviation ''The Most Rev.''), oral address ''Your Grace'' –
Roman Catholic archbishop
In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...
s in
Commonwealth
A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...
countries except Canada;
Roman Catholic bishops in
Ireland; and Mar Thoma Metropolitans
*His Grace ''or''
The Right Reverend (abbreviation ''The Rt. Rev.''), oral address ''Your Grace'' –
Eastern Orthodox bishops.
*Kabiyesi (variously translated as His or Her Royal Majesty, His or Her Royal Highness or His or Her Highness, lit. ''The One whose words are beyond question'') – The
Obas of
Yorubaland, other aboriginal
Yoruba
The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba consti ...
high chiefs of royal background, and their counterparts in the tribe's diaspora communities.
*His Lordship ''or'' The Right Reverend (abbreviation ''The Rt Rev.''), oral address ''My Lord'' –
Anglican
Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...
and
Roman Catholic bishops in Commonwealth countries other than Canada.
*The Most Reverend and Right Honourable (abbreviation ''The Most Rev. and Rt Hon.''), oral address ''Your Grace'' –
Church of England (Anglican)
archbishop
In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...
s who are
privy counsellors, usually the
Archbishop
In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...
s of
Canterbury and
York
*The Most Reverend (abbreviation ''The Most Rev.''), oral address ''Your Grace'' –
Anglican
Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...
archbishop
In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...
s,
primates
Primates are a diverse order of mammals. They are divided into the strepsirrhines, which include the lemurs, galagos, and lorisids, and the haplorhines, which include the tarsiers and the simians (monkeys and apes, the latter including huma ...
,
metropolitans and
presiding bishops. Canadian Anglican (arch)bishops are orally addressed simply as ''Archbishop/Bishop''.
[ Also moderators.
*The Most Reverend (abbreviation ''The Most Rev.''), oral address ''My Lord'' – Church of Ireland (Anglican) Bishop of Meath and Kildare (due to being, historically, the most senior bishop in Ireland)
*The Most Reverend (abbreviation ''The Most Rev.''), oral address ''Presiding Bishop'' – the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana
*The Most Reverend (abbreviation ''The Most Rev.''), oral address ''Bishop'' – the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States
*The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Monsignor (abbreviation ''The Rt Rev. and Rt Hon. Mgr''), oral address ''Monsignor'', or according to personal preference – Prelate of Honour who is also a privy counsellor (The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Monsignor Graham Leonard KCVO).
*The Right Reverend and Right Honourable (abbreviation ''The Rt Rev. and Rt Hon.''), oral address ''Bishop'' or ''My Lord'' (old-fashioned) – Church of England (Anglican) bishops who are members of the ]Privy Council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mon ...
, usually the Bishop of London.
*The Right Reverend (abbreviation ''The Rt Rev.''), oral address ''Bishop'' or ''My Lord'' (old-fashioned) – other Church of England bishops
*The Right Reverend (abbreviation ''The Rt Rev.''), oral address ''Bishop'' – bishops Episcopal Church (United States)
*The Right Reverend (abbreviation ''The Rt Rev.''), oral address ''Mr./Mrs./Ms. (surname)''[ – ]Moderator of the United Church of Canada
The Moderator of the United Church of Canada is the most senior elected official within the United Church of Canada. He or she may be a lay person or a member of the Order of Ministry and is elected to a three-year term by commissioners attend ...
or of the Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada (french: Église presbytérienne du Canada) is a Presbyterian denomination, serving in Canada under this name since 1875. The United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939. According to ...
*The Right Reverend Father (abbreviation ''The Rt. Rev. Fr.''), oral address ''Father'' – Eastern Orthodox archimandrites.
*The Right Reverend (abbreviation ''The Rt. Rev.''), oral address ''Father'' or ''Father Abbot'' – Roman Catholic abbots.
*The Right Reverend (abbreviation ''The Rt Rev.''), oral address ''Bishop'' – diocesan bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana
*Bishop, oral address ''Bishop'' – an area bishop in the United Methodist Church. The Right Reverend has never been pervasive in the United Methodist Church.
*His Divine Worship, or (His) Divine Worship: The Bishop (abbreviation ''DW:TB''), oral address ''Your Divine Worship'', afterwards ''My Lord'', ''My Lord Bishop'', or ''Bishop'' – a bishop in one of the Personal Ordinariates for former Anglicans, especially the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. If the ordinary is merely a priest and not a bishop, then he is styled His Divine Worship, or (His) Divine Worship: The Ordinary (abbreviation ''DW:TO''), also His Divine Worship: the Reverend Monsignor, as applicable. The first oral address remains ''Your Divine Worship'', but afterwards reverts simply to ''Father'' or ''Monsignor''.
* The Very Reverend (abbreviation ''The Very Rev. ''), oral address ''Father'' – Catholic vicars general, judicial vicars, judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. A judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the barristers or solicitors of the case, assesses the credibility an ...
s, rectors of seminaries, vicars forane
A dean, in an ecclesiastical context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, and many Lutheran denominations. A dean's assist ...
, episcopal vicars, general superiors of religious orders of priests, provincial superiors, priors of monasteries or friaries
*The Very Reverend Father (abbreviation ''The Very Rev. Fr.''), oral address ''Father'' – Eastern Orthodox archpriest
The ecclesiastical title of archpriest or archpresbyter belongs to certain priests with supervisory duties over a number of parishes. The term is most often used in Eastern Orthodoxy and the Eastern Catholic Churches and may be somewhat analogous ...
s
*The Very Reverend (abbreviation ''The Very Rev.''), oral address ''Mr/Madam Dean'' or ''Mr/Madam Provost'', as appropriate, or ''Very Reverend Sir/Madam'' – Anglican
Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...
deans and provosts of cathedrals, the deans of Westminster Abbey and St George's Chapel, Windsor, and, for historical reasons, a few parish priests, such as the Dean of Bocking. Sometimes an Anglican cathedral dean has previously been a bishop, in which case he or she is styled as a bishop, but on formal occasions may be addressed ''Mr/Madam Dean''. Canadian deans are orally addressed as ''Dean'' only.[
*The Very Reverend (abbreviation ''The Very Rev.''), oral address ''Very Reverend Sir/Madam'' or ''Mr/Madam Dean'' – Deans of some Anglican seminaries, especially those in the United States
*The Very Reverend (abbreviation ''The Very Rev.''), oral address ''Osofo Panin'' – Superintendent minister in the Methodist Church Ghana
*The Very Reverend (abbreviation ''The Very Rev.''), oral address ''Reverend'' – former moderators of the United Church of Canada and of the Presbyterian Church in Canada; the Canadian government prescribes the oral address ''Mr./Mrs./Ms. (surname)''][
*The Reverend Monsignor (abbreviation ''The Rev. Msgr.''), oral address ''Monsignor'' – Catholic Church protonotaries apostolic, honorary prelates, chaplains of his holiness
* The Venerable, oral address ''Venerable Sir/Madam'' or ''Mr/Madam Archdeacon'' – ]Anglican
Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...
archdeacons; in Canada, they are orally addressed as ''Archdeacon'' only[
*Venerable (abbreviation "Ven."), oral address "Venerable" or "Venerable <name or title>" – fully ordained Buddhist monks and ]nuns
A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to religious service, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent.''The Oxford English Dictionary'', vol. X, page 599. The term is o ...
