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Should All Ph.D.'s Be Called 'Doctor'? Female Academics Say Yes

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do we call phd doctor

On the first day of class, Debbie Gale Mitchell, a chemistry professor at the University of Denver, introduced herself to her students, telling them about her Ph.D. and her research. She told her students they could call her either “Dr. Mitchell” or “Debbie.” A male colleague had told her that he went by his first name and that students were friendlier as a result, so Mitchell decided to try it. Many students chose to call her “Debbie.”

Then one day a student asked if she thought she’d ever get a Ph.D.

“I discovered that for me, the use of my title is VITAL to remind students that I am qualified to be their professor,” Mitchell wrote on Twitter.

Mitchell’s story was just one among hundreds shared last summer on social media calling attention to the way gender affects how professionals are addressed, especially those who hold a doctorate.

The discussion comes at a time when research studies into gender bias are increasingly confirming that how a person is addressed is linked to perceptions of their status.

The Twitter conversation branched from multiple roots. On June 7, Eric Kelderman, reporter for the Chronicle of Higher Education, sent out a critical tweet of a female academic who responded to his media inquiry by suggesting that he should have used “Professor” or “Doctor” (the tweet has since been deleted). The next day, a doctor from the U.K., David Naumann, criticized doctors, medical or otherwise, who use their title in a nonprofessional setting. And a few days later the Globe and Mail, a Canadian newspaper, announced revised style guidelines wherein only medical doctors would be referred to using “Dr.”, a convention that is already used most of the time by the Associated Press and news outlets that follow AP Style  (including KQED). What followed was an explosion of opinions and experiences revolving around titles, expertise, and gender and racial bias.

Many Ph.D. holders are fine with reserving the title for medical doctors in common parlance, viewing insistence on the title as arrogant and elitist, and do not use their titles even in a scholarly setting. But for women and people of color, an academic title can be a tool to remind others of their expertise in a world that often undermines it.

Some Ph.D. holders who insist on titles say that they actually prefer their first names. But given the discrepancy in usage, some women feel they must use and defend their titles, especially where the alternative is a gendered title like “Ms.”, “Mrs.”, or “Miss”. Fern Riddell, a Ph.D.-holding historian, wrote:

My title is Dr Fern Riddell, not Ms or Miss Riddell. I have it because I am an expert, and my life and career consist of being that expert in as many different ways as possible. I worked hard to earned my authority, and I will not give it up to anyone. — Dr Fern Riddell (@FernRiddell) June 13, 2018

Following backlash to the tweet, which described her as “arrogant” and “immodest,” Riddell coined the hashtag #ImmodestWomen, encouraging hundreds of women to change their Twitter handles to include “Dr.” or share experiences of bias. Riddell later wrote about the rationale behind the hashtag, saying that “we define women by their ability to be well behaved.” #ImmodestWomen was “retaliation.”

The tweets show “Dr.” is preferred by many women because it is both unrelated to marital status and gender-neutral, unlike “Mrs.”, “Miss”, or “Ms”. Several tweets described situations where a woman’s husband or colleague was referred to as “Dr.” (whether or not he actually had a doctorate) while she got “Mrs.” or a first name.

My pastor has her PhD. She was interviewed by a local newspaper along with another male member of clergy, NOT a PhD.. HE was referred to as “Reverend Smith”, SHE was called “Paula”. Seriously. — Head To Toe Organizers (@HTTOrganizers) June 11, 2018

In other anecdotes, female doctors (M.D. and Ph.D. alike) were met with utter confusion when they answered the phone to a caller looking for “Dr.”, or presented an airline ticket bearing the title. Even in 2018, with women making up 34 percent of active physicians and more than half of medical school matriculants and doctorate recipients , many people assume that “Dr.” refers to a man.

Bias in forms of address and use of titles is not limited to gender, many participants in the Twitter discussion pointed out. People of color with doctorates are also often not given the courtesy of their title, which echoes a long history of racially biased uses of titles. History professor Charles W. McKinney wrote:

Wanna know why my students will always call me “Dr. McKinney”? Because one day in 1980 I went to the store with my 75 yr old Grandmother Melida Thomas. Clerk greeted two 20 yr old, white women in front of us with “Mrs” and said “Well, hello Melida” to my Grandmother. That’s why. — Charles W. McKinney (@kmt188) June 10, 2018

The bias reflected in these stories is backed up by data. Last year, a study from the Mayo Clinic found that female doctors were introduced by their first names, rather than a professional title, much more often than male doctors. And on June 25, researchers from Cornell University published results showing that female professionals are half as likely as their male colleagues to be referred to by their last names, a practice that is associated in the study with lower status.

“The way that we speak about others influences and is influenced by the way that we think about them,” wrote Stav Atir and Melissa J. Ferguson, authors of the recent paper.

Atir and Ferguson described eight different studies, covering forms of address in professor evaluations, talk radio and under experimental conditions. Across the board, female professionals were less likely to be referred to solely by their last name. They even found that fictional researchers who were described with last name only were perceived as better known, more eminent, higher status, and more deserving of awards.

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The researchers proposed several explanations for their results. It may be more culturally common to refer to men by their last names because they are thought to be more permanent, since women may change their last names when they marry. Alternatively, it could be that speakers use first names to identify a subject’s gender, and this is more common for women in male-dominated professions, where male is the assumed default. This type of bias could even result from attempts to highlight women’s participation by identifying their gender using first names.

“The consequences may be ironic,” wrote Atir and Ferguson, “leading to lower judgments of eminence, status, and deservingness.”

As Mitchell, the chemistry professor from the University of Denver, and other academics related on Twitter, one way of fighting this type of bias is to insist upon the title “Dr.”

But other Ph.D. holders question whether insisting on titles is the best strategy. Meena Kandasamy, a poet and writer with a Ph.D. in sociolinguistics, rarely uses her title and did not change her Twitter handle. She questioned the practice of elevating those who earned doctorates over those who have not had the opportunity to do so:

For every one of us who has managed to float up and breathe from that cesspool with a doctorate degree above our heads–we must remember our sisters sent home, their dreams crushed, their futures messed up, academia behaving like one petty thug-gang to have the backs of a few men — meena kandasamy (@meenakandasamy) June 14, 2018

Critics argue that titles do not necessarily reflect how hard one has worked or even level of expertise, and that the most equal solution is fewer titles, not more. But supporters say that claiming the titles is the best choice under the present circumstances. Elissa Harbert, a musicologist, wrote:

I support #ImmodestWomen . As a PhD and professor, I currently use Dr. as my title professionally. My relationships with students improved when I switched to Dr., even though in a perfect world I’d use my first name. It’s not a perfect world. — Dr. Elissa Harbert (@KyrieElissa) June 14, 2018

In some instances, women are less likely to exhibit bias in form of address. The Mayo Clinic study found female medical doctors introduced both men and women with a title more than 95 percent of the time. Men introduced their female colleagues with a title 49 percent of time, compared with 72 percent of the time for a male colleague. In the Atir and Ferguson study, male speakers on talk radio referred to women by last name less than half as often as they did for men, while female speakers did not have such a strong contrast. In other research on gender bias in academia and medicine, women were just as likely to treat men and women differently. As research epidemiologist Chelsea Polis related, implicit bias can extend to usage of titles for speakers and writers of any gender:

I was once quoted in a story where all men w/PhDs were “Dr. X” & all women w/PhDs were untitled. Writer (a woman) was mortified when I pointed it out. Claiming our titles publicly raises consciousness than women can/do have these credentials. I want young girls/women to see that. — Chelsea Polis, PhD (@cbpolis) June 10, 2018

While the evidence points to persistent bias in professional forms of address, the solution is not so clear. Highlighting women with doctorates, medical or otherwise, may provide an important reminder that woman are now earning nearly half of medical and research-based doctoral degrees. But bias in use of doctoral titles is just one example of the larger issue of gender bias, as Atir and Ferguson’s study demonstrates.

“We find evidence of a gender bias in the way that we speak about professionals in a variety of domains,” wrote Atir and Ferguson. Addressing the problem may require attention to bias in all arenas, from the classroom to the boardroom.

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do we call phd doctor

Who gets to be called ‘doctor’?

Go to med school, earn an m.d. and the “dr.” honorific gets tacked on to your last name. some women — and ph.d.s — say they get the courtesy title, and respect, less often..

do we call phd doctor

We call physicians "doctor." Should we do the same for people with PhDs? (Credit: Bigstock)

This story is from The Pulse , a weekly health and science podcast.

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Molecular biologist Adam Ruben has a Ph.D.

There was one time when he made a conscious choice to refer to himself as Dr. Ruben — when he emailed an airline to complain about a messed up flight.

“We had to spend a night in some city and I was trying to get a refund for our hotel bill, so I signed the email Dr. Ruben,” he said. “And I know that’s kind of an icky thing to do but I have heard that you get better service when you use the term doctor.”

It kind of worked: He got his refund — after three months.

“It’s not outright wrong and the world should forgive me,” he said.

Ruben has been thinking about the doctor honorific for a while. He polled his friends and acquaintances with Ph.D.s on Facebook and Twitter about whether or not they call themselves doctor.

Some said they’ve earned it. Others said it seems a little pretentious.

“A surprising number of people all had the same concern about using the term doctor: if they were going to be on an airplane when somebody needs a doctor,” Ruben said.

This sort of happened to Ruben several years ago, but when he was on the ground.

Besides being a biologist, he’s also a writer and comedian. He was at a Story Collider storytelling event, performing for an audience of mostly graduate students.

“And somebody actually had a medical emergency in the middle of the show. He fainted and needed an ambulance,” Ruben recalled.

As he described it at the time, someone asked if there was a doctor in the room and about 200 people with Ph.D.s kind of looked around at each other frantically.

Some EMTs helped the guy.   He was okay in the end and the show went on .

do we call phd doctor

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After checking in on social media, Ruben wrote about his informal poll for the journal Science. He heard from female engineers with Ph.D.s who said they are under-represented in their field, and feel like they need to put doctor in front of their names to get the same respect that male engineers get.

Epidemiologist Beth Linas also earned a Ph.D., and she wants media outlets to refer to people with Ph.D.s as doctor, especially if we’re interviewing them about their area of expertise.

“Someone comes up [to me] on the street and says hello to me, they can address me as Beth, but if I’m being called upon for my background in infectious disease, epidemiology or digital health which is the other area that I study, I think I should be recognized as Dr. Beth Linas.”

Linas has been thinking about this issue and wrote a commentary about the congressional hearings with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and research psychologist Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were in high school.

“There was a lot of chatter online and on Twitter about how in written media, she wasn’t being addressed as Doctor Ford, I started noticing it in other publications and other outlets,” said Linas.

Some NPR listeners complained about the “insidious bias” of the radio network calling Kavanaugh “Judge Kavanaugh” but not calling Ford “Dr. Ford.”

The NPR ombudsman explained that like many media outlets, NPR follows the Associated Press stylebook, which says if someone practices medicine, NPR calls them doctor. If it’s someone with a Ph.D., it’s up to the individual media outlet.

On the radio, we don’t have a lot of time, and every word counts. Saying someone is a doctor or saying they have a Ph.D. can be a little vague. Ultimately that doesn’t give the listener much information. So for clear and efficient communication, our policy at “The Pulse” is to introduce someone as an epidemiologist, or pediatrician — being specific about a person’s expertise when we can.

Linas said her concern comes from an issue of representation.

“There are a lot of women, and particularly women of color that really struggle to make their way in science and stay in science, and we face a lot of obstacles, and I think it’s important for women also to be recognized.”

There’s a study that backs her up: researchers found that male doctors introduce their male colleagues as “Dr.” around 70 percent of the time, but introduce their female colleagues as doctor a little less than half the time.

Linas says if media outlets refer to people with Ph.D.s as doctor, especially when we’re interviewing them about their area of expertise, then it shouldn’t be that hard to tell who is the kind of doctor who can help you when someone needs an ambulance — and who’s best suited to give you statistics on the next flu outbreak.

