Republic of the Philippines

Bulacan State University

College of Arts and Letters
Department of English
City of Malolos, Bulacan

RESPECT AND HONORIFICS

Different meanings of the word
“Respect”
 - a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited
by their abilities, qualities or achievements.

- state of being admired or respected

- a person’s polite greetings

- due regard for the feelings, wishes rights or tradition of others

ex: consideration, thoughtfulness, attentiveness
Honorific
It is a courtesy title that is used in spoken and written language to
communicate honor or respect for position. The usage of honorifics
differs from person to person, offices, institutions (such as college or
university), and cultures.
1. Courtesy titles

When talking to someone or a stranger who is older

than you or someone who has a position or authority,
courtesy dictates that you show respect during
conversation. A way to do this is using courtesy titles such
as Miss, Mrs., Ms., Madam/Ma’am, Mr., or Sir.

Madam is commonly used with the name of an office to

address a woman who is the office holder (such as
Madam President, Madam Chair, Madam Senator, and
the like).
● Ma’am (abbreviation for madam) is often used to address a
teacher, or is used as a polite respond to something an older
woman has said, and it can be used without a name.

● In addition to elder people and those with positions or authority,

you will also need to use titles, at times, for children whose parent
has a position or authority or is someone you respect.

● Use young man (to a young boy) or young lady (to a young girl)
in place of a name when you are speaking directly to him/her.
 Mx. is a gender-neutral honorific used as a title
for those who simply do not want to be identified
by gender.
2. Academic and Professional titles
2. Academic and Professional titles.These types of honorifics
are typically used as a style in the grammatical third person and as
a form of address in the second person.
2.
English language ethicists and language purists maintain the
following respect and honorifics in using academic and
professional titles: a. Dr. is for someone who holds a doctoral
degree (such as PhD and EdD) and for medical practitioners,
dentists, and veterinary surgeons (who do not normally hold
doctoral degrees). Dr. + name is conversational form. It is also
used both officially and socially in a letter’s salutation. Use Dr.
Nanquil or Dr. Luisito Nanquil on personal letter’s envelop
b. Professor is for a person who holds
the academic rank of professor in a
2.
university or other institution. It is
also an honorific used with
instructors in and around campus.

Ex: Use Professor Galvez or Dr.

Galvez
c. Retired Professor or Professor Emerita/Emeritus is
someone retired with an honorary title from an office or
position in a university. If the Professor holds a
doctorate and has the personal rank of “Dr. …”, she/he
2.
is addressed these ways in writing for the rest of
her/his life. Dr. Ma. Lourdes Bautista Dr. Norberto
Zafra Professor Emerita Professor Emeritus or or Ma.
Lourdes Bautista, PhD Norberto Zafra, PhD Professor
Emerita Professor Emeritus
d. Graded ranks of professor such as Associate Professor,
Assistant Professor, and the like, all can be addressed (as a
courtesy) as “Professor” or “Professor Nanquil” in
conversation. Graded levels of professor are not used orally
2.
and are seldom used in written direct address. They are
most often used in publications and on lists where the
specific hierarchical position is relevant.
e. PhD and EdD are post nominal abbreviations used
in writing to him/her with regard to his/her professional
pursuits. They are also used on official name plate such
as Luisito Nanquil, Ph.D. However, they are not used
on social
2.
correspondence such as wedding invitation,
wedding sponsors, religious activities, athletic
competitions, thank-you card, PTA meetings, and in any
activity that has nothing to do with one’s professional
title or educational attainment. Language purists claim
that using this by the honored dignitary is considered
very rude and egotistical. Moreover, do not use the
“PhD” title when referring to someone who has not
earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree.
f. Other professional levels.

Many use educational or occupational titles such as

Engineer, Architect, Doctor, Attorney (Engr., Arch.,
Dr.,2. Atty.). may be addressed orally as Engineer or
Engineer (surname). Many language practitioners
also suggest the following considerations in using
respect and honorifics:
1. In all forms of English, use either something
before the name or something after, but not both.
The most common academic titles in colleges or
universities are Professor and Dr. for those who
have a PhD, EdD, and MD. Use: Professor Velasco
or Dr. Velasco (in the classroom); Susana Velasco,
PhD or Dr. Susana Velasco (on a correspondence).
Not: Professor Susana Velasco, PhD or Dr. Susana
Velasco, PhD
2. Choose one that is relevant or is the preference of
the bearer. Mayor Jessie De Jesus is an DDS (Doctor
of Dental Surgery) and a Municipal Mayor. When
doing his job as a mayor, he prefers to be called
Mayor De Jesus, but is never Mayor Dr. De Jesus.
Such multiple postnominals are non-native English
speaker error (Hickey, 2019)
3. Many style books recommend not using periods with
courtesy titles (such as Ms, Mr, and Mrs) and academic titles
(such as BSEd, BSEE, MD, PhD, EdD, MAE, and the like),
other reference manuals recommend using periods, so use
your own judgement on this issue and be consistent.
4. Do not use Mr. Mrs. Ms. Dr. with any other
abbreviated title or with an abbreviation denoting an
academic title or honor.

Use: Dr. Noelito Bueno or Noelito Bueno, MD

Ms. Josephine Mercado or Josephine Mercado, PhD

Not: Mr. Noelito Bueno, MD

Ms. Josephine Mercado, PhD

As many language experts clarify it, this is more of

English usage question than academic question.
5. Abbreviate professional titles only when they are used
with both first and last names, or initials and last names.

Ex: Prof. D.S. Reyes or Professor Reyes

(There should be spaces between each period and in

the following initial or name) However, in formal
academic prose, it is considered bad form to abbreviate
names of people, academic titles, and many other words
simply to save space and time.
6. Determine the type of Doctor (Doctor of Philosophy,
Medical Doctor, Psychologist, Dentist, or Veterinarian).

In written form, the title Dr. and PhD are not

interchangeable. Only someone who has earned a Doctor
of Philosophy degree should be addressed as PhD.
7. Call the office of the dignitary and ask her/his
preference. Ask the dignitary, “How do you like to
be addressed? or ask her/his staff. If the dignitary
insists that he/she should be addressed with both
academic and professional titles, then choose
courtesy over correctness.
Thank you.