, the title of ''Venerable Master'' or ''Most Venerable'' is sometimes appended for senior monks and nuns or monks/nuns acting in their capacity as an abbot/abbess of a monastery
*The Reverend and Right Honourable (abbreviation ''The Revd and Rt Hon.'') – Protestant ordained ministers who are members of the Privy Council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mon ...
(e.g. the late Ian Paisley
Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, Baron Bannside, (6 April 1926 – 12 September 2014) was a Northern Irish loyalist politician and Protestant religious leader who served as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from 1971 to 2008 and First ...
)
*The Reverend the Honourable (abbreviation ''The Rev. the Hon.''), oral address according to ecclesiastical or other status – ordained son of an earl, viscount, or baron, or ordained daughter of a viscount or baron (unless also a privy counsellor or peer)
*The Very Reverend (abbreviation "The Very Rev."), oral address: "Overseer" – in the Anglican-Apostolic Communion (Pentecostal) tradition, the overseer is the lowest level of prelate (only non–consecrated bishop prelate), with oversight to a specific work or department, directly responsible to the primate/presiding bishop or an ordinary/diocesan bishop.
*The Reverend (abbreviation ''The Rev.'' or ''The Rev'd'') – Protestant and Anglican ordained ministers (common variants include ''Pastor'', ''Parson'', ''Vicar'', or simply ''Reverend'' (Rev.), as used in American English; see: The Reverend) ); some Jewish cantors also use this style, almost all Buddhist ministers in Japan use this style
*The Reverend Canon (abbreviation ''The Rev. Canon''), oral address ''Canon'' – Catholic and Anglican
Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...
canons
*The Reverend Doctor (abbreviation ''The Rev. Dr.''), oral address ''Father'' or ''Doctor'' – Priests and other ordained clergy with a doctorate
*The Reverend Father (abbreviation ''The Rev. Fr.''), oral address ''Father'' – Catholic (and many Anglican
Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...
) priests
*The Reverend Mother (abbreviation ''The Rev. Mo.''), oral address ''Mother'' – Abbesses (also, some female Anglican
Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...
priests )
*The Reverend Deacon (abbreviation ''Rev. Deacon''), oral address ''Deacon'' Catholic permanent Deacons.
*The Reverend Mister (abbreviation ''The Rev. Mr.''), oral address ''Deacon'' – Catholic transitional deacons, i.e. those preparing for priesthood. Transitional deacons belonging to religious orders (monastic and non-monastic) are titled Reverend Brother, (similar situations and modifications apply to Anglican
Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...
deacons as in ''The Rev. Fr./Mthr'', above; since women can be deacons, these may be ''The Revd Ms'')
*Mother, oral address ''Mother'' – heads of some female Catholic religious convents and other communities who are not abbesses
*Mister (abbreviation ''Mr.''), oral address ''Mister'' – Catholic Sulpician priests
*Mister (abbreviation ''Mr.''), oral address often ''Mister'' – Catholic seminarians and scholastics (members preparing for priesthood) of ''some'' religious orders (notably, Jesuits).
*Father (pater)
*Brother (abbreviation ''Bro.''), oral address ''Brother'' – Catholic members of religious orders under vows (both monastic and non-monastic) who are not priests.
*Sister (abbreviation ''Sr.''), oral address ''Sister'' – Catholic members of religious orders under vows (both monastic and non-monastic) who are not abbesses.
* Elder
An elder is someone with a degree of seniority or authority.
Elder or elders may refer to:
Positions Administrative
* Elder (administrative title), a position of authority
Cultural
* North American Indigenous elder, a person who has and tr ...
: used generally for male missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and for members of the adult leadership known as the general authorities. Although most all male adults of the LDS church are elders, the title is reserved for the prior mentioned groups.
*Grand Rabbi, oral address ''Rabbi'' – Hasidic
Hasidism, sometimes spelled Chassidism, and also known as Hasidic Judaism (Ashkenazi Hebrew: חסידות ''Ḥăsīdus'', ; originally, "piety"), is a Jewish religious group that arose as a spiritual revival movement in the territory of contem ...
rabbi
A rabbi () is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi – known as '' semikha'' – following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form o ...
s, who are scions of a Hasidic Dynasty.
*''Don'' (, , pt, Dom, links=no ) from Latin ''dominus'', (roughly, "Lord") is an honorific title used in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Iberoamerica
Ibero-America ( es, Iberoamérica, pt, Ibero-América) or Iberian America is a region in the Americas comprising countries or territories where Spanish or Portuguese are predominant languages (usually former territories of Portugal or Spain). P ...
and the Philippines. The female equivalent is ''doña'' (), ''donna'' (), and ''dona'' (), abbreviated "Dª" or simply "D." Although originally a title reserved for royalty, select nobles, and church hierarchs, it is now often used as a mark of esteem for a person of personal, social or official distinction, such as a community leader of long standing, a person of significant wealth, or a noble, but may also be used ironically
Irony (), in its broadest sense, is the juxtaposition of what on the surface appears to be the case and what is actually the case or to be expected; it is an important rhetorical device and literary technique.
Irony can be categorized into d ...
. As a style, rather than a title or rank, it is used with, and not instead of, a person's name.
* Dom is an honorific prefix
A prefix is an affix which is placed before the Word stem, stem of a word. Adding it to the beginning of one word changes it into another word. For example, when the prefix ''un-'' is added to the word ''happy'', it creates the word ''unhappy'' ...
ed to the given name
A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...
. It derives from the Latin '' Dominus''. It is used in English for certain Benedictine (including some communities which follow the Rule of St. Benedict) and Carthusian monks, and for members of certain communities of Canons Regular. Examples include Benedictine monks of the English Benedictine Congregation (e.g. Dom John Chapman, late Abbot of Downside). The equivalent female usage for such a monastic is "Dame
''Dame'' is an honorific title and the feminine form of address for the honour of damehood in many Christian chivalric orders, as well as the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British honours system and those of several oth ...
" (e.g. Dame Laurentia McLachlan, late Abbess of Stanbrook, or Dame Felicitas Corrigan, author).
**''Dom'' has historically been used on occasions in French, as an honorific for Benedictine monks, such as the famous '' Dom Pérignon''.
*Rabbi, oral address ''Rabbi'' (or, if holder of the appropriate degree, ''Doctor'' both in oral and written communication) – rabbis
*Grand Ayatullah, oral address ''Ayatullah'' or ''Ayatullah al-Uzma'' – Shia Ayatullahs, who have accomplished the highest religious jurisprudent knowledge degree called as marja' and some people officially follow them.
*Ayatullah, oral address ''Ayatullah'' – Shia religious degree who has accomplished a religious high course of lessons and is capable of individually issuing religious verdicts.
*Amīr al-Mu'minīn ( ar, أمير المؤمنين), usually translated Commander of the Faithful or Leader of the Faithful, is the Arabic style of some Caliphs and other independent sovereign Muslim
Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
rulers that claim legitimacy from a community of Muslims. It has been claimed as the title of rulers in Muslim countries and empires and is still used for some Muslim leaders. The use of the title does not necessarily signify a claim to caliphate as it is usually taken to be, but described a certain form of activist leadership which may have been attached to a caliph but also could signify a level of authority beneath that. The Ottoman sultans, in particular, made scant use of it. Moreover, the term was used by men who made no claim to be caliphs. Currently used by the Caliph of ISIS Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, The Ahmadiyya Muslim Caliph, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the King of Morocco, The Sultan of Sokoto, The supreme leaders of the Afghan Taliban.