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How to Correctly Use the Titles Dr. & PhD With a Name

How to Reference a Person With a PhD

How to Reference a Person With a PhD

When someone has earned a Doctor of Philosophy, or Ph.D., degree, that person is subsequently referred to as “doctor” in formal speech. The same is true of a person who is a medical doctor, psychologist, dentist or veterinarian. In formal speech, that person should be referred to as “doctor.” However, the rules are different in written form when addressing someone who is called “doctor” in formal speech. In written form, the titles “Dr.” and “Ph.D.” are not interchangeable.

Determine the Type of Doctor

First, you should identify what type of doctor you are addressing. Doctors of medicine and psychology, doctors of dentistry and doctors of veterinary medicine must be addressed differently in comparison to academic doctors who have earned a Doctor of Philosophy doctoral degree. Be advised that there are different types of doctoral degrees. A Doctor of Philosophy degree is just one kind of doctoral degree. There’s also, for example, a Doctor of Education doctoral degree and a Doctor of Psychology doctoral degree. The titles associated with the various doctoral degrees are not interchangeable. Only a person who has earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree should be addressed as Ph.D.

Addressing a Doctor in Writing

Place the title of “Dr.” before the name of a person who is a doctor of medicine or psychology, doctor of dentistry, or doctor of veterinary medicine. For example Dr. George Ross. Always write the word “doctor” in its abbreviated form when it goes before the person’s name. Never write, for example, Doctor George Ross. Do not combine the title of “Dr.” with any other title even if the person could appropriately be addressed by a different title. Never write, for example, “Dr. George Ross, Ph.D.,” even if the person is a medical doctor who has also earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree. Pick one title. Do not use the “Dr.” title when referring to someone who is solely an academic doctor.

Put a comma followed by the title “Ph.D.” after the name of a person who has earned a Doctor of Philosophy doctoral degree. For example Stacey Childs, Ph.D. Do not combine the title of “Ph.D.” with any other title even if the person could appropriately be addressed by a different title. For instance, even if the person being addressed is a doctor of medicine who has also earned a Ph.D., never write, for example, Dr. Stacey Childs, Ph.D. Pick one title. Do not use the “Ph.D.” title when referring to someone who not earned a Doctor of Philosophy doctoral degree.

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Maya Austen began freelance writing in 2009. She has written for many online publications on a wide variety of topics ranging from physical fitness to amateur astronomy. She's also an author and e-book publisher. Austen has a Bachelor of Arts in communications from the New England Institute of Art and currently lives in Boston, Mass.

“M.D.” vs. “Ph.D.” vs. “Dr.”: Are They Synonyms?

Quick: when you hear the word doctor , what do you picture?

Most would probably describe someone in a white lab coat with a stethoscope hanging around their neck or someone in medical scrubs—someone you would seek out if you have a deep cut that needed stitches.

That word doctor , however, is a title assigned to many who don’t come close to that description, many of whom you wouldn’t want stitching up that cut. Take your English professor, for instance. No offense, Dr. Barrett. 

It can all be a bit confusing, which is why it’s important to know who and why someone might be called a doctor , as well as what all those initials and abbreviations after their name mean. Here we break it all down.

What does Dr. mean?

Let’s start with doctor or D r . for short. While the first definition of the word is “ a person licensed to practice medicine,” that doesn’t mean you want to take medical advice from anyone who calls themselves a doctor . There are many looser definitions of the word that follow and, frankly, make things a bit confusing.

For example, the third definition is older slang for a “cook, as at a camp or on a ship,” while the seventh entry is “an eminent scholar and teacher.” Bugs Bunny didn’t help matters either by plying anyone and everyone with his famous greeting,“What’s up, doc?” 

The term doctor can be traced back to the late 1200s, and it stems from a Latin word meaning “to teach.” It wasn’t used to describe a licensed medical practitioner until about 1400, and it wasn’t used as such with regularity until the late 1600s. It replaced the former word used for medical doctors— leech , which is now considered archaic. 

WATCH: When Did The Word "Doctor" Become Medical?

Physician vs. doctor : are these synonyms.

While the term physician is a synonym for doctor , it’s typically used to refer to those who practice general medicine rather than those who perform surgery, aka surgeons . 

A quack , on the other hand, is defined as “ a fraudulent or ignorant pretender to medical skill.”

What does M.D. mean?

Moving on to initials that carry more weight than a nod from Bugs, let’s look at M.D.s .

M.D. , which can be used with or without the periods ( M.D. or MD )  is the designation for a medical doctor. This is earned by attending medical school (typically a four-year program after completing at least one undergraduate degree, plus a residency program), and learning to diagnose patients’ symptoms and offer treatment. 

The initials M and D stem from the Latin title  Medicīnae Doctor. There are many different types of doctors, with different specialties, but if you have a physical ailment, visiting a doctor with the initials M.D. is a good place to start.

Specialty doctors may add even more initials to their title, such as DCN (doctor of clinical nutrition), DDS (doctor of dental surgery), or countless others they acquire with additional training. To make things even more confusing, some may add abbreviations from medical associations they belong to, such as FAAEM (Fellow of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine). 

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What does Ph.D. mean?

As for Ph.D. , this stands for “doctor of philosophy.” It stems from the Latin term Philosophiae Doctor.

You can get a Ph.D. in any number of subjects, from anthropology to mythological studies. It’s not an easy feat, however, as to earn one, you must do original research and write a dissertation . 

Ph.D. vs. M.D .: are these synonyms?

There are two big differences between Ph.D. s and M.D .s. When it comes to medicine, M.D.s can prescribe medications, and Ph.D.s can’t. And yes, it’s possible to be both an M.D. and a Ph.D. In fact, some med schools offer programs in which you can achieve both simultaneously. 

You can also get a professional doctorate degree in a number of fields. For example, you might receive a doctorate of education, an  Ed.D . 

So, in a nutshell, both M.D.s and Ph.Ds can be referred to as doctors . If you’re looking for someone to treat what ails you physically, then you want at least an M.D. following their name. If you want to dig deep into a subject and get advice from someone who has done their own research and who likely knows the latest and greatest developments in a particular area, then you’re probably looking for a Ph.D. And if someone has both, even better—depending on your needs, it may be just what the doctor ordered.

Want more synonyms? Get Thesaurus.com’s sizzling synonyms right in your inbox! 

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Academia Insider

Can a PhD be called Doctor? Doctoral Degree Titles

If someone holds a PhD, they are able to call themselves Doctor. The doctor title is very prestigious and often projects expertise and respect in those who decide to use it.

A person with a PhD can be called Dr. However, many people with PhD degrees choose not to use their official titles unless they are communicating in an official capacity or are working in a professional role where they use their PhD.

I reserve the use my PhD title when I am giving a talk as it provides immediate credibility whereas, I do not often use my doctor title in many other instances.

When I first got my PhD I used my doctor title a lot more than I do now. I guess, the novelty has worn off and I have decided that it is not something that defines who I am as a person and, therefore, I would only use it in an official capacity.

Should PhDs use the title “doctor” after their doctorate? 

It is a personal choice for a PhD holder to use the title of “doctor”.

In many countries, it is common practice to use the title when referring to someone with a doctoral degree.

The title of doctor holds a significant level of prestige, and it generally signifies a high level of education and expertise in a particular field. Which is why it is important to use it in an official capacity.

Those who have earned a PhD have spent many years researching, writing and defending their work and have earned the right to use the title if so desired.

The title of doctor can also be used by medical professionals, and it is important to clarify the intended meaning when using the title to avoid confusion.

The decision to use the title of doctor is a personal one that should be made with an understanding of its significance and potential implications.

Even though the original use of the doctor title was for scholars, nowadays there are several different professional qualifications that can use the doctor title.

There are many honorific doctor titles, including those found in the table below.

The use of the doctor term for many healthcare-related qualifications can cause a fair bit of confusion about what qualification the person has achieved.

If you have any doubt about what degree a person holds look at the letters after their name.

If you want to know more about the doctor title check out my other article:

  • How to use the PhD title and all the little doctorate “rules”
  • Is a PhD a Doctor? [The full guide]

When can a PhD student be called doctor? After their dissertation?

A PhD student can be called doctor after successfully completing all the requirements of their program, including passing their dissertation defense.

More specifically, many universities only allow you to use the doctoral title after confirmation of your degree.

The University of Adelaide says that you can use it from your conferral date:

Students can be conferred on one of five dates during the year and for PhD students the conferral date will be the first available following the completion of all the academic requirements of your degree, including final thesis lodgement and the disbursement of any outstanding financial obligations to the University.

Personally, I felt comfortable using the doctor title as soon as I receive my notification letter from the University referring to me as Dr Stapleton. It was from this moment that I started using the doctor title.

There would be nothing wrong with someone using the doctor title after they have successfully defended their PhD – it just comes down to a matter of personal preference.

The title “Doctor” can still be used informally for those who hold other doctoral degrees such as a JD (Doctor of Law) or an EdD (Doctor of Education).

A PhD student can only be referred as a “Doctor” upon the completion of their doctoral program and after receiving their degree.

Why is PhD called doctor of philosophy?

A Ph.D. is called a Doctor of Philosophy because historically, philosophy was considered the foundation of all knowledge.

is a PhD a doctor

The word “philosophy” itself means the love of wisdom, and the pursuit of truth through reason and logic.

In medieval Europe, philosophy encompassed all forms of intellectual inquiry, including:

  • mathematics,
  • and history.

As universities developed and specialized in particular disciplines, the title of Doctor of Philosophy became associated with the highest level of academic achievement in any field.

This means that a Ph.D. is not limited to the study of philosophy but refers to any individual who has demonstrated the ability to conduct original research in their chosen field and make a significant contribution to advancing knowledge.

A Ph.D. signifies not only mastery of a specific subject but also the ability to think deeply and critically about complex problems. There are now many professional doctorates that include the doctor titleIn recognition of the hard work and deep thinking required to complete.

Wrapping up

Yes, PhD holders can be called Doctor.

Once you’ve completed a PhD and been conferred by your university and institution you can officially use the Dr title before your name and the PhD tag after your name.

Many doctoral degree holders only use their academic title in official settings such as academia and official duties.

Even though I was very excited about receiving my doctor title, after a couple of years the novelty wears off and I only use my official titles in the same way that someone would want to include Mr, Mrs, or Ms.

do we call phd doctor

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

Thank you for visiting Academia Insider.

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do we call phd doctor

Strategies for Parents

How to Properly Address a PhD

By: Author Dr. Patrick Capriola

Posted on Published: February 5, 2021

Honorifics play an important role in the English language. Not only do honorifics signify rank, but they help to convey courtesy and respect. In academia, honorifics are especially important, so it’s vital to address someone correctly. Many people wonder if they should address a PhD as doctor.

You should address a PhD with the honorific term “Doctor,” followed by their name in both spoken and written situations. The term strictly applies to anyone who has obtained a PhD degree, MD (Doctor of Medicine), or JD (Doctor of Law). English derives the honorific “Doctor” from the Latin word docere, which means “to teach,” and it applies to a PhD because they have reached a level where they can teach others.

Honorifics exist across all languages and cultures and are significant when using and understanding a language. Who should have the title of “Doctor” is widely debated by the academic world, revealing just how important honorifics are in modern-day English.

What Is a PhD?

A PhD is also known as a Doctor of Philosophy. A PhD is considered a terminal degree in the academic world, which means that the person has obtained the highest formal degree in a specific field ( source ). 

A Doctor of Philosophy is considered to be the traditional doctoral degree. However, over the years, many other types of doctoral degrees have been introduced. Examples of these include the EdD, a Doctor of Education, and DBA, a Doctor of Business ( source ).

Furthermore, a Doctor of Philosophy is considered an academic degree, while other types of doctorates are deemed professional degrees.

