| How To Address Two Officers of Equal Rank?
How do you address married couples in the military with the same rank. Is it?
Captains John and Mary Smith
or is it?
Captain John Smith and Captain Mary Smith
Also what if they are married but have different last names?
-- Candy J.
Dear PSC:
l am guessing this is a social form ... such as an invitation? And that both are captains in the same service? O.K.? if so ...
Outside envelope: When someone has a special title/rank .. most formally you write out their full name and you don't mix it with the other name: So both get their rank + full name.
But ... whose name goes first? His name? Her name? There is a protocol for this decision, and it's neither alphabetical nor ladies first. Military officers of the same rank are always ordered by seniority. One member of the couple has an earlier date of rank ... which gives that person higher precedence / greater seniority.
I can guarantee you they have discussed this and the couple knows which of them has higher precedence/seniority by date of rank! So you need to contact them if you are determined to do it correctly.
Since each is getting listed fully ... it does not matter if they have different last names
Captain John Smith
and Captain Mary Smith (if he has seniority)
Address
Captain Mary Smith
and Captain John Smith (if she has seniority)
Address
Inside envelope:
Captains Smith (same last name, most formally)
Captain Smith and Captain Wilson (different last names, more senior person listed first)
Mary and William (less formally if they are very close friends or family)
-- Robert Hickey
How To Address an Invitation to Hillary & Bill Clinton?
Dear Mr. Hickey:
How would you address an invitation to Hillary Clinton and her husband??
-- Phyllis Brown
Dear Ms. Brown:
Truth is you probably wouldn't send an joint invitation unless you are a very close personal friend: it's not like just anyone could say "Hillary, come to dinner and bring your hubby." They each have an office (and scheduler) you'd have to contact. But that said -- Bill Clinton has higher precedence as a former president than a current Secretary of State, so his name would be first. As a former president of the United States he is most formally The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton ... and she is most formally as ... The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton.
If you going to list their names together on an envelope it would be
The Honorable
William Jefferson Clinton
and The Honorable
Hilary Rodham Clinton
The most formal way is to put the person's name on a line by itself (like I've shown above), but you could do it on fewer lines too:
The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton
and The Honorable Hilary Rodham Clinton
Salutations would be
Dear Mr. Clinton:
Dear Madam Secretary:
-- Robert Hickey
How to Address Bill, Hillary, Chelsea & Chelsea's fiancé?
Hi, Robert! As you know, I sing with Lionheart – and we sang at the Metropolitan Museum of Art last night. We were surprised by some special audience members – Bill and Hillary Clinton, Chelsea and Chelsea's fiancé.
Lionheart would like to send them a note thanking them for coming to come hear us. To whom should it be addressed? and what would be the proper salutation? I know it's “Mr. Clinton” and not “President Clinton”, but I'm not sure how to handle a mix of current office-holder, past President, daughter and daughter's fiancé all at once: “Dear Clintons,”?
-- Kurt-Owen Richards, The bass-baritone in Lionheart
Hi Kurt:
It’s great that the Clintons they came to hear you. I enjoyed your concert at The Cloisters earlier this month.
This is probably the most frequently asked question I get, though you are the FIRST PERSON who wasn't asking it as a rhetorical question!
The Clintons: For a social envelope it would be ....
The Honorable William Clinton
The Honorable Hillary Clinton
and Ms. Chelsea Clinton
(Address)
You could add "Jefferson" -- his middle name ... and "Rodham" to hers if you want to.
The salutation would be
Dear Mr. Clinton, Madame Secretary, and Ms. Clinton,
Bill is first because former Presidents are #5 on the White House Precedence List ... and current Secretaries of State are #6. I include a version of the White House Precedence List in my book to look up precisely this kind of thing.
The Fiance: His note would be addressed to him individually since he’s not a member of the family (yet). You don’t mention his name (I don’t know it and didn’t know she was engaged, actually) but he’d be a “Mr. (full name)” unless you know he’s a “Dr.” or something. If you don’t know his address mentioning his presence in the note to the Clintons would probably do.
-- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Two Pastors?
What is the proper way to address a letter to my pastor and his wife is also a pastor? Thank you in advance.
-- Susan Wise
Dear Ms. Wise:
You didn't mention if they both use the same last name ... so I will assume the do.
And I will also assume you address each as Pastor (surname) in conversation rather than Dr., Father, or something else.
That said ... on the envelope ... address it to "your pastor" first ... and put the name of "his spouse" on the second line:
The Reverend Clinton Jones
and The Reverend Susan Jones
(address)
On the salutation to both use:
Dear Pastors Jones,
-- Robert Hickey
Whose Name is First? His or Hers?
In an informal salutation for a married couple whose name is first? His or hers?
-- Anne
Dear Anne:
There are rules of protocol when one person in a couple holds a high office, but when the formality drops to a first-name basis ... then etiquette takes over. On this point there are conflicting opinions on name order in such a social salutation.
Should you write it ladies first?
Dear Anne and Tom,
Should you write it to preserve the Mr. & Mrs. order?
Dear Tom and Ann,
When there is no surname used ... more etiquette books (if that is any measure) show ladies first:
Dear Anne and Tom,
-- Robert Hickey Hi Robert,
Thanks! I wasn’t expecting a response so quickly. You confirm what I’ve found by searching all over – that there really isn’t a hard and fast rule, so I think we’ll have to define it here so as not to offend the donor’s we address. I’ve found your site to be most helpful as I work on writing a procedure for our Development Office.
-- Anne
Gentlemen or Ladies First in Joint Address?
When listing a couple using first names and last name whose name comes first? Is it Tom and Anne Smyth or Anne and Tom Smyth?
-- Liz
Dear Liz:
Conflicting opinions on name order in the books I have seen.
Ladies first?
Anne and Tom Smyth
Preserve the "Mr. & Mrs." order?
Tom and Ann Smyth
More etiquette books (if that is any measure) show ladies first:
Anne and Tom Smyth
I've most often seen this defended as keeping the man's name together as unit.
-- Robert Hickey
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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
How To Address Two Ambassadors in a Salutation ?
Please tell me what the joint salutation would be for married U.S. ambassadors with different last names. Am I correct in that the mail names would be ...
The Honorable Jack G. Small
and The Honorable Ann K. Jones
Thanks so much!
-- Debbie
Dear Debbie:
Yes .. .that is perfect. Each gets their full name spelled out on their own line.
Next question is whose name is listed first? You listed Jack Small. Officially the one who became an ambassador earlier has higher precedence ... and would be listed first ... unless you are writing to one of them at their post ... and an ambassador at his or her post has the higher precedence.
-- Robert Hickey
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| How to I Autograph a Book to The President and First Lady?
Dear Mr. Hickey
How should I write the names of President Obama and the First Lady in a copy of my book I will autograph and present to them?
-- Alice Rippon
Dear Ms.Rippon
Write their names as follows
To The President and Mrs. Obama
Then add whatever you like... something like:
With Admiration,
Alice Rippon
(Month), (Year)
-- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Thank-you Note to a Former President
of the United States and a Former First Lady?
I was invited to dinner by President George H. W. Bush Sr. and Mrs. Bush last week at the Bush Library and Museum and the Presidential Center. There wasn't a written invitation - it was a verbal invitation - so I don't have something that says "The President and Mrs. Bush invites you", or "The President invites you" -- so I can be certain exactly who was the host and/or hostess of the event.
Should a thank you card be written to “The President” only? Or should it be addressed to "The President and Mrs. Bush"?
Should my note be hand written?
My thought is that the card should be written to the President only, but I'm not sure what is correct.
-- DH and SB in Aerospace.