*Cantor, oral address ''Cantor'' (some cantors use ''The Reverend'' as style, as above) – Jewish cantors
*Reverend, oral address ''Reverend'', ''Mister'' or ''Brother'' – ordained ministers/pastors
*Pastor (abbreviation "Pr"), oral address 'Pastor" – minister responsible for caring for the "flock" in Lutheran churches
*Pandit (sometimes spelled ''Pundit'') – Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
priests
* Swami – in Hinduism an ascetic or yogi who has been initiated into a religious monastic order. Informally, "Swamiji".
*Officers of The Salvation Army are addressed by their rank, e.g. "Captain" (Capt.), "Major" (Maj.), etc.
*A wide variety of titles for Neo-pagan religions; Lord/Lady, Father/Mother, and High Priest/Priestess are common
In different countries
Australia
* His/Her Majesty – The King or Queen of Australia
* His/Her Excellency The Honourable – Governor-General
Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...
and his or her spouse, and The Honourable or His/Her Excellency for the rest of state governors (but not their spouse)
*The Honourable – all current and former governors-general and Administrators of the Northern Territory, Justices of the High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is Australia's apex court. It exercises Original jurisdiction, original and appellate jurisdiction on matters specified within Constitution of Australia, Australia's Constitution.
The High Court was established fol ...
, the Federal Court of Australia
The Federal Court of Australia is an Australian superior court of record which has jurisdiction to deal with most civil disputes governed by federal law (with the exception of family law matters), along with some summary (less serious) and indic ...
, the Family Court of Australia
The Family Court of Australia was a superior Australian federal court of record which deals with family law matters, such as divorce applications, parenting disputes, and the division of property when a couple separate. Together with the Fede ...
and state supreme courts
*The Honourable – all current and former members of the Federal Executive Council and all current members of state executive council Executive Council may refer to:
Government
* Executive Council (Commonwealth countries), a constitutional organ that exercises executive power and advises the governor
* Executive Council of Bern, the government of the Swiss canton of Bern
* Ex ...
s and certain former members of state executive councils and long-serving members of state Legislative Councils (upper houses of state parliaments) that have been given the right to keep the title by permission of the governor of that state.
*His/Her Honour (oral address ''Your Honour'') – magistrates and judges in appellate, district and county courts.
*The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor – Lord mayors of Australian cities
*His/Her Worship – Administrators of territories (obsolete), magistrates (obsolete) and mayors.
Brunei
Known as ''terasul'' in the Malay language.
* ''Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia (Kebawah DYMM)'', equivalent to His or Her Majesty
Her Majesty may refer to:
* Majesty, a style used by monarchs (or a wife of a king)
** Margrethe II of Denmark (born 1940), Queen of Denmark
** Queen Camilla (born 1947), Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms; wife of Kin ...
(HM) – for Sultan
Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...
and his first royal consort. The style is added more depends on the situation:
**Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Sultan, for Sultan before coronation.
**Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan, for Sultan after coronation.
**Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Isteri for the queen consort before coronation
**Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Raja Isteri for the queen consort after coronation
**Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Raja — for the second wife of the Sultan during coronation
* ''Kebawah Duli'', for a Sultan that has not gone through puberty.
* ''Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Isteri'', for the second wife of the Sultan after coronation
* ''Duli Yang Teramat Mulia (DYTM)'', equivalent to His or Her Royal Highness
Royal Highness is a style used to address or refer to some members of royal families, usually princes or princesses. Monarchs and their consorts are usually styled ''Majesty''.
When used as a direct form of address, spoken or written, it takes ...
(HRH) – for the Crown Prince and his consort and for the abdicated Sultan and his consort.
** Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan — for Sultan that abdicated from the throne
** Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Suri Seri Begawan Raja — for the Sultan's consort when the Sultan abdicated from the throne
** Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota — for the Crown Prince
** Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri — for the Crown Prince's consort
* ''Yang Teramat Mulia (YTM)'', to His or Her Royal Highness
Royal Highness is a style used to address or refer to some members of royal families, usually princes or princesses. Monarchs and their consorts are usually styled ''Majesty''.
When used as a direct form of address, spoken or written, it takes ...
(HRH) – for the children of the Sultan that were born by their royal mother (both parents of the royal mother are royalties and not a commoner)
** Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Duli Pengiran Muda — for the Sultan's son that has full royal blood
** Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Puteri— for the Sultan's daughter by a royal mother (non-commoner)
** Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Babu Raja — for the Queen Consort's mother
* ''Yang Amat Mulia (YAM)'', for the consort of a royal prince and their children, and for the Sultan's children by their commoner mother
** Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri — for the consort of the Sultan's son (full royal blood)
** Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda — for the son (full royal blood) of the Sultan's son (full royal blood)
** Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak — for the children of the Sultan that were born by a commoner mother; daughter (full royal blood) of the Sultan's son (full royal blood); children (full royal blood) of the Sultan's daughter (full royal blood); children (full royal blood) of the Sultan's children (half royal blood)
* ''Yang Mulia (YM)''
** Yang Mulia Pengiran Anak — for the children that both parents hold the title ''Pengiran Anak''
** Yang Mulia Pengiran — for the children of a Pengiran Anak and his wife that is not also a Pengiran Anak; non-royal Pengiran (a commoner Pengiran)
Canada
*His/Her Majesty – King/Queen of Canada
*His/Her Excellency – Governor General, vice-regal consort, ambassador
An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...
s, and high commissioners ''in office''
* The Right Honourable – Governors general, prime ministers, chief justices of Canada and certain eminent Canadians ''for life''
*His/Her Honour – Lieutenant-governors and viceregal consorts ''in office''
*The Honourable
**''For life'' – Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada, senators and lieutenant-governors
**''In office only'' – Speaker of the House of Commons, ministers of the Crown (however federal ministers invariably enter the Privy Council upon their initial appointment, thus assuming the honorific for life), judges of provincial courts, premiers of provinces and territories, territorial commissioners, and provincial and territorial cabinet ministers
***Note: Members of Parliament are often referred to in the House of Commons as "the honourable member for ( riding)" but do not use the style ''honourable'' with their name.
*The Honourable Mr/Madam Justice – Chief justices of province and justices of superior courts
*His/Her Worship – Justices of the peace, magistrates and municipal leaders ''in office''
Chile
*His Excellency - granted to the President, and some senior members of the judiciary.
*The Honourable - granted to Senators, members of the Chamber of Deputies
The chamber of deputies is the lower house in many bicameral legislatures and the sole house in some unicameral legislatures.
Description
Historically, French Chamber of Deputies was the lower house of the French Parliament during the Bourbon R ...
, and other authorities.
Guernsey
* Seigneur or Dame - Registered owners of an ancient Norman fief or seigneurie in Guernsey who have registered their Fief with the Crown and Royal Courts. Under the Feudal Dues law of 1980, the government of Guernsey sanctions the use of the style and distinction of Seigneur or Dame.
New Zealand
* Partial source:
* His/Her Majesty – King/ Queen of New Zealand
* His/Her Excellency – the current Governor-General (and the Governor-General's spouse).
* The Right Honourable – the current and former prime ministers, the current and former Speakers of the Parliament of New Zealand, the current and former chief justices, the current and former governors general, and those who were appointed to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom prior to New Zealand ceasing appeals to it in 2003.