If you are considering pursuing a PhD, then you may be interested in exploring this article, “ How to Set and Follow Through on Academic Goals; Examples for Success .”

How and When to Use the Honorific “Dr.”

The honorific “Doctor” or “Dr.” should be used when addressing someone with a PhD, whether via written or verbal correspondence, and it applies to both males and females.

People working towards a PhD, also known as an ABD (All but Dissertation), should not be given the title of “Doctor.” Instead, you should refer to them as “Mr.” or “Ms.” until they have officially completed their PhD.

Undoubtedly, the candidate who has earned their doctorate has worked hard, so it is understandable why they deserve to be addressed correctly. 

The Prenominal and Postnominal

When discussing the subject of addressing someone with a PhD, it’s vital to consider the prenominal “Dr.” and the postnominal “PhD.”

Dr . Douglas Ferguson (Dr. is the pronominal)

Douglas Ferguson, PhD (PhD is the postnominal)

When someone earns the title of “Dr.,” they lose the previous honorifics they may have carried, such as “Mr.” or “Ms.”

A postnominal and pronominal are never used together at the same time.

Furthermore, when discussing these terms grammatically, the prenominal is used in the third person, while the postnominal is most often used in the first person. However, this may change depending on the context.

Written 

In academic circles, a considerable amount of correspondence is done via email and the written word. If you want to send a letter addressed to someone with a PhD, such as a cover letter, you use the prenominal “Dr.” 

When writing in a formal or professional context, you do not need to include the first name.

Dear Dr. Fergsuon, I hope this email finds you well.

In written correspondence, if you are receiving an email from someone with a PhD, they may choose to sign off with either the prenominal or the postnominal.

Regards, Dr . Douglas Ferguson

Regards, Douglas Ferguson, PhD

If you are uncertain, check your previous correspondence with them. Most people will have a footer at the end of their email, which tells you their qualifications. 

white mailing envelope beside white petaled flower

When addressing a person with a PhD verbally, you never use the postnominal.  

Good morning Dr . Ferguson

Dr . Ferguson, I have a question regarding the upcoming exams.

That was an interesting lecture today, Dr . Ferguson.

When Is It “Dr.” and When Is It “Professor?”

Whether to use the term “Dr.” or “Prof.” will depend on several factors. “Professor” is a higher rank than “Dr.”

However, the title only exists within a university context. Someone with a PhD will always hold the title of “Doctor”; however, they would still have to meet other commitments to become a Professor.

It is important to remember that not all those with the title “Professor” have a PhD, so the terms aren’t always exchangeable. 

Often the person lecturing you will indicate how they wish to be addressed. They may want you to call them “Dr.” or “Prof.” or even by their first names. However, it is not recommended to call someone by their first name unless requested to do so.

If a person has a doctorate, the general rule is to call them “Dr.,” whether they are lecturing you or not.

When it is appropriate to use the term ‘Professor’ differs from country to country. In America and Canada, anyone lecturing is generally granted the name “Professor” despite factors such as seniority and tenure.

However, in countries such as the UK and Germany, only full-time professors may be called “Professor.”

The list of academic ranks changes from country to country, but we can examine three examples to get a general idea.

United States

  • Distinguished, Endowed, or University Professor
  • Associate Professor
  • Assistant Professor
  • Master Instructor
  • Senior Instructor
  • Lecturer/Research Associate
  • Part-time Lecturer

United Kingdom

  • Distinguished Professor/Chair
  • Full Professor/Reader
  • Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor
  • Assistant Lecturer/Clinical Lecturer 
  • Associate Lecturer/Teaching Assistant/Departmental lecturer

South Africa

  • Full Professor
  • Senior Lecturer
  • Junior Lecturer

Honorifics in English

An English honorific refers to a prefix that occurs before a person’s name ( source ). Honorifics are not considered to be positions or titles that can appear without the person’s name, for example, the Queen or the President.

In English, honorifics are also often used to distinguish between males and females. However, some honorifics, such as “Dr.” and “General,” apply to both males and females.

This is because when these honorifics were first used, only males were able to obtain said titles.

Honorifics are an essential part of the English Language and must be used when formally addressing people, whether it be verbal or written. 

Who Should Be Called “Doctor”?

In the Canadian Medical Association Journal, Dr. James P. Winter, a professor at the University of Windsor, argues that those with a PhD are the only ones who are entitled to be called “Doctor.”

In his argument, Winter poses some interesting questions concerning the evolution of the word “Doctor” and how it has changed over the last 700 years.

Winter argues that due to inappropriate use, the term “Doctor” has become overused and underappreciated.

Winters stated that in many countries, such as Canada, healthcare professionals who don’t have a medical degree, such as pharmacists, are allowed to call themselves “Doctor.”

Blue and Silver Stetoscope

Winters looks at the term from both a historical and linguistic point of view to support his argument. As the term “Doctor” is adopted from the Latin word docere, meaning “to teach,” those with the title should be teaching others. He argues that teaching others is not common practice outside of academia.

Furthermore, he argues that the title of “Doctor” originated in the 1300s when it was only used to describe distinguished scholars. 

Winter goes on to state that PhDs are the highest degree that anyone can obtain from a university, while many health professionals only achieve undergraduate degrees. He considers MDs to be professional degrees and not truly doctorates. 

He concludes that PhDs are the only “real” doctors as dictated by linguists and history. Many academics share Winter’s feelings, with many PhD holders feeling that they have earned the right to be called “Doctor.”

Dr. Fern Riddle, a historian and author, started a debate on Twitter in 2018 when she claimed she wanted only to be referred to only as “Doctor” rather than “Ms.” or “Miss” because she had earned her authority ( source ).

Her opinions received backlash when people called her arrogant and entitled. Yet, many female PhD holders prefer to be called “Doctor.”This is because it illustrates their achievement and status irrespective of whether they are married. 

Those in the medical field argue that the term “Doctor” is significant because it makes patients feel at ease. As such, any health professional who is helping someone should be allowed to bear the honorific ( source ). 

Who should rightfully be called “Doctor” is a topic that is continuously debated.

The reality is that the term “Doctor” has changed over the years to encompass a much wider circle of people. This includes not only professionals and academics but males and females. 

Whatever your perspective, it is clear that the title of “Doctor” is still much sought after and revered, and that is not likely to change anytime soon.

Final Thoughts

Those who have obtained a PhD have done so by working hard and dedicating years of their life to academia. As such, it is important when dealing with someone who has a PhD that you address them correctly.

The term “Doctor” and to whom it is applied is constantly changing from country to country. It remains to be seen who else will be awarded the title in the future and how those who hold the title will react to its evolution.

Universities vs. University’s: Understanding the Difference between Plural and Possessive

Sunday 21st of February 2021

[…] For an article on how to properly address a Ph.D., make sure you read our article on this subject. […]

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| Daily Briefing

Who gets to be called 'doctor?' Why the controversial question divides journalists, academics, and more.

Editor's note: This popular story from the Daily Briefing's archives was republished on Jul. 18, 2023.

Read Advisory Board's take: How this mirrors the debate over what to call APPs

The public's perception of who qualifies as a "doctor" can be heavily influenced by the media, but few news outlets apply the title to experts who hold doctoral degrees, such as Ph. D's in science—and one epidemiologist in blog for the Scientific American argues this oversight diminishes the authority of experts with advanced degrees.

Why news outlets do not refer to PhD holders as doctors

Several publications—such as NPR and Scientific American —follow the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook, which outlines English grammar, usage, and style and lays out standards for referring to experts who hold a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.).

do we call phd doctor

Elizabeth Jensen, NPR's ombudsman and public editor, in an opinion piece explained how NPR and many other publications apply the AP Stylebook's standards when referring to doctors and Ph.D. holders. Jensen wrote, "Longstanding NPR policy," based on the standards in the AP Stylebook, "is to reserve the title of 'Dr.' for an individual who holds a doctor of dental surgery, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, or veterinary medicine."

Jensen noted the AP further clarifies, "If appropriate in the context, Dr.   also may be used on first reference before the names of individuals who hold other types of doctoral degrees. However, because the public frequently identifies Dr. only with physicians, care should be taken to ensure that the individual's specialty is stated in first or second reference. The only exception would be a story in which the context left no doubt that the person was a dentist, psychologist, chemist, [or] historian."

One epidemiologist's argument against AP Stylebook guidelines on doctors

However Beth Lina, an infectious disease scientist with a Ph.D. in epidemiology, in the Scientific American argues the AP Stylebook's standards for referring to doctors and Ph.D. holders are not appropriate.

Lina writes, "I was extremely disheartened and disappointed to learn that news organizations follow such a simplistic, flawed, and misguided recommendation, particularly as national sentiment suggests that experts are increasingly unnecessary." Lina argues, "By refusing to use the titles scientists have earned, news outlets contribute to the delegitimization of expertise."

According to Lina, NPR's use of the AP standard is at odds with the publication's mission "to create a more informed public, one challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas, and culture within the United States and across the globe," because the rule fails to inform the public.

In fact, Lina writes the AP rule "stand[s] to create potential harm to the scientific method and to the individuals who dedicate their lives to acquiring expertise and advancing science and policy." Lina notes "Dr." is not an "honorifi[c] or simple job descriptio[n]." She writes the title "is earned only upon demonstration of a deep independent understanding of a specific narrow topic."

Lina notes, "The academic credential is particularly important in the case of women in science, as many face extra obstacles to success that most men don't have to contend with."

"But this isn't just a feminist issue," Lina writes, adding, "It's an issue of recognizing achievement and knowledge." She concludes, "If news organizations strive to be leaders in creating a more informed public, it is incumbent upon them to lead by example. Though our titles are not why we continue to pursue scientific discovery, it is only appropriate to recognize us for the experts we are. We have doctorates of philosophy. Please call us 'Doctor'"(Linas, " Observations ,"  Scientific American , 10/22; Jensen,  NPR , 9/28).

Editor’s note: In case you’re curious, the Daily Briefing’s practice is not to use the title of ‘Dr.’ as an honorific, but rather to cite an individual’s degrees or training as appropriate to the story.

Advisory Board's take

do we call phd doctor

Julie Riley , Practice Manager , Physician Practice Roundtable and Sarah Hostetter , Consultant , Physician Practice Roundtable

As this debate shows us, titles can have tremendous power—particularly in the health care field where expertise and trust are so important. When I think about titles in health care, I think about another important question that I often get from members: What should nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) be called in medical practices?

“Many of the alternative terms can belittle their important contribution to the care team”

We know that this group can be essential to expand access, improve quality, and offset physician workloads, and NPs and PAs are increasingly taking on more autonomous roles in practices.  So while they’re often taking on this provider role, they are not doctors by training—and we shouldn’t call them doctors. However, many of the alternative terms that are often used can belittle their important contribution to the care team.

For instance, terms like 'mid-level provider' and 'physician extender' seem tied to an outdated understanding of the role these practitioners actually play in care delivery. More specifically:

  • 'Mid-level provider' suggests that they have either a lower hierarchical standing (relative to 'high-level' physicians) or offer lower quality care. But our research has shown that across the country, these practitioners are assuming greater autonomy and taking on their own panels , while evidence demonstrates that APPs offer care of  comparable quality  to that of physicians; and
  • The term 'physician extender' is even less applicable, since it fails to capture the provider-level work that APPs frequently perform. Indeed, where medical groups use APPs to just "extend" the physician, they likely are underutilizing their APPs, and could task RNs, LPNs, or others with those assistant duties.
“While this nomenclature may seem inconsequential, we know that names have power”

While this nomenclature may seem inconsequential, we know that names have power—both over the existing culture and the culture that your practice wants to build. There's a clear rationale for choosing a more empowering term. Our research suggests that medical groups that use their APPs most extensively and effectively also bestow titles commensurate to their role and value. Indeed, groups that are working toward deploying APPs consistently at top-of-license consider a change in terminology as part of their broader effort.

