| How A Host Uses The Honorable on an Invitation?
I am writing with a question regarding the use of the Honorable in listings of names that are included on invitations. I work in the communications office at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. We hold many events on campus that often include invited guests of our President, Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, former chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. We are responsible for creating many materials including invitations and programs-for these events.
Our specific question is, how should we refer to Dr. Jackson on our invitations and programs, and what is the proper etiquette for listing titles for individuals who hold many degrees (both earned and honorary) and are also current or past holders of government offices and are "Honorables".
Example: Is it proper to say, The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D., invites you to join her and the 2010 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Honorary Degree Recipients as they come together to discuss Re-Igniting the Innovation Economy: Science and Technology. I had read that it is NOT proper for someone who is an Honorable to use it in an invitation. Please advise.
-- DP
Dear DP:
I've driven by Renssalaer many times ... so I am happy to see your note. What a fantastic institution.
USE OF THE HONORABLE WITH ACADEMIC DEGREES
In the United States "The Honorable" is not used with scholastic degrees. It is an honor so high it trumps academic degrees.
So NO to:
The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D.
and YES to:
The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson
USE OF THE HONORABLE ON AN INVITATION
On invitations the host/hostess does not identify himself/herself as "The Honorable" ... others address him/her as "The Honorable."
So YES to:
Shirley Ann Jackson, President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Or:
Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
-- Robert Hickey
How to Address an Acting Official?
I think I have looked through all the relevant places on your site and have been unable to find the answer to this question:
How does one address a letter to an "Acting" Deputy Attorney General? In particular, does one refer to him as "Honorable" - I believe that "Honorable" is used for all presidential appointees; however, the current Deputy Attorney General is "Acting" (i.e. named by the Attorney General to the position until the President's nominee gets confirmed by the Senate).
-- Anup Sanjay
Dear Mr. Sanjay:
1) Acting officials are not always in the job pending their appointment for the job. Sometimes they are in the position until a permanent appointment is made. You say this is the case here: he's acting until the President's nominee is confirmed. Around the government, It's not unusual for an type of office to be filled with both officials who are The Honorable and those not addressed as The Honorable.
2) There is an exception: unconfirmed cabinet-level officials ... acting secretary, secretary ad-interim, and secretary designates ... are addressed as The Honorable. So it would apply to the corresponding attorneys general too.
However, I know of no source that says the courtesy is offered to any pre-confirmation office holder below the cabinet level. I include a list of the offices addressed as The Honorable in my book on page 78.
So, for an acting deputy who pending appointment .... he or she would not be The Honorable until appointment and confirmation are complete. Until then he's "Mr./Ms."
To double check .... I've looked it up in several books I have, including the brand new one by Ambassador Mary Mel French, United States Protocol: The Guide to Official Diplomatic Etiquette, and all say the same .... cabinet / yes .... below cabinet / no.
3) There have been cases where an appointee had been elected to an office in a general election .... and was The Honorable from before ... so in that case he or she would already be The Honorable and not have to wait.
-- Robert Hickey |
| Does One Use "The Honorable" In the Return Address?
Dear Mr. Hickey:
In the return address on an envelope for an elected official, should his name appear as Joseph Schmo / (name of office) / (address) or The Honorable Joseph Schmo / (name of office) / (address) or something else?
--- Adam Halsey
Dear Mr. Halsley:
An individual never refers to him or herself as The Honorable (name). So in the return address the name should be (Full name) / (name of office) / (address).
I've seen on an envelope The Office of / The Honorable (full name) / Delegate for the Seventh District / House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia / (address) That's O.K. since it's stationery for all to use and it is not the official referring to the himself.
Similarly, I wouldn't say "Hello, I am Mr. Robert Hickey" ... one does not give oneself an honorific or courtesy title. Sometimes I get free stickers in the mail with my name as Mr. Robert Hickey / (address) -- but not wanting to throw them out, I do use them -- on envelopes for paying bills.
-- Robert Hickey
Is it Proper to Call Yourself "The Honorable" In Conversation?
Dear Mr. Hickey:
Is it proper to use the term the Honorable to refer to yourself in conversation?
--- Carla Harkness, Austin, Texas
Dear Ms. Harkness:
If you are an Honorable others would address you as The Honorable Carla Harkness, but you would never use it reflexively (referring to yourself that way).
So you would never introduce yourself as The Honorable Carla Harkness If you were the mayor, you would introduce yourself saying "Hello, I am Carla Harkness, I am the Mayor of Austin, Texas."
-- Robert Hickey
Do You Use "The Honorable" When Signing Your Name?
A friend has been elected at the county level to sit as state's attorney in our circuit court. He signed a registry "The Honorable (name)" - Was that appropriate?
--- ABH in Montana
Dear ABH:
One never describes oneself as "The Honorable" ... others address you as such, but you never use it 'reflexively'
So, your friend should have signed the registry with just his name. If he issues an invitation, he wouldn't use "The Honorable (full name)" either ....