* The Honourable – the current and former ministers of the Crown, the current and former judges of the Supreme, High and Appeal courts
* His/Her Honour – judges of district courts
* His/Her Worship – mayors of territorial authorities and justices of the peace.
Jamaica
The Most Honourable
The honorific prefix "The Most Honourable" is a form of address that is used in several countries. In the United Kingdom, it precedes the name of a marquess or marchioness.
Overview
In Jamaica, Governors-General of Jamaica, as well as their spo ...
– In Jamaica, governors-general, as well as their spouses, are entitled to be styled "The Most Honourable" upon receipt of the Jamaican Order of the Nation.["National Awards of Jamaica"](_blank)
, Jamaica Information Service, accessed 12 May 2015. Prime ministers and their spouses are also styled this way upon receipt of the Order of the Nation, which is only given to Jamaican governors-general and prime ministers.
India
His Excellency/Her Excellency is used before the name of President of India as well as before of governors of the states. However, it is not mandatory for an Indian citizen to use this style to address the president or the governors after a notification from the President House. But it is mandatory for foreigners to address the president and governors.
Your Honour/My Lord – It is used before the names of judges but now it is also not mandatory. The Supreme Court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
in a hearing said that people need to respect the judges and "Sir" is sufficient for it.
Royal styles in India
With a long history of rulers, there are many styles which vary from territory to territory and languages for royal families in India, commonly Maharaja (for king), Maharani (queen) whereas for their successors Raja, Rani (Maha meaning "Great" removed). Rajkumar (for prince) and Rajkumari (for princess).
Others include Hukam (commonly in Rajasthan), Sardar (kings in territories of Punjab within Sikh Empire), Badshah ( Mughal Empire), Vazeer-e-Aala (in Mughal Empire) etc.
African traditional rulers
In most of Africa, many styles are used by traditional royalty.
Generally the vast majority of the members of these royal families use the titles Prince and Princess, while the higher ranked amongst them also use either Highness
Highness (abbreviation HH, oral address Your Highness) is a formal style used to address (in second person) or refer to (in third person) certain members of a reigning or formerly reigning dynasty. It is typically used with a possessive adjecti ...
or Royal Highness to describe secondary appellations in their native languages that they hold in their realms, appellations that are intended to highlight their relative proximity to their thrones, either literally in the sense of the extant kingships of the continent or symbolically in the sense of its varied chiefships of the name, and which therefore serve a function similar to the said styles of Highness and Royal Highness.
For example, the Yoruba people of West Africa usually make use of the word Kabiyesi when speaking either to or about their sovereign
''Sovereign'' is a title which can be applied to the highest leader in various categories. The word is borrowed from Old French , which is ultimately derived from the Latin , meaning 'above'.
The roles of a sovereign vary from monarch, ruler or ...
s and other royals. As such, it is variously translated as Majesty, Royal Highness or Highness depending on the actual rank of the person in question, though a literal translation of the word would read more like this: ''He (or She) whose words are beyond questioning, Great Lawgiver of the Nation''.
Within the Zulu Kingdom
The Zulu Kingdom (, ), sometimes referred to as the Zulu Empire or the Kingdom of Zululand, was a monarchy in Southern Africa. During the 1810s, Shaka established a modern standing army that consolidated rival clans and built a large following ...
of Southern Africa, meanwhile, the monarch and other senior royals are often addressed as uNdabezitha meaning ''He (or She) Who Concerns the Enemy'', but rendered in English as Majesty in address or reference to the king and his consorts, or Royal Highness in the case of other senior members of the royal family.
Hong Kong
The Chief Executive is styled as The Honourable.
Certain senior government officials (such as the Chief Secretary for Administration), President of the Legislative Council, members of the Executive Council Executive Council may refer to:
Government
* Executive Council (Commonwealth countries), a constitutional organ that exercises executive power and advises the governor
* Executive Council of Bern, the government of the Swiss canton of Bern
* Ex ...
, and members of the judiciary (such as the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal
The chief justice of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, sometimes informally known as the chief justice of Hong Kong, is the head of the Judiciary of Hong Kong and the chief judge of the Court of Final Appeal. The chief justice is one of t ...
) are also styled as ''The Honourable''.
Ireland
In Ireland, holders of offices with Irish names are usually addressed in English by its nominative form (so, ' Taoiseach' and ' Tánaiste'), though the Irish vocative forms differ (''a Thaoisigh'' and ''a Thánaiste''). The President may be styled 'His/Her Excellency' ( ga, A Shoilse, / ''A Soilse'' ) and addressed 'Your Excellency' (Irish: ''A Shoilse''), or simply 'President' (Irish: ''A Uachtaráin'' ). The titles 'Minister
Minister may refer to:
* Minister (Christianity), a Christian cleric
** Minister (Catholic Church)
* Minister (government), a member of government who heads a ministry (government department)
** Minister without portfolio, a member of government w ...
' and 'Senator
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
' are used as forms of address; only the latter as a style. A TD (''Teachta Dála'') is formally addressed and styled as 'Deputy', though often simply ''Mr'', ''Mrs'', etc. Similarly, county and city councillors can be addressed as 'Councillor', abbreviated ''Cllr.'' which is used as a written style, but are just as frequently addressed as ''Mr'', ''Mrs'' etc.
Malaysia
* ''Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia (KDYMM)—''
** equivalent to His or Her Majesty, is for Yang di-Pertuan Agong and His Majesty's consort, the Raja Permaisuri Agong, with the prefix ''Seri Paduka Baginda'' added after ''KDYMM.''
** equivalent to His or Her Royal Highness, is for''—''
*** the Sultan
Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...
and the Sultanah of Kedah
*** the Sultan of Pahang
Sultan of Pahang () is the title of the hereditary constitutional head of Pahang, Malaysia. The current sultan is Al-Sultan Abdullah ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah. He is the Head of Islam in the state and the source of all titles, honours and dignitie ...
*** the Sultan
Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...
and Sultanah of Terengganu
*** the Sultan of Kelantan
*** the Regent of Pahang
* ''Duli Yang Maha Mulia (DYMM)—''
** equivalent to His or Her Majesty, is for the Sultan
Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...
and the Permaisuri of Johor.
** equivalent to His or Her Royal Highness, is for''—''
*** the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and the Tunku Ampuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan (, Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Nogoghi Sombilan'', ''Nismilan'') is a state in Malaysia which lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the s ...
*** the Raja and the Raja Perempuan of Perlis
*** the Sultan
Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...
and the Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor
*** the Sultan of Perak, with the prefix ''Paduka Seri'' added after ''DYMM.''
*** the Raja Permaisuri of Perak
Perak () is a state of Malaysia on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. Perak has land borders with the Malaysian states of Kedah to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, and Selangor to the south. Thailand's ...
*** the Sultanah of Pahang
*** the Raja Perempuan of Kelantan
*''Yang Maha Mulia (YMM),'' equivalent to His or Her Royal Highness, is for all widowed consorts.
* ''Kebawah Duli Yang Teramat Mulia (KDYTM)'', equivalent to His or Her Highness, is for''—''
** the Tengku Mahkota and the Tengku Puan of Pahang
** the Yang di-Pertuan Muda and the Tengku Puan Muda of Terengganu
* ''Duli Yang Teramat Mulia (DYTM)'', equivalent to His or Her Highness is for''—''
** the Raja Muda and the Raja Puan Muda of Kedah
** the Raja Muda and the Raja Puan Besar of Perak
** the Raja Muda and the Raja Puan Muda of Selangor
** the Tengku Mahkota and the Tengku Ampuan Mahkota of Kelantan
* ''Yang Teramat Mulia (YTM)'', equivalent to His or Her Highness, is for''—''
** Ruling chiefs and Princes of Four of Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan (, Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Nogoghi Sombilan'', ''Nismilan'') is a state in Malaysia which lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the s ...