In our research, we use the term 'advanced practice provider' (APP), though some organizations prefer 'advanced practice clinicians' or other variants on the theme. This helps convey the value of APPs and highlights their role within the organization—to themselves, their care teams, and patients.

Want to learn more about how to make the most of your advanced practice providers? If you're a Physician Practice Roundtable or Medical Group Strategy Council member, view our toolkit to access resources to help you develop a high-value, scalable, APP model.

Access the Toolkit

Not a part of those memberships? View our slide deck and on-demand presentation on How to Get the Most Value from Your Advanced Practice Providers.

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Posted on November 30, 2018

Updated on July 18, 2023

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How to Address a PhD in Email

Last Updated: August 17, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure . Shannon O'Brien is the Founder and Principal Advisor of Whole U. (a career and life strategy consultancy based in Boston, MA). Through advising, workshops and e-learning Whole U. empowers people to pursue their life's work and live a balanced, purposeful life. Shannon has been ranked as the #1 Career Coach and #1 Life Coach in Boston, MA by Yelp reviewers. She has been featured on Boston.com, Boldfacers, and the UR Business Network. She received a Master's of Technology, Innovation, & Education from Harvard University. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 48,360 times.

Writing an email to a college professor with a Ph.D.? Do you call someone with a Ph.D. a doctor? Figuring out the right way to address someone with a doctorate is a lot easier than it may seem, and we’re going to break this down so that you can get it right. In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to address someone with a Ph.D.

Do you address someone with a Ph.D. as a doctor?

Yes, address someone with a Ph.D. as “Dr.”

How to Address an Email to Multiple Professors

Address each professor separately using their title and last name.

  • “Dear Professor Jones, Professor Smith, and Professor Ali.”
  • “Dr. Jones, Dr. Smith, and Professor Ali,”
  • “Dr. Jones and Professor Smith,”

What is the proper way to write a name with Ph.D.?

Write a name with a Ph.D. as “Dr. Jimmy Jones.”

  • You may have seen Ph.D. holders put “Ph.D.” at the end of their name. This is something authors do, but you shouldn’t need to write it this way.

Do you call a professor a doctor?

Adress a professor as

  • You’re very unlikely to get into any trouble by referring to your college teacher as “professor,” even if they are a doctor. At worst, they’ll kindly correct you.
  • In the United States, it is generally seen by most educators as socially acceptable to address a doctor who is also a professor as “professor.” It’s not technically correct, but you’re unlikely to offend any of your educators. As such, you can usually call a doctor a professor or Dr. in email. [3] X Research source

How do you address Ph.D. students?

Opt for “Mr.,” “Ms.,” or “Professor,” if you’re addressing a Ph.D. student.

  • A Ph.D. student is not a doctor yet, but they may still be a professor.
  • “Professor” traditionally refers to tenure-track educators at the collegiate level, but there’s no harm or risk of offense by calling an adjunct instructor, lecturer, or TA, “professor.” [5] X Research source
  • “Miss” has historically been used to address unmarried women, while “Mrs.” has referred to married women. These titles are going out of style since many people find them offensive, so you’re best off skipping these. [6] X Research source

Do the rules for addressing Ph.D. holders ever change?

The rules for addressing Ph.D. holders change from country to country.

  • For example, in Canada, you are not “officially” allowed to refer to non-medical doctors as “Dr.” You would address them as “Mr. Jones, Doctor of Mathematics.”
  • This also applies to the “Jimmy Jones, Ph.D.” form, too. In the United Kingdom, for example, you don’t use any periods. Someone in the UK would write, “Jimmy Jones, PhD” without the punctuation.

Expert Q&A

  • It doesn’t matter if someone has a Ph.D. is in philosophy, education, biology, math, or any other discipline. If a person has obtained a doctorate degree, they’re a doctor—even if they don’t see patients. [8] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Ph.D. is shorthand for doctor of philosophy. The word “doctor” comes from the Latin word “docere,” which means “to teach.” In ancient times, “Philosophy” was used to refer to any academic field. [9] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • The only exception, at least in the United States, are people with a law degree (they are technically “Juris Doctors”, or J.Ds). You do not use a special title or honorific to address someone with a law degree. [10] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

do we call phd doctor

You Might Also Like

Access Email

  • ↑ https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/career-advice-article/what-should-i-call-my-professor/
  • ↑ https://www.purdue.edu/advisors/students/email.php
  • ↑ https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/guides/sending-email-to-faculty-and-administrators
  • ↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-40530920
  • ↑ https://healthenews.mcgill.ca/use-of-dr-doctor-in-quebec-and-updating-your-honorific-in-mcgills-systems/
  • ↑ https://www.cmaj.ca/content/re-who-entitled-be-called-doctor
  • ↑ https://www.qcc.cuny.edu/socialsciences/ppecorino/roark-textbook/Chapter-1.htm
  • ↑ https://moviecultists.com/do-you-call-someone-with-a-jd-doctor

About This Article

Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM

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do we call phd doctor

Community Blog

Keep up-to-date on postgraduate related issues with our quick reads written by students, postdocs, professors and industry leaders.

What Should You Call a Professor?

Dr Harry Hothi

  • By Dr Harry Hothi
  • August 18, 2020

What do you call a professor?

As you progress through your higher education at university, you’re going to come across many different academic job titles. Most you’ll have heard of already, some you won’t have; our guide on this will help you better understand what each of these mean.

Another thing you’ll soon realise is that within STEM subjects at university, virtually all of the academics delivering lectures and supervising undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD projects have PhDs or similar research degrees such as a DPhil.

If you take a look at their university profile pages, some academics have Dr. in front of their names whilst others have Professor (sometimes shortened to Prof). This can start to get confusing, especially if you’re planning your first one-on-one meeting with the academic, perhaps to start a research project under their supervision; what do you call them? How do you address them?

Let’s say your supervisor’s name is James Bond and they have a PhD; should you call him Mr Bond, Dr Bond, Professor Bond or simply James? The easiest way to definitively answer that question would be to just ask your supervisor what he’d prefer (he’ll probably correct you if you get it completely wrong anyway!).

It is important though that you have an understanding of the significance of these different terms and why formally you might call someone with a PhD a Doctor, whilst someone else who also has a PhD could be a Professor.

To help you with this, I’ve written a list of answers to the most commonly asked questions I’ve heard around the subject.

If someone has a PhD, are they a Doctor?

PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy. If an individual holds a PhD degree, common terminology dictates that they have a doctorate, doctoral degree or a PhD in XXXX (fill in the blank here, e.g. PhD in Materials Science). PhD holders are entitled to write doctor (shortened to Dr) in front of their names and so may be called Dr. Surname. An individual with a PhD is not a Medical Doctor unless they also hold a medical degree, such as an MBBS in the UK.

How do you to address someone with a PhD?

Someone with a PhD can use the title Dr. Surname and your safest bet as a student would be to use this term when meeting a PhD holder within a formal academic or research setting; they may ask you to just use their first name or tell you that it’s actually Professor Surname! In job environments where a PhD is of less direct significance to the office environment (e.g. a Maths PhD working in banking), it’s less likely that an individual would use the doctor title in their name and you may not even know that they hold a PhD.

Do you call a Professor with a PhD a Doctor?

The distinction to be clear of here is that the title of Dr. is used to denote a PhD degree holder (or a similar doctoral degree) whilst the title of Professor is an academic job title given to an individual employed by the University as a Professor. If an academic uses the title Professor, then they should be called Professor Surname even if they have a PhD, which most STEM Professors will. It’s accepted that the title of Professor is higher than a Doctor.

Who can be called a Professor?

An academic should only be called Professor Surname if they hold the job title of professor at a university. Some universities in the UK and elsewhere also employ academics as associate professors, typically the equivalent to senior lecturers, in addition to full professors. However usually only full professors are addressed as Professor Surname.

Do you need a PhD to be a Professor?

In most STEM subjects, holding a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree is essentially a pre-requisite to becoming a professor. However, you do not always need a PhD to be a professor in other disciplines; there are certainly very successful professors within the area of modern languages, for example, that hold Master’s level degrees but not doctorates.

Is a Professor higher than a Doctor?

It is widely accepted that the academic title of Professor is higher than a Doctor, given that the job title of professor is the highest academic position possible at a university. Remember that the Doctor title here refers specially to a PhD (or equivalent doctoral degree) holder and not a medical doctor. There are certainly many examples of medical doctors holding both their medical degree (e.g. MBBS) and a PhD; these are clearly highly motivated, research minded doctors, many of whom balance their clinical work with work as a senior lecturer or even go on to become a professor themselves.

This post should answer most, if not all, of the questions you had about the use of Professor and Doctor titles within a university setting. Do check out our article on the hierarchy of academic job titles in the UK and feel free to get in touch if you have any more questions.

Scope of Research

The scope of the study is defined at the start of the study. It is used by researchers to set the boundaries and limitations within which the research study will be performed.

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The Thurstone Scale is used to quantify the attitudes of people being surveyed, using a format of ‘agree-disagree’ statements.

PhD Imposter Syndrome

Impostor Syndrome is a common phenomenon amongst PhD students, leading to self-doubt and fear of being exposed as a “fraud”. How can we overcome these feelings?

do we call phd doctor

Nidhi is a PhD student at Virginia Tech, focused on developing an engineered platform to study the breast tumor microenvironment, for diagnostic and prognostic purposes.

do we call phd doctor

Guy is in the 3rd and final year of his PhD in Immunology and Microbiology at The University of Newcastle, Australia. His research primarily focuses on investigating roles of our immune system outside of the typical pathogen surveillance.

Join Thousands of Students

do we call phd doctor

Before you go, check this out!

We have lots more on the site to show you. You've only seen one page. Check out this post which is one of the most popular of all time.

What Do You Call A PhD Student?: Are They A Doctor?

When I started my PhD program, I did not know how to refer to other PhD students when addressing them at other universities. Also, it seems rather strange if you are a college student to address PhD students if they are your Teaching Assistant (TA) as professor. It just did not seem right. Over the years, I have learnt how to refer to PhD students under different roles. If you like this post, you might like our post on why life hacking and the importance of (not) life hacking.

If you are referring to PhD students, it is ok to address PhD students as Mr., Ms., or Mx. However, if they are your instructor, you might want to address them as professor as a way to show respect. If they are your Teaching Assistant, you can address them as Mr., Ms., or Mx., and, Sir or Madame. If they are more informal, you can use their first name, but ask their permission first. 

I am sure that you are much like me – not knowing what to do, but not wanting to mess up. We have all been there. Academia is often strange for those of us who did not grow up in an academic family, so don’t feel bad about knowing any of these issues. I did not grow up in an academic family, and I bumbled my way through.

Do not ask a PhD student these questions. Read this post to learn more.

By the way, I need to point out that if you make a mistake with anything, don’t worry about it. Mistakes with names and professional designations are common. I used to worry about this stuff a lot (I still do), but just cut yourself some slack. Mistakes happen, and its OK. It’s called being human. If and when I make mistakes with these kind of things, I just send a nice polite email apologizing for the mistake, or I make fun of myself, or both. 🙂

Oh, I just point out that I got my doctorate in Strategic Management back in 2011, and now an Associate Professor at a pretty well known school in the South Eastern States. If you like this post, you really should read this post on what are the differences between undergraduate and graduate education (there are some pretty big differences) .

Why do you want to address PhD students in a formal way?

Basically, you want to show respect to those that are just ahead of you in the academic system. They are not only a few years ahead of you, but it took a lot of work to get to where they are. They also had to pass several rights of passages, such as actually getting into the PhD Program, which is often difficult to do.

Many PhD students have professional degrees, particularly in Business Schools where I am, like engineering, economist, MDs, accountants, or an attorney. Indeed, it is extremely common to find PhD students with these professional degrees that would otherwise command respect in industry. Just as a way to be nice and show respect to others, you might want to error on be more formal first. Over time, as you get to know the PhD student, you can address them more informally by their first name, if that is OK with them.

Check out this blog post on must have software tools and apps that students and academics need. You might find it useful.