But I would write his name on an envelope -- or introduce him/her -- as "The Honorable (full name), State's Attorney for the Sixth Circuit Court"
One caveat ... not all officials in every municipality will use "The Honorable." E.g., in Arlington, Virginia for some reason elected members of the county council do not use "The Honorable." -- but the elected Sheriff does. So I don't know what the state's attorneys in your area do. But if that's the tradition ... he should use it -- if not, he shouldn't. That should be easy to find out.
-- Robert Hickey
Can I Use "The Honorable" on My Card?
Dear Mr. Hickey:
Is it proper to use the term the Honorable to on my business card
--- Keith Reinhardt, Cleveland
Dear Mr. Reinhardt:
You would not use The Honorable Keith Reinhardt on your own card. on your stationery, in a letter you write, in your own signature, or an invitation you would issue. In every case you would write Keith Reinhardt, (office), so if you were a Senator, it would be Keith Reinhardt, United States Senator from Ohio.
-- Robert Hickey
Are Mayors "The Honorable" for Life?
I am a the mayor of a municipality - and the question arose, "Are mayors honorable for life"
--- Cate Wilson in Florida
Dear Mayor Wilson:
The rule is "Once an Honorable, always an Honorable" So if you are currently the mayor of a municipality you are most formally: The Honorable Cate Wilson, Mayor of (town) ... and I would call you in conversation "Madame Mayor" -or- "Mayor Wilson" -or perhaps "Your Honor"
When you leave office you will be" The Honorable Cate Wilson, former Mayor of (town)-. ... and I would call you "Ms. Wilson" -- since jobs of which there is only one at a time, don't continue to use the "title" when they are out of office.
-- Robert Hickey
Is a Former Judge Still "The Honorable"?
Dear Robert,
I have a question regarding a former district court judge (in New Hampshire) that has returned to private practice. Would this person still be called "The Hon.," or would that be inappropriate because of his new role?
--- Mark in New Hampshire
Hi Mark
The rule is "once The Honorable, always The Honorable."
So, address the official envelope:
The Honorable (full name)
(Name of Firm)
Address
Retired judges are usually addressed in conversation as "Judge (surname)"
However this judge might not be using "judge" as an honorific. A judge who has returned to private practice would be addressed as "Mr. (surname)" professionally. That way he would not be addressed as "Judge (surname)" in court in the presence of the presiding judge!
But that said ... friends might orally address him as Judge (surname) socially.
We have a tradition in the US of using only one 'honorific" at a time. E.g., an Navy Captain who is a Doctor, might be addressed as "Captain (surname)" when he is your commanding officer, and as "Dr. (surname)" when he is examining your injured foot. But he is never "Captain Dr." or "Dr. Captain."
-- Robert Hickey
"The Honorable" George Washington?
In a picture caption, should George Washington be "The Honorable George Washington", "President George Washington" or "George Washington, our First President"?
--- CH in Watkinsville, GA
Dear CH:
A picture caption is not a direct form of address, so you can refer to the person however it will be the most clear to the reader. In the United States, George Washington is certainly one person who requires no elaborate "who he is and what he did" clarifications!
"The Honorable" would be appropriate, but would be unusual. I've seen a list of "Honorables" being honored at an event and listed on program, and one of the honorees was recently deceased. That person was listed among the honorees as "The Honorable (full name), 1935-2004, which worked in the context of that list on that program.
NOW IF ... I was directly addressing the first president of the United States, in a seance perhaps, the I think I would call him "General Washington." Only a current president is "Mr. President", and once out office they are most correctly "Mr. (surname)", unless they have another honorific, which General Washington did.
-- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Former President of the United States?
Is He Addressed as "The Honorable"?
I have an example referring to a former president as "The Honorable..." Is that incorrect? Yet I also find that one should call a former president as "Mr. (Last Name), and identify him as a former president. So what should I say to formally introduce a former president?
--- MJH
Dear MJH:
"The Honorable" is always used before a full name. So for instance, when you address a letter, include the name of an official in program, or introduce an official from the dias at an event – the most formal way to say their name would be "The Honorable (full name)" and then identify their office.
So these would be correct:
"The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton, former president of the United States"
"The Honorable Sonny Perdue, governor of Georgia"
"The Honorable Roy Barnes, former governor of Georgia"
"The Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor of Los Angeles"
These would NOT be correct
"The Honorable Clinton"
"The Honorable S. Purdue"
"The Honorable Former Governor Barnes"
"The Honorable Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa"
These would be correct for direct address or in a one-on-one introduction or in conversation:
"Mr. Clinton"
"Governor Perdue"
"Mr. Barnes"
"Mayor Villaraigosa"
-- Robert Hickey
Who Decides If I Am "The Honorable"?
In 1970 I was nominated by the President Nixon and confirmed by the Senate as Assistant Secretary of Transportation. I was thereafter written to and addressed as "the Honorable".