** Senior royal family members in royal states
* ''Duli Yang Amat Mulia (DYAM)'', equivalent to His or Her Highness, is for''—''
** the Tunku Mahkota and the Tunku Ampuan Mahkota of Johor
** the Raja di-Hilir and the Raja Puan Muda of Perak
* ''Yang Amat Mulia (YAM)'', equivalent to His or Her Highness
Highness (abbreviation HH, oral address Your Highness) is a formal style used to address (in second person) or refer to (in third person) certain members of a reigning or formerly reigning dynasty. It is typically used with a possessive adj ...
, is for royal family members.
* ''Yang Mulia (YM)'', equivalent to His or Her Highness
Highness (abbreviation HH, oral address Your Highness) is a formal style used to address (in second person) or refer to (in third person) certain members of a reigning or formerly reigning dynasty. It is typically used with a possessive adj ...
, is for extended royal family members.
* ''Tuan Yang Terutama (TYT)'', equivalent to His or Her Excellency, is for governors, high commissioners
High may refer to:
Science and technology
* Height
* High (atmospheric), a high-pressure area
* High (computability), a quality of a Turing degree, in computability theory
* High (tectonics), in geology an area where relative tectonic uplift to ...
and ambassador
An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...
s.
* ''Yang Amat Berhormat (Mulia) (YABM/YAB)'', equivalent to the Right Honourable, is for the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chief Minister.
* ''Yang Berhormat (Mulia) (YBM/YB)'', equivalent to the Honourable, is for''—''
** Federal ministers and ministers of state of Sabah and Sarawak
** Federal deputy ministers
** members of Johor Royal Court
** assistant ministers of state of Sabah and Sarawak
** members of State Executive Councils
** members of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies
** State Secretaries
** State Legal Advisers in the states of Peninsular Malaysia
** State Financial Officers in the states of Peninsular Malaysia
** persons receiving the title of "''Dato'"'' and "''Datin Paduka"'' from Johor
* ''Yang Amat Arif (YAA)'', equivalent to the Right Honourable, is for chief judges.
* ''Yang Arif (YA)'', equivalent to the Honourable, is for''—''
** judges and judicial commissioners
** Attorney-General of the State of Sarawak
* ''Yang Amat Dihormati (YAD)'', equivalent to the Right Honourable, is for royal representatives in districts of Selangor.
* ''Yang Dihormati (YDh.)'', equivalent to the Honourable, is for''—''
** selected Orang Besar Negeri of Perak
** high and senior police officers
* ''Yang Amat Berbahagia (YABhg.)'' is for''—''
** spouses of governors
** spouses of the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chief Minister
** persons with the title of "''Tun''"
** the Orang Besar Empat of Perak
** spouses of ''Yang Amat Dihormati''
* ''Yang Berbahagia (YBhg.)'' is for''—''
** the top officials of the Federal Government
A federation (also known as a federal state) is a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a central federal government (federalism). In a federation, the self-governin ...
, namely Chief Secretary to the Government
The Chief Secretary to the Government ( ms, Ketua Setiausaha Negara) is the most senior officer in the Malaysian Civil Service, secretary to the Cabinet of Malaysia and secretary-general of the Prime Minister's Department.
History
The title o ...
, Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general.
In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...
, Chief of Defence Force, Inspector-General of Police, Director General of Public Service and Secretary General of Ministries, with or without any title
** the Orang Besar Lapan of Perak
** persons with the title of "''Tan Sri''" and "''Datuk''", or equivalent, and their spouses
** spouses of high commissioners and ambassadors
** spouses of ''Yang Berhormat'', ''Yang Amat Arif'', ''Yang Arif'', ''Yang Dihormati'', ''Yang Berbahagia'', ''Yang Amat Setia'', ''Sahibus Samahah'', ''Sahibul Fadhilah'' and ''Sahibus Saadah''
* ''Yang Amat Berusaha (YABrs.)'' is for higher public officers without any title in Kelantan.
* ''Yang Berusaha (YBrs.)'' is for''—''
** high public officers without any title and their spouses
** spouses of ''Yang Amat Berusaha'' and ''Yang Setia''
* ''Yang Amat Setia (YAS)'' is for high military officers without any title.
* ''Yang Setia (YS)'' is for senior military officers without any title.
* ''Sahibus Samahah (SS)'', equivalent to His Eminence
His Eminence (abbreviation H.Em. or H.E. or HE) is a style (manner of address), style of reference for high nobility, still in use in various religious contexts.
Catholicism
The style remains in use as the official style or standard form of a ...
, is for State Muftis''. ''
* ''Sahibul Fadhilah (SF)'', equivalent to His Grace
His Grace or Her Grace is an English Style (manner of address), style used for various high-ranking personages. It was the style used to address English monarchs until Henry VIII and the Scottish monarchs up to the Act of Union (1707), Act of Unio ...
, is for State Deputy Muftis, Qadis and senior Ulamas.
* ''Sahibus Saadah'', equivalent to ''Yang Berbahagia'', is special for the Director of Islamic Affairs of Selangor.
Morocco
* His Majesty – The King of Morocco.
* His Imperial Majesty – The Sultan of Morocco
This is the list of rulers of Morocco, since the establishment of the state in 789. The common and formal titles of these rulers has varied, depending on the time period. Since 1957, the designation King has been used.
The present King of Moroc ...
(before 1957, now obsolete).
* His/Her Royal Highness – Prince and princess of Morocco (used for children, grandchildren and siblings of the king as well as for the Princess Consort).
* His/Her Highness – Prince and princess of Morocco (used for cousins, uncles and aunts of the king).
Philippines
*His/Her Excellency – The president of the Philippines. The title in Filipino is (The Well-Esteemed President). The honorific for the President of the Philippines was adopted from the title of the governor-general of the Philippines during Spanish and American colonial periods. The president may be addressed as "Your Excellency" or more informally as "Mr. President" or "Madam(e) President".
*The Honorable – The vice president of the Philippines, members of the Congress of the Philippines, justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
The Supreme Court ( fil, Kataas-taasang Hukuman; colloquially referred to as the ''Korte Suprema'' lso used in formal writing is the highest court in the Philippines. The Supreme Court was established by the Second Philippine Commission on Ju ...
, governors and vice governors of provinces, mayors and vice mayors of cities or municipalities, and other elected or appointed officials in the government. The title is also conferred to elected and appointed officials of student or other people's organizations that have great participation in creating, implementing, and interpreting policies of the organization. The title in Filipino is (The Honorable). In Senate and congressional inquiries, impeachment procedures, and electoral canvasses, senators, representatives, and officials of the Commission on Elections when they convene as provincial and national boards of canvassers, are mostly addressed as ''Your Honor'', because they perform quasi-judicial functions.
*His Magnificence the Very Reverend - The rector magnificus of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas.
*Sir/Madam(e) – Common informal manner of address.
*Illustrious Knight, Sir/Lady – Titles for members of the Order of the Knights of Rizal, the Philippines' only order of knighthood created by law.