Dear DH and SB:
You refer to your host as The President which is not correct for a former President. This event was hosted by “Bush-41” -- a former President is traditionally addressed as Mr. (Surname), in this case Mr. Bush. Holders of office of which there is only one at a time do not continue to use the "title" after leaving the office (see page 85). They revert to either “The Honorable (full name)” -OR- “Mr./Ms. (surname)” and are identified as "the former …”.
When Thomas Jefferson left the White House he returned to being Mr. Jefferson. When Dwight Eisenhower returned to Gettysburg he returned to being General Eisenhower.
If you addressed “Bush-41” as President Bush he would probably not correct you. At the Bush-43 White House they did write the place card for the former Presidents as "President (surname)" as a courtesy, with the reasoning that they are returning to their former home. It remains to be seen it the current administration continues this new style.
Regarding the thank you note, even though there was no written invitation, it's always correct to thank your host/hostess with a prompt note. Socially when the hosts are a Mr. & Mrs., the note is addressed to the hostess. Mail your hand-written note within 24 hours. Address the envelope to “Mrs. George H.W. Bush.” Use the salutation “Dear Mrs. Bush,.” If you want to mention your appreciation to the former president, you could include something like “… and please extend my thanks to Mr. Bush” in the text.
-- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Military Officer and His/Her Spouse?
Dear Mr. Hickey:
I’m wondering about couples… if you are addressing a wedding invitation to Joe Schmo and his wife and he’s a 2nd Lieutenant in the USMC, how should the invitation read?
--- Marilyn Huddleston
Dear Ms. Huddleston:
The envelope for their invitation should read:
Second Lieutenant Joseph Schmo
and Mrs. Schmo
(street)
(state and ZIP code)
1) On a social invitation USMC is not included. On an official letter to the Second Lieutenant you would include it.
2) Most formally you don't break up a rank + name "Second Lieutenant and Mrs. Joseph Schmo" is frowned on in the armed services. You do see it on envelopes addressed by civilians, but it not the best form.
3) An official person ... in the case the Marine in uniform ... gets his or her name on a line by itself ... so the and Mrs. Schmo is on the next line.
-- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Retired Military Officer & Spouse?
Dear Mr. Hickey:
How do I address an envelope to a retired Lt. Col. in the Air Force and his wife?
--- Living near the Base
Dear Living near the Base:
Use the forms I show under Joint Forms of Address, Members of the Armed Services on page 147.
Formal forms for an "official" envelope would be:
Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. Thompson, USAF, Retired
and Mrs. Thompson
Address
Formal forms for a "social" envelope would be:
Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. Thompson
and Mrs. Thompson
Address
Or:
Lt Col Robert W. Thompson
and Mrs. Thompson
Address
1) Lt Col -- capitalized, spaced, and without periods as shown -- is the USAF-specific form of the abbreviation for a Lieutenant Colonel
2) 'Retired" would not be required for a social envelope. It would be on an official envelope. If you are addressing an invitation to a military event at which there will be active duty officers, you should use "...Thompson, USAF Retired" or "...Thompson, USAF Ret."
3) Spelling out the rank is always the most formal, But in the armed services, they do use the service-specific abbreviations.
4) The most formal way to write an official person's name is to not break up the rank and the name ... hence Mrs. Thompson is on the next line -- not between his rank and his name.
5) The abbreviation with the periods is a "social form" which the military protocol officers do not like ... but if you look in "social etiquette books" .... you will see it.
All that said about the 'rules' -- less formally you will certainly see on a holiday card addressed using the informal format of "Mr. and Mrs."
Lt. Col. and Mrs. Robert W. Thompson
-- Robert Hickey
How to Jointly Address a Military Officer and a Doctor?
Mr. Hickey:
What is the correct form for a joint salutation when the wife is a Dr. and the husband is a Colonel (not sure of the branch)? They share the same last name. Is there a hierarchy to which is listed first?
Same question for the address on the envelope: Should the male go first or does a Dr. trump a Colonel regardless of the gender?