In 1984 I was nominated by President Reagan and confirmed by the Senate as Under Secretary of Health and Human Services. Same "the Honorable" form of address.
In between the two and after the second -- in my civilian life -- I used my business title, Chairman, President etc. with but two exceptions. My London office insisted upon using "the Hon.", which seemed to please the British, and our Frankfort office, in typical German fashion, used all the titles they could think of.
My question; is it permissible and a matter of my personal choice when to use "the Hon." title somewhat similar to a "General" using his military tittle after retirement?
I doubt that there would be many times when I would choose to do so, but upon occasion it might be useful (or amusing).
- The Honorable in DC
Dear The Honorable in DC:
The rule is: once an "Honorable" always as "Honorable". So it is at the preference of the bearer (you), and the option of those who address you to use it.
In the US we (by tradition) give a person one "courtesy title / honorific" before their name ... usually the one appropriate for the topic you are addressing the individual. So a senator who is a doctor would be (in US tradition) Senator (last name) when you are his constituent, and a Dr. (last name) when he is examining your foot.
As you note the British and the Germans use they all they are entitled to, so they would use Senator Dr. (name), and maybe even The Honorable Senator Dr. (full name), PhD, JD, Esq.
That bring ups the Senator -- Dr. Bill Frist, who asked to be called Dr. Frist. He didn't follow the "rule" -- but how one is addressed is always at the preference of the bearer.
-- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Two Honorables?
I need to send a letter to two people (husband and wife) who are married and both need to be addressed as The Honorable in an address. How do I address them?! Thanks.
-- Rick Eckis on Capital Hill
Dear Mr. Eckis:
(1) First you need to determine which person has higher precedence so you can know whose name is listed first.
(2) Then list each person's name on a line by itself. Anyone's who is The Honorable gets his or her name written in full on a line by itself.
Gender is not a consideration. So if you determine he has higher precedence, his name is on the first line and hers in on the second. If she has higher precedence she is listed first.
The Honorable (full name)
and The Honorable (full name)
Address
-- Robert Hickey
Is the First Lady "The Honorable"?
Is it appropriate to address the first lady Mrs. Michelle Obama as The Honorable?
-- Anne Howe
Dear Ms. Howe:
No.
Officials elected to office are recognized by the use of the courtesy title The Honorable.
Actually First Lady is not traditionally used as a title or honorific for the wife of the President of the United States as it is in some church congregations. She is addressed directly as Mrs. Obama and identified (as if you need to identify her to anyone!) as First Lady of the United States.
If you were to introduce her to another person you would say
Mrs. Obama may I present ....
If you were asked to introduce her from a podium prior to her speech you would say:
May I present Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States of America
See page 166 in my book for every form used when addressing or communicating with the First Lady, or the page on this site where I give the forms for addressing a letter and salutation to a Spouse of the President of the United States.
-- Robert Hickey
Is the "t" capitalized in "the Honorable"?
Is the "t" capitalized when referring to the Honorable?
-- Carl Hanson
Dear Mr. Hanson:
It's not capitalized unless it's the first word in a line ... or in a sentence.
In my book I followed the style recommendations of the Chicago Manual of Style and New York Times Manual of Style ... and neither would cap the "t" in "the Honorable" in the middle of sentence.
-- Robert Hickey
How to List an Elected Official in a Program?
How does one list the governor or the mayor in a program for an event at which they will be speaking?
-- Susan in Honolulu
Dear Susan:
Use this formula:
1) list by name
2) identify by office
(Program)
Welcome Remarks
The Honorable Linda Lingle, Governor of the State of Hawaii
The Honorable Mufi Hannemann, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu
-- Robert Hickey Robert,
That's good, but I don't think it's necessary to list their offices. Everyone will know who they are. O.K?
-- Susan in Honolulu
Dear Susan:
Those present may know who Linda Lingle and Mufi Hanneman are, but programs also serve as keepsakes and as a record of the event. So often to include / not to include offices, date, year, and location are made with posterity in mind.
When addressing an "Honorable" male and his spouse on a formal invitation, I have always addressed them as The Honorable and Mrs. John Q. Citizen. Someone in my office now is suggesting the correct form is The Honorable John Q. Citizen and Mrs. Citizen.
Please help!! Thank you so very much.
-- LCP
Dear LCP:
The person in your office is correct. I think the "The Honorable and Mrs." form comes from just changing the "Mr. and Mrs." form.
The most formal form -- used on invitations sent from The White House -- when an individual has an official title or rank -- the "rank + name" is kept as a unit. So forms like...
Admiral and Mrs. John Q. Citizen
Rabbi and Mrs. John Q. Citizen
The Honorable and Mrs. John Q. Citizen ... are not used.
More correct on a formal invitation would be:
Admiral John Q. Citizen and Mrs. Citizen
Rabbi John Q. Citizen and Mrs. Citizen
The Honorable John Q. Citizen and Mrs. Citizen
-- Robert Hickey
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