*Paduka Mahasari Maulana al Sultan – The sultan of Sulu.
Spain
*His/Her Majesty – the monarch of Spain, when referred to as monarch. When referred to as Head of State, he is usually styled "His Excellency the Head of State".
*His/Her Royal Highness – the Prince of Asturias and the Infantes (non-heir apparent royal princes).
*His/Her Excellency () – spouses and children of the Infantes, Grandees of Spain, ministers, either from the central government () or from autonomous government (), as well as regional presidents. Mayors and town councils.
*His/Her Illustriousness () – marquesses, counts, viscounts, junior ministers either from the central government () or from autonomous government (), justices (), certain prosecutors, members of the royal academies and the holders of certain Spanish decorations.
*His/Her Most Excellent and Magnificent Lord – Rector of a university.
*His Lordship/Her Ladyship () – barons, seigneurs, members of parliament, judges, court clerks.
Thailand
* His/Her Majesty – The King and Queen of Thailand.
* His/Her Royal Highness – Prince and princess of Thailand (used for children and grandchildren of the king)'' ''from " Chao-Fa" ''(เจ้าฟ้า)'' (the most senior rank of prince/princess) to "Phra Chao Worawongse Ther Phra Ong Chao" ''(พระเจ้าวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้า) ''(a mid-level, lesser class of prince and princess than Chao Fa). This style is also used for princess consort (now obsolete).
* His/Her Highness – Prince and princess of Thailand of the rank "Phra Worawong Ther Phra Ong Chao
The precedence of Thai royalty follows a system of ranks known as ''thanandon'' ( th, ฐานันดร), which are accompanied by royal titles.
The Sovereign
There are two styles which can be used for a king in ordinary speech, depending on ...
" ''(พระวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้า)'' which are born in the title as Mom Chao to whom the king later granted this higher title, either as recognition of merit, or as a special favour.
* His/Her Serene Highness – Prince and princess of title Mom Chao (m)/Mom Chao Ying (f) (''หม่อมเจ้า/หม่อมเจ้าหญิง'', abbreviated in Thai as ม.จ. or in English as M.C.) is the most junior class still considered royalty. This is normally when surnames first appear among royal lineages. They are either: Children of a male Chao Fa and a commoner
A commoner, also known as the ''common man'', ''commoners'', the ''common people'' or the ''masses'', was in earlier use an ordinary person in a community or nation who did not have any significant social status, especially a member of neither ...
.Children of a male Phra Ong Chao
The precedence of Thai royalty follows a system of ranks known as ''thanandon'' ( th, ฐานันดร), which are accompanied by royal titles.
The Sovereign
There are two styles which can be used for a king in ordinary speech, depending on ...
. Informally, they are styled "Than Chai" (m)... /"Than Ying" (f)... ''(ท่านชาย.../ท่านหญิง...)''.
* The Honourable – Mom Rajawongse (''หม่อมราชวงศ์'', RTGS: Mom Ratchawong; abbreviated in Thai as ม.ร.ว. or in English as M.R. and also translated into English as ''The Honourable'') is the title assumed by children of male Mom Chao. The title is pronounced "Mom Rachawong". Informally, they may be styled as "Khun Chai" (m).../ "Khunying" (f)... ''(คุณชาย.../คุณหญิง...).''
United Kingdom
* His/Her Majesty – the King/ Queen.
*His Royal Highness
Royal Highness is a style used to address or refer to some members of royal families, usually princes or princesses. Monarchs and their consorts are usually styled ''Majesty''.
When used as a direct form of address, spoken or written, it takes ...
, oral address Your Royal Highness – royal princes.
*Her Royal Highness
Royal Highness is a style used to address or refer to some members of royal families, usually princes or princesses. Monarchs and their consorts are usually styled ''Majesty''.
When used as a direct form of address, spoken or written, it takes ...
, oral address Your Royal Highness – royal princesses.
*His Grace
His Grace or Her Grace is an English Style (manner of address), style used for various high-ranking personages. It was the style used to address English monarchs until Henry VIII and the Scottish monarchs up to the Act of Union (1707), Act of Unio ...
(oral address ''Your Grace'' or Duke) – Dukes. Occasionally the Archbishop of Canterbury
The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. The current archbishop is Justi ...
, the Archbishop of York and other archbishops are also styled His Grace. Duchesses are likewise styled Her Grace.
* Lord – male marquess
A marquess (; french: marquis ), es, marqués, pt, marquês. is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman wi ...
es, earls, viscounts, and baron
Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knig ...
s, as well as some of their sons. (Style: Your Lordship or My Lord.)
*Lady
The word ''lady'' is a term for a girl or woman, with various connotations. Once used to describe only women of a high social class or status, the equivalent of lord, now it may refer to any adult woman, as gentleman can be used for men. Inform ...
– marchionesses
A marquess (; french: marquis ), es, marqués, pt, marquês. is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman w ...
, countesses, viscountesses, baron
Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knig ...
esses, and the wives of baronets and knights. (Style: Ma'am.)
* Sir – males, formally if they have a British knighthood or if they are a baronet.
*Dame
''Dame'' is an honorific title and the feminine form of address for the honour of damehood in many Christian chivalric orders, as well as the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British honours system and those of several oth ...
– female knights and baronetesses in their own right (''suo jure'').
* The Right Honourable signifies membership of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
The Privy Council (PC), officially His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the sovereign of the United Kingdom. Its membership mainly comprises senior politicians who are current or former members of e ...
, but does not confer any other title, and is also a formal style of address for certain holders of peerage
A peerage is a legal system historically comprising various hereditary titles (and sometimes non-hereditary titles) in a number of countries, and composed of assorted noble ranks.
Peerages include:
Australia
* Australian peers
Belgium
* Belgi ...
s, namely earls, viscounts, baron
Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knig ...
s, and Lords of Parliament.
*The Right Honourable and Reverend – as the previous explanation, used if the holder is also an ordained clergyman (parliamentary usage).
*The Honourable – younger sons of earls, all children of viscounts and barons, or Lords of Parliament.
"The Right Honourable" is added as a prefix to the name of various collective entities such as:
* The Right Honourable the Spiritual and Temporal Lords (of the Kingdom of England) in the House of Lords.
* The Right Honourable the Lord-Commissioners of the Board of Admiralty
The Board of Admiralty (1628–1964) was established in 1628 when Charles I put the office of Lord High Admiral into commission. As that position was not always occupied, the purpose was to enable management of the day-to-day operational requi ...
.
*The Most Honourable
The honorific prefix "The Most Honourable" is a form of address that is used in several countries. In the United Kingdom, it precedes the name of a marquess or marchioness.
Overview
In Jamaica, Governors-General of Jamaica, as well as their spo ...
– marquesses, The Lords of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council.
* His Worship is an honorific prefix for mayors, justices of the peace and magistrates in present or former Commonwealth realm
A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state in the Commonwealth of Nations whose monarch and head of state is shared among the other realms. Each realm functions as an independent state, equal with the other realms and nations of the Commonwealt ...
s. In spoken address, these officials are addressed as Your Worship or referred to as His Worship. In Australia all states now use Your Honour as the form of address for magistrates (the same as has always been used for judges in higher courts).