-- Jeanie Farrell in Arkansas
Dear Ms. Farrell:
1) One doesn’t specify the branch of service on a social letter ... so you are off the hook! When writing an official letter to a Colonel at his office ... you would include USA or USAF after his name ... and you would need to find out the branch.
2) In this combination the Colonel goes first: he has an official rank. The doctor is not an official. She only has an academic degree. She has lower precedence.
3) Wives of officials are usually written as "Mrs. (surname)", but since she’s a “Dr.”, it would be acceptable to use her first and last name as I suggest below.
On the envelope write this line for line (does not have to be indented however):
Colonel John Wilson
and Dr. Mary Wilson
(Address)
In the salutation write:
Dear Colonel Wilson and Dr. Wilson,
-- Robert Hickey Robert,
I have a follow-up question. I have been under the assumption that if a couple shares the same last name it is not necessary to repeat it in the joint salutation or the joint mail name. Is it wrong in your opinion to say?
On the envelope: Colonel John and Dr. Mary Wilson
In the salutation: Dear Colonel and Dr. Wilson
Thank you so much,
-- Jeanie Farrell in Arkansas
Jeanie,
I always suggest the most formal way ... figuring formal is never wrong ... and being casual might be. And the most formal way to write any name is do so completely, all on a line by itself.
Colonel John Wilson
and Dr. Mary Wilson
(Address)
When the couple uses the same last name and the wife uses Mrs. -- you see the following used on a holiday cards but not on anything very formal:
Colonel and Mrs. John Wilson
(Address)
Most formally it's:
Colonel John Wilson
and Mrs. Wilson
(Address)
When it's the woman who is the official it becomes:
Colonel Mary Wilson
and Mr. John Wilson
(Address)
Men using the same last name get their full names, wives don't. That's the tradition!
A salutation is based on what one calls the other in conversation.
Most formally in a salutation use: Dear Colonel Wilson and Dr. Wilson,
Less formally in a salutation use: Dear Colonel and Dr. Wilson,
I'd use on of the formal salutations until I was ready to use simply Dear John and Mary,
-- Robert
How Do I Two Employees At The Same Company?
How do you address a business letter to two people at the same company they both have different titles? The people are David McGraw, Supply Manager, and Wayne Kammerer, Maintenance Manager.
- Linda Whedbee
Dear Ms. Whedbee:
You don't identify either as Dr., Captain, or having some special honorific ... so address each with the honorific of Mr.
If you are aware that one position is higher in the organizational hierarchy ... list that name first. If you are not aware of any hierarchical order, list their names in alphabetical order.
So on the letter:
Mr. Wayne Kammerer, Maintenance Manager
Mr. David McGraw, Supply Manager
(Name of Company)
(Address)
As the salutation:
Dear Mr. Kammerer and Mr. McGrew:
-- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Dean and His Wife?
Hi Robert,
I'm writing a thank-you letter to a dean and his wife. He has a doctorate but I am not sure how to address the envelope and start the note. What is the proper way to do this?
-- Susan @ Athens Interiors, Athens, Georgia
Dear Susan,
I am guessing this is an 'academic dean" rather than an "Episcopal dean” Right?
The issues I think you are asking are;
* Should he be addressed as “Dr.” or as “Dean”?
* How do you include his wife's name?
Official letters to a Dean sent to his office are addressed to Stephen Smith, PhD.
Social letters to his home are addressed to Dr. Stephen Smith. I see on your note that you are an interior designer. If you are writing to him about design work at his home, I’d use Dr. Stephen Smith since that would be personal rather than professional issue to him.
Most formally Dean is used as an honorific in conversation when one is acting as a Dean: “Dean Smith, will you be chairing the faculty meeting?” And other people will refer to him (when he is acting as Dean) as "The Dean will be here in 15 minutes." "Dean Smith will see you now."