What is the typical age to get a PhD? Can you get one when you are younger (or older)? Read our blog post on when is it normal to get a doctorate.

Watch this video if you are confused about what is the difference between a PhD student and a PhD candidate:

Do you address PhD students as Dr (Doctor)? 

Generally, no. PhD students have not earned the terminal degree yet, so they are not technically suppose to be called Doctor. It’s kind of like putting on the marathon medal before you won the race. I even feel weird about wearing the race shirt during the race – you are just not quite finished yet. I would avoid doing that until they earned the degree. ( You might like this post on what is the PhD journey, and why it matters) .

Can a PhD candidate be called Doctor?

Again, no. I would just say

Sir or Madame.

Or, whatever they want to be called, but you should ask – it’s OK to ask.

To distinguish PhD candidates from PhD students, you can just say that they are ABD (all but dissertation). Many people will even put ABD on their academic resume (Vitae).

Have you had a bad PhD experience? Read this blog post for help!

What if you called a PhD student as Doctor or Professor by mistake?

Don’t worry about it. It’s kind of flattering for the PhD student. They will love the fact that you called them Professor or Doctor. I still remember when people started calling me that. 

Are you interested in doing a PhD? Find out about the average PhD Program acceptance rate.

It took me years to get used to the title of Professor or Doctor, and it still seems really weird to say that. To me, I am still the same boy that played in the sandbox when I was 5 years old. The only difference is that other people see me differently. At the end of the day, the only reason I use the term Dr. or Professor is to command a bit more respect, because people often mistake me for being really young. (This happened this year – I am 40 years old. It’s kinda like getting ‘carded’ when you buy a drink).

How do you refer to a PhD student in an email?

Like the question before, I would just say Mr., Ms., or Mx. So and So. I would definitely be polite and nice if you don’t know them. If they are your instructor, you might say “Dear Sir” or “Dear Madame” in the email. 

I would not write “Hey, Mr. X,” that just comes across way too informal. Instead, just write “Dear Sir/Madame.”

Here is a helpful video about emailing a Professor (or PhD Student) that you might want to see:

Here is another video that I did about PhD abbreviations:

In general though, I would just think about giving other people respect in these circumstances. Starting out formally is better than starting out informally. You can always come back to being more informal once you get to know someone a bit more. Just be nice, and good things will come.

Did you benefit from this post? Do you know of anyone at all that could use feedback on their writing or editing of their documents? I would be so grateful if you read this post on how to get feedback on your writing using R3ciprocity.com or let others know about the R3ciprocity Project. THANK YOU in advance! You are the bees knees.

The R3ciprocity Project started out as a side-project, where David Maslach created an App to help others get feedback on their work (r3ciprocity.com – it is seriously inexpensive and easy to use. You have to try it!) , but it is beginning to grow into a real movement. Check out the YouTube channel , or some of these posts if you want to understand more. You might want to read this helpful blog posts:

Thinking Of Grad School? Helpful Answers To “Do Professors…” Questions.
A Day in the Life of a Successful PhD Student (You Need To Know)
How Do You Get Feedback On Your Writing (During A PhD / In Grad School)?
Five Frustrating PhD Questions To (Never) Ask A PhD.

David Maslach

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Who is entitled to the title of “doctor”?

Two letters, one period, so much fuss. Then again, this short combination of letters and punctuation is rather coveted. It projects expertise and draws respect. It indicates status, accomplishment, years of study. It earns patients’ trust. It makes parents proud. So perhaps it should be no surprise that more health care professionals want to see the honorific “Dr.” before their names.

But who should be allowed to call themselves a doctor? That remains a matter of debate, especially in health care. Some non-physicians say they have achieved doctoral-level degrees and deserve the title. Others wonder if this is merely careerism that will confuse, not help, patients in clinical settings.

“I’m very comfortable with doctors of audiology, doctors of nutrition, doctors of pharmacy. I often see someone say, ‘I’m Dr. so-and-so, and I’m a pharmacist.’ That’s not that unusual,” said Dr. Wanda Filer, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. “The big issue is to make sure the patient knows who they are talking to.”

This issue recently resurfaced in Canada, after an Ontario audiologist named Brenda Berge launched a freedom of expression challenge before the Ontario Divisional Court for the right to be called a doctor. Though Ontario law allows various health care professionals without medical degrees to use the “Dr.” honorific — dentists, naturopaths and chiropractors among them — the privilege is not extended to audiologists.

Berge, who has a doctoral-level degree, had previously been using the title, until the College of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists of Ontario found her guilty of misconduct. The college suspended Berge for three months. She also had to take a course in professional ethics and pay the college nearly $100 000 in costs.

According to Filer, however, bringing more expertise into patient care from other medical disciplines is a good thing. And if those experts have the credentials and want to call themselves doctors, so be it. As long as there is no intent to mislead patients, and all professionals are aware of their abilities and boundaries, why wouldn’t physicians respect the wishes of colleagues who want to be called doctors?

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Would allowing more health care professionals, such as audiologists, to use the title “doctor” benefit patients or only careers?

“I think we need to avoid, as professionals, demeaning each other. We need to think collectively about what is best for patients,” said Filer. “Quite frankly, as I read about the case and the credentials of that audiologist, in my mind, she’s a doctor of audiology, flat out. From the training she has had, I’d be very happy to have her see my patients.”

One of Filers’ predecessors didn’t appear to hold the same opinion. In a 2011 article in the New York Times , Dr. Roland Goertz, who was then the board chair of the American Academy of Family Physicians, said that physicians were worried about losing control over the title of “doctor” because it could lead to loss of control over the medical profession itself. “There is real concern that the use of ‘doctor’ will not be clear to patients,” he told the newspaper.

In 2009, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario provided input to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care about the use of the title “doctor.” One of the main concerns was that the lack of consistent requirements for professionals permitted to be called “doctor” would be confusing to the public. “Within a health care setting, the public typically associates the title ‘doctor’ with those who provide medical treatment and advice,” the letter states. “Identifying non-physician doctorates by the title ‘doctor’ may lead to misconceptions from the public that such individuals, when working in a health care setting, are able to offer medical treatment and advice.”

According to Kathryn Clarke, senior communications coordinator for the college, restricted titles are an essential public-protection component in regulating health professions. They help patients identify various health care professions, distinguish the qualified from the unqualified and differentiate practitioners who are regulated from those who aren’t.

“A significant factor to be considered before a health-care professional is permitted to use the designation doctor is, at minimum, consistent and rigorous educational, training and accreditation requirements to ensure consistency amongst health professionals permitted to use this restricted title while providing health care to patients,” Clarke said in an email. “In this way patients will know that the health care professional with whom they are dealing is regulated by a college, and is therefore duly qualified and subject to disciplinary processes for incompetent, impaired or unethical practice.”

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Should an Ed.D. or Ph.D. Be Called “Doctor?”

Essayist Joseph Epstein wrote an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal insisting that Dr. Jill Biden should stop calling herself “Dr.” He objected to the use of the term “Dr.” for anyone who is not an M.D.

His essay set off a furor in the media. The topic “trended” on Twitter (meaning it was one of the most widely cited of the day), and it was written up in major newspapers.

Epstein wrote:

Madame First Lady—Mrs. Biden—Jill—kiddo: a bit of advice on what may seem like a small but I think is a not unimportant matter. Any chance you might drop the “Dr.” before your name? “Dr. Jill Biden” sounds and feels fraudulent, not to say a touch comic. Your degree is, I believe, an Ed.D., a doctor of education, earned at the University of Delaware through a dissertation with the unpromising title “Student Retention at the Community College Level: Meeting Students’ Needs.” A wise man once said that no one should call himself “Dr.” unless he has delivered a child. Think about it, Dr. Jill, and forthwith drop the doc. 

I taught at Northwestern University for 30 years without a doctorate or any advanced degree. I have only a B.A. in absentia from the University of Chicago—in absentia because I took my final examination on a pool table at Headquarters Company, Fort Hood, Texas, while serving in the peacetime Army in the late 1950s. I do have an honorary doctorate, though I have to report that the president of the school that awarded it was fired the year after I received it, not, I hope, for allowing my honorary doctorate. During my years as a university teacher I was sometimes addressed, usually on the phone, as “Dr. Epstein.” On such occasions it was all I could do not to reply, “Read two chapters of Henry James and get into bed. I’ll be right over.”

I was also often addressed as Dr. during the years I was editor of the American Scholar, the quarterly magazine of Phi Beta Kappa. Let me quickly insert that I am also not a member of Phi Beta Kappa, except by marriage. Many of those who so addressed me, I noted, were scientists. I also received a fair amount of correspondence from people who appended the initials Ph.D. to their names atop their letterheads, and have twice seen PHD on vanity license plates, which struck me as pathetic. In contemporary universities, in the social sciences and humanities, calling oneself Dr. is thought bush league.

Many years ago–back in the early 1960s–I worked alongside Joseph Epstein at a small magazine called The New Leader. He had a wicked sense of humor and was fast with a snappy wisecrack. Over the years, we lost touch, but I still remember the fun we had writing jazzy headlines for dull articles (“Five Minutes to Midnight in _____” [insert name of country].

I disagree with his putdown of Jill Biden. If people have earned a doctorate, they can call themselves Dr. What’s the point of working for years to earn a doctorate if you can’t use the title? As for his reference to her dissertation topic, I feel certain that he never read it and cannot judge whether it was or was not valuable. His words show how little he thinks of community colleges and their students and faculty.

Dr. Biden is not a good target for ridicule. She is a woman who radiates integrity, empathy, and intelligence. She has earned the right to call herself Dr. Biden.

The best comment I have seen on this flap appeared on Fred Klonsky’s blog , quoting Glen Brown. The gist: 70% of instructors in higher education are adjuncts, not paid a living wage. That’s a true scandal.

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To be precise, they are all Doctors, and to be precise, medical doctors are Physicians. That is their correct designation. ________________________________

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I don’t think anyone should be called the First Lady. That title belongs to Eve.

And certainly not Jill Biden. She’s Joe’s second wife.

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Touche x 2.

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I am so witing for the day when we have a First Gentleman.

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I’m glad you’re “witing with me, Bob. Argh! cx: waiting

I’m horrified by how often I make such mistakes! It gives me comfort that others do, too. LOL.

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You are a sick man! Joe’s first wife died and Jill stepped in to be the mother to his children. She is highly respected and much more intelligent than you are.

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Eve’s title is “Imaginary Lady”.

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Jill stepped in after leaving her devoted husband who was Joe’s friend behind. Joe smashed up Jill’s husbands corvette while driving then stole the mans wife. Jill Biden is not a role model for women.

I guess Jill’s “devoted” 1st husband suffers from the same problem as Trump; both are sore losers and both cannot get over losing to Biden.

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That personal comment sucks.

I believe those “facts” are disputed.

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Seems like all the education deformers are running for the dark corners like cock roaches do when the lights come on. There are a few brave cock roaches who will linger to taunt and to taint the food in the cupboard, but they eventually die a disinfectant death. Time to get out the RAID and exterminate the whole disgusting lot of them. They have been allowed to run free and forage for far too long. All of these articles on education the past few weeks are a desperate attempt to stomp out teachers unions and put a stake through the heart of public education. Dr. Jill Biden has the ability to shine a very bright spotlight on all that has been done to decimate public education and divert the funds. “They” are taunting because they know their end is likely near.

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I generally find it annoying and embarrassing whenever I see people encouraging others to address them by an honorific, whether it be “Dr.,” “Lord,” “the Honorable,” or anything else.

Exceptions including but not limited to: my own personal medical physicians, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, and the late Mac “Dr. John” Rebennack.

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There’s Queen Elizabeth II, referred to as Your Majesty. 🙂

I wonder if Dr. Brown’s dissertation was a treatise about Cream Soda or the more obscure Cel-Ray.

And can anyone tell me in what subject did Professor Irwin Corey earn his degree.