* The Much Honoured – Scottish feudal barons and lairds
Styles existing through marriage in the United Kingdom
Styles can be acquired through marriage, although traditionally this applies more to wives of office-holders than to husbands. Thus, in the United Kingdom, Anne, Princess Royal, is styled Her Royal Highness (HRH), her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, bears no courtesy style by virtue of being her husband (although his mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, has since knighted him), nor do her children bear any title or style, by right or tradition, despite being in the line of succession to the Crown, until 2015 subject to the Royal Marriages Act 1772. In contrast, when Sophie Rhys-Jones
Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Forfar, (born Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones, 20 January 1965) is a member of the British royal family. She is married to Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Forfar, the youngest brother of King Charles III.
She grew u ...
married Prince Edward, she became HRH the Countess of Wessex (&c.) and their children are entitled (although they do not use them) to the princely prefix and the style of HRH, and do bear courtesy title
A courtesy title is a title that does not have legal significance but rather is used through custom or courtesy, particularly, in the context of nobility, the titles used by children of members of the nobility (cf. substantive title).
In some co ...
s derived from their father.
Styles and titles can change when a marriage is dissolved. The Lady Diana Frances Spencer held the style Her Royal Highness during her marriage to HRH The Prince of Wales and the title Princess of Wales
Princess of Wales (Welsh: ''Tywysoges Cymru'') is a courtesy title used since the 14th century by the wife of the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. The current title-holder is Catherine (née Middleton).
The title was firs ...
. When the couple divorced she lost her style: she became instead ''Diana, Princess of Wales''. (although she fit the criteria which customarily accords the prefix of "Lady" to the daughter of an earl, and she had been known as such prior to marriage, she did not revert to that title following divorce).
When applied to the current Princess of Wales
Princess of Wales (Welsh: ''Tywysoges Cymru'') is a courtesy title used since the 14th century by the wife of the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. The current title-holder is Catherine (née Middleton).
The title was firs ...
, inclusion of a definite article ("The Princess of Wales"), is, like HRH, part of the style which accompanies the title. When Charles was remarried to Camilla Parker-Bowles in compliance with the Royal Marriages Act, she lawfully became HRH The Princess of Wales but, as was the announced intention prior to the couple's wedding, she continues to use the lesser title derived from her husband's Duchy of Cornwall
The Duchy of Cornwall ( kw, Duketh Kernow) is one of two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Lancaster. The eldest son of the reigning British monarch obtains possession of the duchy and the title of 'Duke of Cornwall' at ...
and is known as HRH The Duchess of Cornwall because the strong association to the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
From the divorce until her death in 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales ceased to hold any royal style, although the monarch declared that she remained a Princess of the United Kingdom and in occasions when members of the Royal Family appeared in public, she continued to be accorded the same royal precedence.
When Sarah Ferguson
Sarah, Duchess of York (born Sarah Margaret Ferguson; 15 October 1959), also known by the nickname Fergie, is a member of the British royal family. She is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, the younger brother of King Charles III ...
was divorced from her husband, HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York
Prince Andrew, Duke of York, (Andrew Albert Christian Edward; born 19 February 1960) is a member of the British royal family. He is the younger brother of King Charles III and the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince ...
, she too lost her HRH style, the rank as a British Princess and was re-styled as "Sarah, Duchess of York".
In 1936, Wallis Simpson was denied the HRH style by George VI when she married his older brother, the former Edward VIII
Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David; 23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972), later known as the Duke of Windsor, was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Empire and Emperor of India from 20 January 19 ...
, who became HRH the Duke of Windsor following his abdication and receipt of a peerage.
United States
The names of most current and former elected federal and state officials and judges in the United States are styled " The Honorable" in writing, (e.g., "The Honorable Mike Rawlings, Mayor of the City of Dallas"). Many are addressed by their title in conversation as "Mister" or "Madam" ("Mr. President", "Madam Mayor") or simply by their name with their appropriate title e.g., "Senator Jones" or "Commissioner Smith".
Continued use of a title after leaving office depends on the office: those of which there is only one at a time (e.g., president, speaker, governor, or mayor) are only officially used by the current office holder. However, titles for offices of which there are many concurrent office holders (e.g., ambassador, senator, judge, professor or military ranks, especially colonel and above) are retained for life: A retired US Army general is addressed as "General (Name)" officially and socially for the rest of their life. Military retirees are entitled to receive pay and are still counted as members of the United States Armed Forces. Accordingly, all retired military ranks are retained for life pursuant to Title 10 of the United States Code. In the case of the President, while the title is officially dropped after leaving office – e.g., Dwight Eisenhower reverted to his prior style "General Eisenhower" in retirement – it is still widely used as an informal practice; e.g., Jimmy Carter is still often called President Carter. The Vice President is typically referred to as "former Vice President", such as "former Vice President Mike Pence." Similarly, governors are typically addressed in later life as "Governor (Name)", particularly if running for further political office. Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney (born March 12, 1947) is an American politician, businessman, and lawyer serving as the junior United States senator from Utah since January 2019, succeeding Orrin Hatch. He served as the 70th governor of Massachusetts f ...
, for example, was frequently referred to as "Governor Romney" during his 2012 presidential campaign
This national electoral calendar for 2012 lists the national/federal elections held in 2012 in all sovereign states and their dependent territories. By-elections are excluded, though national referendums are included.
January
*3–4 January: E ...
and was addressed as such formally in the debates, having been Governor of Massachusetts until 2007.
*The names of judges are styled "The Honorable" in writing, and orally in court as "Your Honor", or by name after "Judge". Chief justices of supreme courts are addressed orally as "Mr. or Madam Chief Justice" or "Chief Justice"; associate justices by name with "Justice" (or, simply "Justice").
*The names of mayors are styled "The Honorable" in writing. In municipalities (e.g., New York City and Chicago), mayors are addressed in conversation as "Your Honor". This may be a vestige of the fact that the mayors (and some others) were also magistrates of the court system.
*His or Her Excellency (oral address "Excellency", "Your Excellency") was once customarily used of governors of states, though this has given way to "The Honorable", the form used to address all elected officials in the United States. "Excellency" has continued in the Commonwealths of Massachusetts and Virginia and the states of South Carolina, Georgia, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.
*The names of members of the House of Representatives are similarly styled in writing as "The Honorable". Orally they are traditionally addressed by name as "Mr." or "Ms.", but as a practice are sometimes addressed as "Representative" or "Congressman" or "Congresswoman" when it is necessary or desirable to specify the member's status. It is advisable to follow the preference of the individual official. Following precedence in Westminster style of parliament, when writing their own names, especially on stationery and franks, Representatives have upon occasion followed their names with "M.C." (Member of Congress). The names of senators similarly are addressed in writing as "The Honorable" and orally as "Senator". Where Representatives may have used "M.C.", Senators have used "U.S.S." (United States Senator). However, neither form is currently used by members in Washington, DC. On the actual floor of the houses during debate, members commonly refer to one another as the gentleman or gentlewoman from their appropriate state (e.g., "As my friend, the distinguished gentleman from Ohio, just said..." or "I yield three minutes to the gentleman from New York, Mr. Smith"). In debate, senators sometimes refer to colleagues as the junior or senior senator from a state, (e.g., "I disagree with my dear friend, the junior senator from Ohio..."). Senators also commonly use this form of address.
*While the term "Esquire
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentlema ...