But back to your letter:
On the envelope if they use the same last name:
Most formally a social letter:
Dr. Stephen L. Smith
and Mrs. Smith
Address
Or less formally:
Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Smith
Address
Salutation:
Most formally: Dear Dr. Smith and Mrs. Smith,
Or less formally: Dear Dr. and Mrs. Smith,
Most formally a social letter if they use different last names
Envelope:
Dr. Stephen L. Smith
and Ms. Mary Johnson
Address
Salutation: Dear Dr. Smith and Ms. Johnson
-- Robert Hickey
How to Address the Vice President and Spouse?
Dear Mr. Hickey:
I am sending a formal invitation to several government officials. How would I address an envelope to Joe Biden and his wife
-- Melanie Schaeffer, Moline, Illinois
Dear Ms. Schaeffer:
The Vice President and his wife would be:
The Vice President
and Dr. Biden
(Address)
The formula a Vice President whose wife used “Mrs.” would be:
The Vice President
and Mrs. (surname)
(Address)
-- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Former US Senator and His Wife?
Dear Mr. Hickey:
How do I address a wedding invitation to a former US Senator and his wife?
-- Marcia Buchanan
Dear Ms. Buchanan:
On the invitation's envelope write their names like this -- line for line:
The Honorable William T. Buchanan
and Mrs. Buchanan
(Address)
Most formally write the official's name on a line by itself. And ... most formally if his wife uses the same last name she does not get her first name.
But, if his wife uses a different last name write it like this -- line for line.
The Honorable William T. Buchanan
and Ms. Marcia Smith
(Address)
Most formally if she uses a different last name she does get her first name.
You didn't ask it, but if you are using an inside envelope write, most formally .....
Senator Buchanan and Mrs. Buchanan
What most people want to write is Senator and Mrs. Buchanan like Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan .... but a Mr. is not a Senator and with officials it is best to use their whole name all together ... not broken up.
-- Robert Hickey
How To Address The Mayor and Her Doctor Husband?
My husband is a doctor and I am the mayor of our town. How should we be signing registries, cards, etc. as a couple? I am signing as Dr. and Mrs. Carl Wilson. Is that correct? Can my mayor title go anywhere in there? How should I be signing our Christmas Cards?
--- Cate Wilson in Florida, again
Dear Mayor Wilson:
If you are signing an official card, register, or guest book as the Mayor --- use the following:
Cate Wilson, Mayor of (town) and Dr. Carl Wilson
I am suggesting you put your self first: as an elected official you have higher precedence that your husband. And I am suggesting you don't call yourself Mayor Cate Wilson, since one doesn't give oneself an honorific (I don't introduce myself saying "Hi I am Mr. Robert Hickey.") And one doesn't identify oneself as The Honorable (full name).
Inside personal holiday cards -- not sent as the Mayor but by you and your husband -- you could use the same as you use officially if you want to Cate Wilson, Mayor of (town) and Dr. Carl Wilson ... or you could use your social name ... Dr. and Mrs. Carl Wilson. Either way, if you are sending it to close friends and family -- draw a line through the printed names and and write by hand your first names ... "Cate and Carl"
-- Robert Hickey
How to Address The President and First Lady?
Dear Mr. Hickey:
I can’t find a form for the correct salutation to use when writing President Obama and Mrs. Obama (in the same letter), If you tell me, I would be most appreciative!
--- Desiree Whitley
Dear Ms. Whitley:
You don't see a form for that because an official letter would not be jointly addressed to The President and The First Lady. Each has their own office ... his in the West Wing ... and hers in the East Wing ... both at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. So separate official letters would be sent to each.
But that said ... if you are set on writing them as a couple write it line-for-line like this:
The President
and Mrs. Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
Open the letter with the salutation:
Dear Mr. President and Mrs. Obama:
Close the letter with:
Most Respectfully,
Desiree Whitley
-- Robert Hickey
How to Address a US Representative and His Wife?