I forgot about Dr. Pepper.

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I feel the same qbout “Sir” Michael Barber of McKinsey and Pearson, author of “Deliverology.”

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I agree about the performance artist “Sir” Michael Barber of McKinsey and Pearson, author of “Deliverology.” The AERA statement is online, supporting Dr. Biden. They wasted no time.

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I normally don’t get infuriated, but I am infuriated this time! Higher education is a very raw nerve for me.

The usual bit of American culture putting down intellectualism and higher learning. As Spiro Agnew once said, “We DON’T need a nation of intellectuals!” No wonder America is where it is, in part.

Keep the title, Dr. Biden. You earned it through hard work and disciplined study, and you, your students, and society are the better for it! No, I’m not crazy about your husband, but my politics have nothing to do with your educational status, which is admirable. I’d offer the same respect to any GOP member with significant higher educational status as well.

My grandparents and parents settled their lives here so that their descendants would have a better life through education. They worked hard so that their children would have a better everything as an upcoming new generation. My grandparents would not have been able to complete their public school education in Sicily as Mussolini closed many schools in order to seize the tax revenues and funnel them into the military to support the evil German axis. Mussolini deprived hundreds of thousands of Italians of an education, and in the end, he was dragged to death and got what he deserved! Fascism did not win out. You could not recognize his face literally from the death photos. What a bastard!

Nonetheless, my parents, in spite of their own issues, emphasized education to us kids since we were born, and they were not kidding. They wanted us to have the education they were never able to achieve for various reasons, most legitimate, some not so much. I am not at all saying that success should not be found without college education, because college is not for everyone; it has become inaccessible financially, an elitist move that is destructive and that should be outlawed by providing universal higher education paid for with fair taxation.

But let’s not EVER downplay the value and virtues of being educated . . . Unless you want to transform the United States into a banana republic.

It is and will remain DOCTOR Jill Biden . . .

Also, I can never hear any discussion of this issue without thinking of the Maestro from Seinfeld.

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Good ones Professor Fletp. To Drs J and John, I would add Hackenbush.

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Great episode. ha!

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True! I LOVED that one, especially because it was played by the Animal House Niedermeier actor. (Remember him? “Killed by his own troops in Viet Nam!:)

Funny, that occurred to me out of the blue a few months ago. “Wait, is the Maestro the ‘Pledge Pin!’ guy from Animal House?”

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Somehow Joseph Epstein reminds me of this guy —

It doesn’t take a Viennese coke freak to discern that Mr. Joseph Epstein is rueful about not have earned a doctorate degree. Shame on the WSJ for indulging him in this public projection of his private shame.

Excellent point Swami Rosenthal.

Dr. Wenothis also concurs with your astute diagnosis.

Thank you, Fred. Best regards to Dr. Wenothis. I use his work literally all the time. Must be why I never do any of my own.

Thanks to everyone for not pointing out that “doctorate degree” is somewhere between inartful and incorrect. Dr. P. Dan Tick pointed out that I should have written either “doctorate” or “doctoral degree.”

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Dr. P Dan Tick! lol!

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Doctor envy PhDesire: “Please, do send me Doc attire”

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I can’t decide if it’s sad or funny watching the liberals dance in unison on cue to any and all right-wing provocation. OMG! Some random right-wing nutcase no one has ever heard of said Jill Biden shouldn’t be called doctor! Let’s all forget that there’s a pandemic and 40 million people facing eviction in winter and food bank lines stretching for miles so that we can focus on the real outrage!

Yes, yes, it takes a lot of work to get a Ph.D. and people should be recognized. But it also takes a lot of work to slave for Amazon 10 hours a day with 20 minutes for lunch and 2 minute bathroom breaks twice a day (and a half hour unpaid wait in the security line). What recognition do those people get?

This is a preview of what the post-Trump, post-pandemic news cycle will look like.

It must be a real struggle for you buy a bunch of bananas without thinking of the underpaid workers who harvest them. Or how about watching a game of kids’ soccer without thinking of the “neighborhood” games with balls made out of rags in a refugee camp? How do you managed to deal with all that angst?

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Or the poor dinosaurs who died valiantly to provide us with oil!

Your point is well taken. I, for one, am prone to attend to distractions such as Epstein’s bilge.

random right-wing nutcase no one has ever heard of

Joseph Epstein? You have to be kidding, right? He is a quite famous public intellectual.

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Can we assume his fame put him in the WSJ? I bet VC Royster, former editor of that newspaper in a more formal time, would never have let it pass muster.

The editor of the WSJ vigorously defends the piece and says the critics are engaged in “cancel culture.”

You are right, Bob. Joseph Epstein is a widely published public public intellectual. He was the editor of The American Scholar for many years, in its glory days.

And glorious it was. That publication was a great read!

I can’t decide if its sad or funny that YOU can’t see what Epstein and the other deformers are trying to do. Dr. Jill Biden has enormous influence in who will become the next Sec of Ed. This isn’t really about her degree….it’s about a desperate attempt to keep degrading teachers (most women!), demonizing unions and the continual bleeding of public education funds. It’s about maintaining greed and power of the rich by sucking dry public education. This “blip” will be gone by the end of the day and the Repugnicans will attack another democratic institution by weeks end….it’s their way. The only thing the Liberals are doing is pointing out the lies, desperation and hypocrisy…..Fact Checking for the masses who will listen.

You used to have valid points in discussion, but it seems that lately, you have gone to provocation as a form of entertainment. It’s really sad to see you do this. Maybe you are experiencing a mental Covid fatigue?

Thank you for this reply. It is incomprehensible to me why this person would make these posts, and I wonder if the account of a true progressive has been hacked and these are from a right wing troll.

I think a true progressive might have written something like this:

“I can’t decide if it’s sad or funny watching this temper-tantrum throwing right winger so provoked that Jill Biden is referred to as “Dr.” Let’s all forget that there’s a pandemic and 40 million people facing eviction in winter and food bank lines stretching for miles so that we can focus on the real outrage of Jill Biden being called “Dr.”.

Yes, yes, it takes a lot of work to get a medical degree and a medical doctor is not the same as a doctor of philosophy. But it also takes a lot of work to slave for Amazon 10 hours a day with 20 minutes for lunch and 2 minute bathroom breaks twice a day (and a half hour unpaid wait in the security line). What recognition do those people get?”

I can understand why this poster isn’t triggered when she reads offensive, WSJ op eds by right wingers. But since those offensive WSJ op eds don’t trigger her, why is she so powerfully triggered when someone criticizes an offensive WSJ op ed?

It makes no sense. I get that offensive or sexist or racist or xenophobic attacks on a woman by a rabid right wing Trump supporter might not trigger someone, but it is really weird that what triggers them so powerfully is that someone else criticizes those offensive or sexist or racist or xenophobic attacks!

Who is triggered only by criticism of offensive sexist op eds instead of the offensive sexist op ed itself?

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I so often disagree with folks here that it is refreshing to read something that makes sense. I have often been annoyed at the constant reference as Dr. for Jill Biden. I have know many highly educated individuals who only referenced such degrees after their names and then reluctantly or modestly. She is certainly no better than the majority.

“…it is refreshing to read something that makes sense. I have often been annoyed at the constant reference as Dr. for Jill Biden.”

But you just said you thought it was refreshing to read something that makes sense, so your annoyance at the reference to Dr. is wrong because you should be annoyed — in fact you should be outraged — about the Amazon workers who work 10 hours a day with 20 minutes for lunch and 2 minute bathroom breaks twice a day. And you should be annoyed — in fact you should be outraged — about the fact that there is a pandemic and 40 million people facing eviction in winter and food bank lines stretching for miles because of President Trump’s mismanagement.

Are you outraged at that, or just at the use of “Dr.”?

By denigrating PhDs and by keeping people at a non-living wage at Amazon, it further holds down Amazon workers – and most people – from traveling the path towards a PhD, and THAT is exactly what the ruling class wants. Dots connected . . . .

I respect Dr. Biden’s title, but greater media coverage should focus on labor rights and distribution of wealth as Jeff Bezos makes his workers bend down so that he can relieve himself every day with every dollar he makes. He’s a monster. Putting Biden down for her title but exalting Bezos and enabling him is exactly how the ruling class has oriented itself towards. Not too shabby . . .

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For centuries, the original “Doctors of Philosophy” (PhD) was only applied to university scholars in the classic liberal arts and sciences. They alone carried the title of Dr. Using Dr. for medical doctors is a relatively modern phenomena initiated by the medical profession in the 1800’s. When medical doctors decided they wanted the prestige associated with physician, they appropriated the title for themselves.

Mr Epstein and the WSJ have shown their ignorance about PhDs in a clumsy attempt to denigrate professional educators (mostly women) and set-up Jill Biden for right wing ridicule.

Interesting, so actually it’s the medical doctors are the ones who misuse the title!

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Adam Grant, of ‘Give and Take’ fame, really surprised me with an out-of-character, but apt, searing attack on this op-ed: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/yes-women-doctorates-should-called-dr-adam-grant/

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Grant’s piece made me LOL!

Wonderful rebuttal!

The topic “trended” on Twitter”

What a surprise.

I’m agnostic to the question generally, but I am pretty sure that no one who takes Twitter seriously should be address as Doctor

Dr. Twitter

Doctor Twitter and his potion Sells elixir, magic potion Urges you to buy his stuff Couched in hype and other fluff

Doctor Twitter (2)

Twending on Twitter With vacuous glitter And snake-oil and spin The “Doctor” is in

I used to call my Principal “Doc ______,” which struck the right note, I think, whimsical, but respectful.

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Epstein is of what is considered to be the neoconservative school of thought. While he is an excellent writer, he overtly and sometimes surreptitiously bashes anything he considers to be leftist. Despite the fact he works in higher education, like so many conservatives, he can also be anti-intellectual and a smug sexist. In his view Dr. Jill Biden, now in the spotlight, is fair game for his criticism.

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If the Wall Street Journal has had any pieces that included Dr. Henry Kissinger, then they are not being consistent. I’m assuming that Henry Kissinger never got an M.D. My memory is that many media sources referred to him as Dr. Henry Kissinger.

While we are on the subject of Kissinger,” Doctor” Strangelove was not an MD either.

But he was a nut, but I don’t think that is generally what people mean by Doctor.

“Doctor” Henry Kissinger : “Power is the great aphrodisiac”

Exactly right! Dr. Kissinger never delivered a baby.

Joseph Epstein: “no one should call himself Dr. unless he has delivered a child.”

Monica Hesse in the Washington Post: “If he wants to get technical about it, Biden did deliver a child, out of her own uterus.”

One of the Washington Post columnists noted that the Trump administration frequently refers to its Trade Advisor “Dr. Peter Navarro,” who has never delivered a baby. The WSJ never ridiculed Dr. Navarro!

Yes, Joseph Epstein has a lot of chutzpah. Clearly he never cared about white Republican men using the title “Dr.” but when he saw a chance to attack a relative of Biden, it triggered him.

Funny, the WSJ posted a link on Twitter to its editorial guidelines.

“In the newsroom, the @WSJ refers to those with doctoral degrees using the honorific “Dr.” if the person so desires.

Here’s our newsroom style-guide on the matter.

on.wsj.com/37gHiy9

This newsroom rule applies to PhDs and others, such as EdDs, for example.”

So the WSJ has no problem using Dr. for any field. Why the hypocrisy?

To belittle the soon-to-be First Lady.

Kissinger delivered bombs TO babies.

“Doctor” Kissinger, I presume?

Henry is a lobstetrician Delivers babies bombs Lobbing bombs is his position With keenness and aplomb

“Doctor” Kissinger (take 2)

Henry is a lobstetrician Delivers babies bombs Lobbing bombs from safe position With keenness and aplomb

That’s a good one re Dr Kissinger the lobstetrician.

I had a high school teacher who used to say that Kissinger’s thesis on Klemens von Metternich was all wrong. He never told us whether it was a doctoral or a master’s thesis.