", abbreviated "Esq." after the name (John Jones, Esq.), has no legal meaning in the U.S. and may be used by anyone (or at least, customarily, by any male), it is correctly used when addressing lawyers in correspondence as an indication of their profession. At least one American jurisdiction, the District of Columbia, limits the use of "Esquire" (and similar terms) to licensed attorneys. Although some authorities previously urged that use of "Esq." should be restricted to male lawyers, today the term is used for both male and female attorneys. The academic post-nominal ''J.D.'' (Juris Doctor
The Juris Doctor (J.D. or JD), also known as Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D., JD, D.Jur., or DJur), is a graduate-entry professional degree in law
and one of several Doctor of Law degrees. The J.D. is the standard degree obtained to practice law ...
) may be used by graduates of law schools who are not members of the bar of any state or who are working outside the legal profession.
*In academic fields, it is customary in the U.S. to refer to those holding any level of professorship (professor, assistant professor, associate professor, adjunct professor, etc.) as "Professor" – as in "Professor Jones" – orally or in writing. In writing, "professor" is often abbreviated as "Prof.", as in "Prof. Jones". Those holding academic doctorates are frequently referred to as "Dr. Jones."
*Military personnel of any functionality (doctors, lawyers, engineers, cooks, fighter pilots, motor pool drivers, commanding officers, security guards ... officers and enlisted ... leaders and followers) are always addressed by rank + name; with the exception of chaplain
A chaplain is, traditionally, a cleric (such as a Minister (Christianity), minister, priest, pastor, rabbi, purohit, or imam), or a laity, lay representative of a religious tradition, attached to a secularity, secular institution (such as a hosp ...
s, who are addressed as "Chaplain" and are addressed in writing with their rank in parentheses, e.g.: "Chaplain (Major) Jones". An exception to this is in the Navy, where in writing the rank is either not used, or is used before the person's name with the corps designator "CHC" indicating the officer is a chaplain put behind their name. e.g.: "LT George Burdell, CHC, USN". In the United States Navy, there is an internal practice aboard ships that junior officers who are not in command may be addressed by their rank or as "Mister/Miss X" as in "Lieutenant Junior Grade Smith" or "Miss Smith". This practice is also followed within the United States Coast Guard, both aboard ship and ashore. Junior officers in both services are understood to be those of lieutenant commander and below. Senior officers (commander
Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain.
...
and above) are addressed by their rank as in "Commander Smith" or "Admiral Smith". While officially this manner of address is supposed to be from a senior rank to a junior rank, i.e. captain to lieutenant, in practice it is not unknown for enlisted personnel to refer to junior officers as Mister as well. While commonly referred to by their rank, i.e. Seaman/Airman/Fireman/Petty Officer X or (Senior/Master) Chief X, on formal occasions, e.g. weddings, an enlisted man's full title is sometimes used, starting with their rating, then their rank, and their name, e.g. Electronics Technician Second Class X or Chief Gunner's Mate Y. When written, e.g. in formal invitations, the enlisted man's name is written as "''Serviceman's name'', USN/USMC/USA/USAF/USCG", without one's rank preceding their name, unlike commissioned officers.
*Any officer in command of a ship is referred to as Captain for the period of their command or in reference to the ship, regardless of what rank they normally hold.
*Retired military personnel may continue to be addressed by their rank at the time of their retirement. Those who held 'brevet' ranks higher than their permanent rank (permanent Army officers who held temporary rank in volunteer regiments during the American Civil War) also held this honor; though all such individuals have now perished, this usage is often seen in historical or fictional sources placed in the 1865–1900 period.
* '' Hamilton v. Alabama'', 376 U.S. 650 (1964), is a United States Supreme Court case in which the court held that an African-American woman, Mary Hamilton, was entitled to the same courteous forms of address customarily reserved solely for whites in the Southern United States, and that calling a black person by their first name in a formal context was "a form of racial discrimination".
Former styles
All former monarchies had styles, some, as in the Bourbon monarchy of France, extremely complicated depending on the status of the office or office-holder. Otto von Habsburg, who was Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary (1916–1918), had the style 'His Imperial and Royal Highness'. He was last addressed as such by church figures during the funeral of his late mother, Empress-Queen Zita of Austria-Hungary in 1989, although the use of these styles has been prohibited in Austria since 1920.
For the styles of address to government officials in Imperial Russia
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the List of Russian monarchs, Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended th ...
, see Table of Ranks.
The names of some offices are also titles, which are retained by the office holder for life. For example, holders of titles of which there are many at the same time, such as ambassadors, senators, judges, and military officers who retire retain use of their hierarchical honorific for life. Holders of titles of which there is only one office holder at a time such as president, chief justice or speaker revert to their previous honorific when they leave office out of deference to the current office holder.
Other parallel symbols
Styles were often among the range of symbols that surrounded figures of high office. Everything from the manner of address to the behaviour of a person on meeting that personage was surrounded by traditional symbols. Monarchs were to be bowed to by men and curtsied to by women. Senior clergy, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church, were to have their rings (the symbol of their authority) kissed by lay persons while they were on bended knee, while cardinals in an act of homage at the papal coronation were meant to kiss the feet of the Supreme Pontiff, the Pope.
Many of these traditions have lapsed or been partially abandoned. At his inauguration as pope in 1978 (itself the abandonment of the traditional millennium-old papal coronation), Pope John Paul II himself kissed cardinals on the cheeks, rather than follow the traditional method of homage of having his feet kissed.
Similarly, styles, though still used, are used less often. The former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, was usually referred to as ''President Mary McAleese'', not ''President McAleese'', as had been the form used for the first six presidents, from President Hyde to President Hillery. Tony Blair asked initially to be called ''Tony''. First names, or even nicknames, are often widely used among politicians in the US, even in formal situations (as an extreme example, President James Earl "Jimmy" Carter chose to take the Oath of Office using his nickname). One notable exception involves judges: a judge of any court is almost invariably addressed as "Your Honor" while presiding over his or her court, and often at other times as well. This style has been removed in the Republic of Ireland, where judges are addressed only as "Judge".
However, styles are still widely used in formal documents and correspondence between heads of state, such as in a letter of credence accrediting an ambassador from one head of state to another.
Self-styled
The term ''self-styled'', or ''soi-disant Self-proclaimed describes a legal title that is recognized by the declaring person but not necessarily by any recognized legal authority. It can be the status of a noble title or the status of a nation. The term is used informally for anyone declari ...
'', roughly means awarding a ''style'' to oneself, often without adequate justification or authority, but the expression often refers to descriptions or titles (such as "aunt", "expert", "Doctor", or "King"), rather than true ''styles'' in the sense of this article.
See also
* Forms of address in the United Kingdom
* Forms of address in Spain
* Forms of address in the Russian Empire
* List of titles
*Suffix (name)
A name suffix, in the Western English-language naming tradition, follows a person's full name and provides additional information about the person. Post-nominal letters indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accredita ...
* Title
* T–V distinction
Notes
1 Though the Republic of Ireland does not possess a Privy Council, the style is still used. The Lord Mayor of Dublin is still styled the Right Honourable, as previous lord mayors of Dublin were ''ex-officio'' members of the former Irish Privy Council
His or Her Majesty's Privy Council in Ireland, commonly called the Privy Council of Ireland, Irish Privy Council, or in earlier centuries the Irish Council, was the institution within the Dublin Castle administration which exercised formal executi ...
until its abolition in 1922.
References
External links
Table of titles to be used in Canada
Department of Canadian Heritage
Styles of Address
Department of Canadian Heritage
from Infoplease
{{DEFAULTSORT:Style (Manner Of Address)