Dear Robert,
My first cousin Dana is married to a U.S. Congressman (Joe Baxter) from South Carolina. I want to send them a thank-you note. I'm considering the following as the first line on my envelope:
The Honorable Joe and Dana Baxter
Do you agree? Thanks,
-- Jeff Williams, Mayor Pro Tem, Laurel, Texas
Dear Jeff,
The most formal way is to NOT break up the official person's name and to give it a line by itself ... so ... most formally on the outside envelope it would be:
The Honorable Joe Baxter
and Mrs. Baxter
(Address)
OR a little bit less formally...
The Honorable Joe Baxter and Mrs. Baxter
(Address)
That's the way the White House would send out the envelope. Being a US Representative is after all … a big deal. He's entitled to his whole name, all together.
Women who use the same last name as their husbands don't get their first name in a joint form of address: If she used a different last name she's be "and Ms. Dana Williams"
And I'd would not suggest you use "Mrs. Dana Baxter" since most traditionally that would a form used in joint address to indicate they were divorced.
Then on the inside ... where it's personal ... you would use her given name.
Dear Joe and Dana,
-- Robert
How to Address a Pastor and a Lieutenant Commander?
My question has to do with addressing envelopes. Our Pastor, Alyson Smith, of the Presbyterian Denomination, is married to a retired Lieutenant Commander, USN, Richard. He is to be awarded his PhD soon. Regardless of the degree, I have not been able to find out how one is to address an invitation, card, or letter to the two of them, together.
--- Bobbi Sue Minton
Dear Ms. Minton:
A couple of issues here:
USE OF RANK
It's not typical for retired Lieutenant Commanders to continue to be addressed by their rank. Captains and above typically continue use of the military title in retirement ... but that said, if he prefers to be addressed as a "Lieutenant Commander Paul Smith" in writing ... and "Commander Smith" in conversation ... [full rank and basic rank] I'd follow his preference.
As a retired military officer his name is written most formally on official correspondence:
Lieutenant Commander Richard Smith, USN, Retired
As socially you would write to him as:
Lieutenant Commander Richard Smith
As a member of the clergy, her name is written:
The Reverend Alyson Smith, (followed by "DD" or whatever post-nominal initials she uses)
USE OF MORE THAN ONE "TITLE" AT A TIME
Regarding Richard getting his PhD. There is an American tradition that we only give a person one title at time. So he's either going to be Dr. Smith or Commander Smith. He would never be Commander Dr. Smith.
I say "American tradition" because the "British tradition" is to give a person EVERYTHING they would ever get ... so you see names like The Right Honourable Reverend Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Lord William Ramsey, MP, VC, PhD .... But in the US we address a person with the one "honorific" or "courtesy title" that's appropriate to the situation .... who they are to us at the moment.
USE OF DOCTOR
Usually holders of PhD's don't use Dr. (name) unless they work in academia or research. E.g., the holder of a doctorate in French who teaches would use Dr. (name) .... The holder of a PhD in finance who works at a bank wouldn't. Another example .... lawyers have a JD (Doctor of Jurisprudence) but none of them use Dr. (name).
An academic degree is never used with a military rank.
Whose name is listed first? PRECEDENCE IF HE'S BEING ADDRESSED AS A LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
An active duty or retired military person has higher precedence than a civilian so is listed first. So in most circumstances the joint form would be:
Lieutenant Commander Richard Smith
and The Reverend Alyson Smith
BUT if she is the invited guest ... and he is invited as her escort, then as the guest her name would appear first:
The Reverend Alyson Smith
and Lieutenant Commander Richard Smith
PRECEDENCE IF HE'S BEING ADDRESSED AS A DOCTOR
If he's using Dr., then both are civilians, and she as clergy would be listed first:
The Reverend Alyson Smith
and Dr. Richard Smith
I have spelled out "Lieutenant Commander" every time above, to avoid the whole issue of how to abbreviate his rank. I cover that in my book (service-specific abbreviations) if you need that information.
-- Robert Hickey
How to Address an Envelope to a Mayor and His Wife?