A country that has gone as far as ours has down the road toward idiocracy (46.9 percent of the electorate voted for Trump in 2020) could do a lot worse than using the appellation “Dr.” to show respect for learning and the learned.

We love you, Dr. Jill!

Oh, and btw, we love you, Dr. Ravitch, as well!!!

I’m envious that you knew Joseph Epstein!!! When I was a lad, I was an avid reader of The American Scholar and LOVED reading him.

Of course, learning is a lifetime undertaking (or, has become all too obvious to me, a multi-lifetime undertaking), and someone who has assiduously applied herself to learning, throughout a life–someone like, say, our own Dr. Ravitch, will leave a lot of newly minted Ph.D.’s in the dust when it comes to learning!

And, btw, student retention in community college is an enormous and pressing problem!!! Much praise to Dr. Jill for tackling it!

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Regrettably, I have been following this story and, up to now, have been able to resist commenting on it. But in this forum, well, please allow me to bloviate.

In the early 1990s, I was an undergraduate at Hampshire College shoulders deep in a concentration (my Division II, in Hampshire parlance) on Russian and Soviet Studies. One book that is de rigueur for anyone working in that field is James Billington’s magisterial “The Icon and the Axe: An Interpretive Study of Russian Culture.” Mr. Billington (1929-2018) was named the 13th Librarian of Congress in 1987, a position he held until 2015. Sometime in this period, perhaps in 1993, the Library launched a magazine called “Civilization,” which was the Library’s version of “Smithsonian” magazine, as media critics and press releases at the time characterized it. Anyway, shortly after the announcement that the magazine would begin publishing, I received a come-on to subscribe, and I did.

From the beginning, I was ambivalent. It’s important to remember that this was a fraught moment in the early-90s culture wars (which were raging fiercely not just at Hampshire, but across the Five College System, i.e. Smith, Mt. Holyoke, the University of Massachusetts, and Amherst, not to mention on campuses nationwide), and any one periodical presuming to speak about “Civilization” (which many people not entirely incorrectly assumed meant a valorization of “Western Civilization” and a trivialization of all others) was presuming a bit too much. A few months into my subscription, the magazine published an essay by Joseph Epstein called, I’m fairly certain, “Call Me Mister.” As you have probably inferred from its title, it was a defense of titles and honorifics in which Epstein outlined his reasons for insisting that his students at Northwestern address him as “Mr. Epstein” rather than by his first name–which was, incidentally, the custom at Hampshire.

I found the piece enormously off-putting. It was smug, self-aggrandizing, and really, in my view at the time and since, pretty much pointless. I have the good fortune (or misfortune, depending on your view of these things) to possess a photographic memory. But the content and nature of my memory doesn’t figure here–I remember this piece because it annoyed the hell out of me. Not to put too fine a point on it, or risk profaning the temple of this comment forum, I though Epstein was a pompous ass.

So when I saw the Wall Street Op-Ed Epstein wrote trending on Twitter and Facebook, I figured, what the hell. Generally, I try not to invest time in outrage markets, so to speak; if you’ll allow me to extend this metaphor a couple of inches further, I find outrage in social media a volatile commodity with at best meager returns on investment. Still, a sufficient number of people that I respect called attention to it that I figured I should take a look.

After I read it (up to this point, I assumed this was an unsigned editorial, as they so often are, even in papers of record), I found myself wondering, “Who wrote this tripe?” When I scrolled up, whose name did I find? Joseph Epstein! Under the circumstances, I think I can safely describe the Wall Street Journal piece, if nothing else, as rank hypocrisy.

But all of that said, I must ask: Who are you, Joseph Epstein, to call Jill Biden “kiddo”?

For the record, I really don’t have a horse in the honorific race. My father was a PhD who gently but firmly eschewed the title of doctor. So, as above (e.g. my thesis advisor, Joanna Hubbs, PhD, was “Joanna” to me), did my professors at Hampshire. But if you’ve earned the title and want to use it, good for you. You earned it–and that’s all anyone really needs to know about your or Jill Biden’s decision to go by doctor.

Just sayin’.

Ed: I thought, not “I though.” Three copyediting passes, and still I missed it.

It is so satisfying have the opportunity to read the words bloviate, smug, pompous ass, tripe, and rank hypocrisy used so well. Scrumpdillyicious, even! The only word missing was lickspittle, which Ambrose Bierce defined, appropriately in this case, “A useful functionary, not infrequently found editing a newspaper.”

You would appreciate Ruth Marcus’ opinion piece in the Washington Post today. Headline is: “Barr failed at his job. His bootlicking resignation letter made that clear.”

This sentence in her article is especially apt:

“Fawning is too mild an adjective to describe this remarkable document. The word lickspittle has been understandably overused during the Trump years, but Barr’s letter demands its redeployment.”

Hahahaha! Thanks Greg. It happens I regularly post quotes from “The Devil’s Dictionary” and “Write It Right” on my own blog. I got onto Bierce’s stories as a young teen (after seeing “Incident at Owl Creek Bridge” on a rerun of “The Twilight Zone”) and have been reading him since.

I must join with the ignorant in not knowing who Epstein is. I am sure that many people who have a jaded view of intellectual accomplishment and who eschewed association with such activity might look down on those who have completed courses that they themselves disdained. Still, I see a problem.

I wish to allude to a down-to-earth film we all have seen: Bambi. In that erstwhile piece of literature, Thumper observes a shaky Bambi as he gets to his feet for the first time:

“He ain’t very steady, is he mommy?”

“Thumper, what did your father say?”

“If ya can’t say anything good don’t say nothing at all.”

“Thank you, Thumper”

Epstein needs to listen to Thumper’s father.

Thank you, Ray. Thumper is more my speed.

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First I want to make it clear that I don’t hold a Ph.D, a MD, a Doctor of Divinity, a JD or any other “Doctorate”. I do have an AB, a MA (history), and a MEd (Educational Leadership) which represent over 60 hours of post graduate education. I have always tried to follow l what I was taught at Calvin University in Grand Rapids that it is a scholar’s responsibility to live a life of “Lifelong Learning” so I actually have another 40+ graduate hours in subjects as diverse as statistics, business law, trends in higher education, etc.

I have never put the letters Dr. in front of my name, nor would I now. However when I persisted in using Mr. before my name. However, my dean and the president of the college I was an adjunct at insisted that I use Prof (Professor) before my signature and for publications. I feel fine using that honorarium as it reflects my status as an academic without denoting that I hold a PhD.

That said, I find nothing wrong with Dr Jill Biden using Dr before her name. She earned that doctorate. At least this time we have a “First Lady” who is highly educated and has spent much of her life teaching, which is not a highly paid profession, but is truly a public service to her state and our nation. She at least doesn’t have a record of past violations of our immigration laws. Being a model and a trophy wife doesn’t require an advanced degree, that just requires good genes that gave her a desirable body.

I do object to the tendency of some self appointed “leaders” using the “Dr” before their name because they have been granted a honorary doctorate form some institution of higher education. They are among the right wingers who are making a big deal out of the fact that Joe Biden’s wife is Dr Jill Biden. She earned her degree they didn’t! But they just can’t stop throwing dirt. This is a tempest in a tea pot! The easiest way to deal with this is to just let it pass. If you have to do something report people who repost this BS to the social media.

Please don’t keep this non-issue from being re-posted and re-posted. You can start by not re-posting my comments.

Exactly. There is a huge difference between earning a PhD and receiving an honorary degree because you are famous or gave a lot of money to an institution.

Honorary degrees may flow from major accomplishments, in addition to having an earned PhD.

Have you also recently checked on how many honorary degrees Dr. Diane Ravitch has?

I earned a Ph.D. in the History of American Education from Columbia University in 1975. I only want to be called “Dr.” when the guys in the same room or the guys quoted in the same article are called “Dr.” I have been in articles in the NY Times where the guys were “Dr.” and I was “Ms.” or no title at all. Pure sexism. As I get older, I don’t really care what people call me. “Diane” is good enough for me.

‘I only want to be called “Dr.” when the guys in the same room or the guys quoted in the same article are called “Dr.” ‘

…or in more common/vulgar terms when there is an implied, pissing contest going on.

See Diane Ravitch’s post above. Diane earned a PhD and the right to be called Dr. if she chooses to do so. This is not about people being awarded HONORARY degrees.

Receiving an honorary degree has no relationship to earning a PhD. I should have clarified that honorary degrees are awarded to many very admirable and accomplished people, as well as many famous ones and rich ones like Mark Zuckerberg. That STILL doesn’t make the recipients a PhD., which is something earned by academic scholarship.

Someone who receives an honorary degree has the right to be called “Dr.” not because of their honorary degree but because they ALSO earned a PhD.

If Joseph Epstein cannot point to an editorial he wrote where he publicly demanded that everyone stop calling Henry Kissinger “Dr. Kissinger” because Kissinger hadn’t delivered any babies, then he should be forced to answer as to why he didn’t care about this until a woman whose husband defeated his beloved Trump used the title “Dr.”.

Epstein must provide an answer as to why in his decades of writing he has not chided the Council on Foreign Relations for referring to Henry Kissinger as Dr. Kissinger when Kissinger hasn’t delivered babies.

From CFR website:

“Henry A. Kissinger Chair for U.S. Foreign Policy

Established in 2000, this chair is named in honor of Dr. Kissinger, the fifty-sixth secretary of state of the United States and a member of the Council’s Board of Directors from 1977 to 1981, as a tribute to his contributions to the country and the Council on Foreign Relations.”

Here is the Yale University library website for the “Henry A. Kissinger Papers”:

“Collection Contents

The papers consist of correspondence, memoranda, writings, speeches, photographs and other material that document the career of the diplomat, author and foreign policy expert and scholar Henry A. Kissinger. Dr. Kissinger served as United States secretary of state from 1973 to 1977 and as assistant to the president for national security affairs (national security advisor) from 1969 to 1975.

Part II (MS 1981) documents Dr. Kissinger’s pre-government, government, and post-government careers.”

If Epstein can’t provide any evidence that he publicly condemned Kissinger, that is evidence that he doesn’t care about this issue, but Epstein does care about attacking and demeaning anyone who is associated with the man who defeated Donald Trump.

Epstein seems to be similar to most rabid Trump supporters. They don’t care about truth or consistency — they will say and do anything that helps legitimize Trump and that helps them undermine anyone who opposes their beloved Trump.

If the use of the term “Dr.” bothered Epstein, he had 50 years of a loud bully pulpit to publicly write about this issue that he claims is so important to him. This is the height of hypocrisy for a small-minded man who is throwing a temper tantrum because his beloved Trump was defeated. Epstein is a sore loser, similar to Trump, which is probably why he admires Trump so much.

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One of the most delightful guys I ever knew was a man named Hank White. He ran a company that made devices that were put out to sea to measure the temperature of the ocean and beam the data to satellites. He had been in the service, learned to scuba dive with Jacques Cousteau, run the American Oceanographic institute, and gone bankrupt several times before starting the company I mentioned above. All without much formal schooling.

There are many people who are great folks with an informal education. There are a great many others whose degrees have led them to be important to me as educators and important to society as researchers. Neither of the two groups got on each others’ nerves in the past. Why can’t we all learn to get along with each other without this snipping?

This Epstein needs to get over the election. Let us all try to get along.

A full column in the WSJ about a PH.D who is fully devoted to community college students . . . . what is Mr. Epstein afraid of? Is it scary that someone who understands the education system and the struggling middle class may have influence on education policy?

Go Dr. Biden!!

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good piece.

What always bugs me is watching some hearing in Congress or other legislative body where there’s a nameplate that says, “Honorable” before the person’s name. I thought (oh, silly me!) that these people are elected, beholden to constituents &, thus, are public servants. What makes them “honorable?” Most of them are exactly the opposite.

Speaking of which, where’s lindsay graham hiding out these days?

“Speaking of which, where’s lindsay graham hiding out these days?”