How does one address the envelope of an invitation to the mayor of a city and his wife?
-- Susan Hensley
Dear Ms. Hensley:
You didn't tell me the names ... so depending those ... there are several options.
If she uses "Mrs." and uses the same last name ... then traditionally her first name does not appear:
The Honorable William Stanton
and Mrs. Stanton
(Address)
This is the form the White House would use for a married couple using the same last name. The rule is not to break up "The Honorable" from "(name)"
What you want to avoid is:
The Honorable and Mrs. William Stanton
(Address)
If she uses a different last name, then her first name does appear, e.g.:
The Honorable Alan Greenspan
and Ms. Andrea Mitchell
(Address)
If she has her own rank, courtesy title, or some special honorific, then her first name does appear:
The Honorable William Stanton
and Lieutenant Linda Stanton
(Address)
The Honorable William Stanton
and Dr. Linda Stanton
(Address)
The Honorable William Stanton
and the Reverend Linda Stanton
(Address)
Probably more answer than you wanted ... but I hope that is useful.
-- Robert Hickey
How To Address a Pastor and His 'Professor' Wife?
How do I address a thank-you note to a pastor and his wife when both hold doctorates and she is a college professor?
-- Lucy Hendershott, Great Falls, Virginia
Dear Ms. Hendershott:
If it's a thank-you note .. it's social correspondence (as opposed to official correspondence to one or the other's office) so it's easier .... because you don't use their post-nominal initials on social correspondence.
Put each name a line of its own ... so each gets their full name just right
The Reverend Dennis Winslow
and Dr. Marilyn Winslow
Street Address
City, State, ZIP
His name would be first .... as a member of the clergy. Clergy has higher precedence than a private citizen. Even as a professor with a doctorate ... she's a still private citizen.
You definitely want to avoid forms such as The Reverend and Dr. Winslow or The Reverend Dennis and Dr. Marilyn Winslow
"The Reverend" always precedes a full name. .... and since she get's "Dr." she'd get her own name. If she didn't have a doctorate .. then this would work:
The Reverend Dennis Winslow
and Mrs. Winslow
Street Address
City, State, ZIP
-- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Two Doctors?
I attended a dinner given in the home of a plastic surgeon (him) and a dentist (her). Both are doctors with their own practice. When I was introduced it was first names. How do I address the envelope of the thank you note?
-- Cecilia Bonnington
Dear Ms. Bonnington:
When couples have the same rank ... which they do in this case since the are both Dr. ... on the mailing envelope they would be listed in the order established in the order in Mr. & Mrs.
Dr. Adam Wilson
and Dr. Cynthia Wilson
(Address)
or if they use different last names
Dr. Adam Wilson
and Dr. Cynthia Smithson
(Address)
Then on the salutation, since you are on a first-name basis address them as:
Dear Adam and Cynthia,
What I've outlined above is the most formal, so it's never incorrect. Note that I'm intentionally avoiding -- and suggest you do too -- any form that combines their names and "Dr" like Drs. Adam and Cynthia Wilson.
-- Robert Hickey
How to Address an Ambassador and Her Husband?
What is the proper form of address for an American ambassador-at-large, who is a woman, and her husband? Is it:
The Honorable Jane Doe and Mr. John Doe
or The Honorable Jane Doe and Mr. Doe?
Also, how about the salutation? Is it:
Dear Ms. Doe and Mr. Doe
or Dear Ms. and Mr. Doe?
Is that covered in your book? Thanks!
-- AC in NYC
Dear GB:
Yes, I have a chapter on joint forms of address. This combination is covered on page 145. The correct address would be:
The Honorable Jane Doe and Mr. John Doe
... because men get their full names when their wives name is listed first due to her higher precedence.
For a formal salutation use:
Dear Madame Ambassador and Mr. Doe:
Although using "ambassador" as the honorific would also be O.K.:
Dear Ambassador Doe and Mr. Doe:
-- Robert Hickey
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