Funny you should ask. I have been wondering the same thing.

He has a big walk-in closet.

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I resist calling anyone in K-12 education “Doctor” mainly because of the hierarchical nature of the title. Were someone to demand that I call them Dr. So&So, I’d let them know I’ll do that when they address me as “Master Swacker”. Hell, I’m a “master” three times over in English and once in Spanish. According to the Missouri Dept of Conservation I’m a Master Trout Fisherman for having caught not one but two trout 24 inches or longer and/or that weighed 6 pounds. I’m also a master upholsterer and last and least in the English category I’m a Master Adminimal having gotten a MaEd in Adminimalism and being state certified. Now in Spanish I am considered and addressed as Maestro when I teach in my classes. So unless the PhD or EdD has four doctorates I tend to disregard their request.

You did not even mention your extensive knowledge of all the good floats in Missouri and where the fish are. Too modest, I say.

Oh, there are a lot of floats that I haven’t done as there are just so many excellent rivers to canoe. Be that as it may, some things cannot be disclosed. . . if you know what I mean. It’d be like telling someone where you got the morels. No can do!

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I don’t think Ed.D should result in the title of “doctor.” The Ph. in Ph.D is a reference to “philosophy.” Education is not a cogent and coherent topic that has the ability to have a sustained philosophy to attain. It’s ridiculed from the associates degree on up on campuses. It’s a non-major major. To this day, quality teachers are haphazardly found and distributed throughout localities. There is no Ed program that produces better teachers than any other Ed program. It’s an Ed.D rather than a Ph.D because it’s not as rigorous. Any rigor is imposed not by the course of study but by the particular student. There is no there there in Education as a field of study as practiced on campuses. Ed departments are not known as bastions of the higher mind, nor are they known as hothouses of the intellect. Education programs are professional certification programs that academia took on board sometime in the last century, among other such things, as ways to find revenue. It used to be that a rigorous engagement with an actual topic and field of study at least through the MA level was what qualified one, basically, to become a teacher. That system likely produced as many actually good teachers as haphazardly as the normalization of education departments. It’s a lightweight degree. Everybody knows it. All of that is lost in the Jill Biden non-controversy.

In my master’s program, from a highly reputable college, the amount of reading, theory and papers and discussions were “rigorous” – by any standard.

My undergraduate degree was not in education – teaching was a career change. The education communities that I am involved in (including this blog) certainly could be considered “hothouses of intellect.”

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Re: “A wise man once said that no one should call himself “Dr.” unless he has delivered a child. ” — I thought only females could deliver children.

Oh Dienne at it again with the bizarre virtue signaling that NYC parent rightly identifies as an odd mix of trolling and misplaced ire.

Your trademark 🙄

&… 12 hours later, it’s back to dienne, again.

You know, looking back on all the comments here, I can’t believe that this topic necessarily warranted 90 comments. (I include myself, here.)

Yes–let’s be worried about all the people who are unemployed, who are sick or who will be sickened &, perhaps, die because people won’t wear masks, follow guidelines, stay at home. Healthcare workers who have been pushed beyond the brink, more U.S. food insecurity than ever. As I’ve said here before, I know Dienne, & she is a wonderful, caring, extremely brilliant woman, & I don’t think her ire is “misplaced.” Especially not in terms of the current state of the world. (&, no, I’m the one who has always been calling 45 it {original creds to bethree–it45}, so I know Dienne is NOT an it fan.)

Finally, Left Coast said it best (hope I don’t misquote you!): “Education is wounded. Pressure must be applied.”

Yes, we must apply pressure.

Dumping on Dienne is a popular sport.

It’s a lot like Twitter.

SomeDAM Poet, why would you say “Dumping on Dienne is a popular sport”?

That sounds like something one of Joseph Epstein’s defenders would say — “Look at all these posts at Diane Ravitch’s blog dumping on Joseph Epstein (including from SomeDAM Poet). Dumping on Joseph Epstein is a popular sport.”

When someone like Joseph Epstein or Dienne go out of their way to chide or attack those who don’t meet their criteria of virtue, it is perfectly acceptable for people to respond. It isn’t “dumping on them”, to reply and point out hypocrisy. I never understood it when the far right claims that by criticizing Epstein, we are infringing on his “free speech” right to say whatever offensive thing he wants and we are not allowed to reply with criticism because we would be “dumping on him” if we did. Mischaracterizing a reasonable reply to an offensive post as “dumping on” the person is a way to silence opposition.

When someone says something intentionally provocative and condescending, they should expect a reply. There is nothing wrong with replying to an offensive remark. There is no rule that says some special people are allowed to write condescending op eds or post condescending comments and the rest of us must silently accept it because the person saying it is smarter and better than they are.

And if you decide what I just wrote is too offensive, you are free to respond to it. I won’t demand silence from you because anything other than silence makes you guilty of “dumping on” me. You are RESPONDING to me because you are offended by something I wrote above. And that is – or should be – fine, as long as you don’t use nasty names and abusive language. And I don’t believe any of the replies here – either to Joseph Epstein’s op ed or the condescending comment – do.

retiredbutmissedthekids says: “I don’t think her ire is “misplaced.'”

It is “misplaced” because instead of directing her “ire” at Joseph Epstein for his offensive comments, she directs her “ire” at those who are criticizing his comments.

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Really? That’s your reply? If it makes your day a little brighter to post snarky mean girl level replies when I invited you to disagree with me, have at it. The hypocrisy speaks for itself.

I’m talking the Dienne bait because it tastes good, makes sense, and is harmless. I think it’s okay to respect the title of PhD when a Doctorate is earned and still pay attention what direly needs to be paid attention to, which is what Dienne points out. Attacking her as a troller makes no sense here, unless you do not care about those who are struggling. It hurts to hear the truth, doesn’t it? It really hurts.

The topic—whether Dr. Biden should be called “Dr.”—attracted national attention. People have the capacity to feel pain about the terrible injustices in our society and the world without forgoing the ability to think about other subjects. Are you saying we can’t laugh at a comedy or a joke because there is injustice in the world? Please.

I said the opposite. Close reading, please. I have said on this post that we can and should both recognize the importance of Dr. Biden’s title and the importance of working class issues. One does not or should not exclude the other. Personally, I’d rather spend a lot more of my efforts fighting poverty than advocating for a title, if I really had to boil it down to and calculate the allocation of time, energy, talent, and money. But certainly both issues have merit. And I won’t recognize Dienne as a troll for making her point.

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Maybe look up styles of APA usage of titles. NO, Jill by virtue of simply being a woman, doesn’t become qualified to use a title. She has a Ed.D. So she is Jill Biden, Ed.D. NOT Dr Jill Biden. Look it up…APA.

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Thank you! Plus, I don’t care if you’re a man or a woman, or how many degrees you have… you’re a egotistic douchebag if you feel like you need to put doctor in front of your name.

“you’re a egotistic douchebag if you feel like you need to put doctor in front of your name.”

Why would you draw such a conclusion? In some circumstances, titles are useful because as soon as you use them, a degree of respect is expressed and felt. And respect is really important sometimes: when you are in a doctor’s office, it’s important that you respect the doctor’s advice, when you are in a college classroom, it’s important to believe what the prof is claiming, etc.

In case of Jill Biden it’s seems really useful to use Dr so that people immediately have the impression, she is not “just a wife”.

Titles may also have important psychological effects on those who are addressed by them. They feel trusted and respected, and this may give them the confidence needed to give professional opinion or teach, etc.

Generic dismissal of titles is not really wise. They serve a purpose sometimes.

I agree with you, Máté. For me, it’s a basic matter of courtesy and decency to initially address any MD or PhD as Dr. I do so with people who are 30 years younger than me. They will let me know if they prefer to be addressed otherwise. I address friends by their first names in private and as Dr. in public. If my comfort level with a PhD is high, I mockingly address them as pinheads in private and none has taken offense. Some even quickly respond with, “you don’t have to call me that.”

I address the man I most admire by his first name in private as well as in conversation with his friends. But in public discourse, he will always be Dr. When I did not know Dr. Ravitch, on the few occasions I met her, I addressed her as Dr. That’s unthinkable now, but I would never be so familiar if I were to speak to or introduce her in a public forum. It seems to me that people who are not MDs or PhDs (or EdDs) who get upset up by the fact that the people who have these degrees might prefer to be called Dr. in public–after all, these degrees are not handed out like Halloween candy, they are earned–are the ones who need to reassess their own lives. Being respectful of another’s accomplishments is just proper etiquette, not a reason for being inappropriately sanctimonious.

And if we’re going to be picky, shouldn’t that be “…an egotistical…”? Didn’t even need to a doctorate in English to catch that one!

Under the Wall Street Journal’s editorial guidelines (which I posted in comments last night), anyone with an earned doctorate may be called “Dr.,” if they choose, regardless of their field.

What you should be truly agitated about is the practice of calling children “scholars,” which is common in no-excuses charter schools. How can a kindergartner be a scholar? Or for that matter, any child who has never engaged in scholarship.

That one has always made my teeth hurt

Why would APA dictate how we address each other? Personally, I think it’s silly to make reference to once profession in names, but it’s even sillier to try to distinguish between doctorates. The origin of the word doctor is teacher and teacher has also been used in the sense of being the master of something. So using doctor to address somebody with a doctorate in education is completely appropriate: she is a master of her subject.

Man having a heart attack… Quote: Is there a doctor in the house? Jill Biden… Quote: I’m a doctor

That’s your narrow understanding of the word doctor. In such situations, many professionals could be called for help besides MDs, for example nurses or even lifeguards. Jill Biden, along with everybody else, would immediately understand what a call for a doctor in case of a heart attack means.

I gather you are not a fan of homonyms either . . . .

Sorry, Flerp! I just saw your “Pledge Pin” (Is that a “ P LEDGE P IN?!”–getting spit on Flounder’s face) Niedermaier question–yes, indeed, Maestro & Niedermaier actor –Mark Metcalf. Hope you catch this.

I think Jill Biden deserves credit and recognition for completing her doctorate.

She has inspired me to start using my title. Henceforth please refer to me as ABD Smith.

Alll But Delusional?

Thanks, ABD. Are you related to ACB?

These days I’m more closely related to ADD

Fred–you’re a very funny guy! Glad you’re on the blog!

I do not understand at all what could be the problem with the dissertation topic.

Epstein was expressing his condescension for community colleges as a topic worthy of study.

Which makes him ignorant at best.

“Which makes him ignorant at best.”

…and that’s being extraordinarily kind.

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Mr. (not doctor, as he readily admits) Epstein is a fine wordsmith, so perhaps he should look at the etymology of “doctor,” which, in its original and truest sense, refers to someone qualified to teach. Dr. Biden has earned a doctorate and is, accordingly, teaching, a profession she seems to be quite good at, in which women have long distinguished themselves. Mr. Epstein, you may address Jill Biden as Doctor Biden.

I don’t normally come back and read the abuse that gets heaped on me for the crime of dissenting with the holy wisdom of the august members of this site, but for whatever reason, I did this time. And in 111 other comments, not one person, even among those heaping abuse on me, was able to address my actual point.

What makes a person with a doctorate somehow worthier of recognition and honorariums than a person without? Getting a doctorate is hard, yes, but no harder than working for Amazon or on a farm or driving a truck or any of the other things that keep our country running on a daily basis (things which, incidentally, the average “Doctor” couldn’t survive a day doing). Does having the leisure and the money to pursue a life of the mind somehow make someone a better person than someone whose circumstances force them to labor with their body?

The people the Democrats claim to support and represent watch these knee-jerk reactions and they see the classicism and the condescension of their “betters” looking down at the uneducated “deplorables”. If you want their votes in the future – and if you want to keep Trump and his ilk out of the Oval Office, I’d suggest foregoing outrage over titles like a bunch of English aristocrats and instead start getting outraged that people are starving and facing eviction in winter during a pandemic and our “betters” in Congress are headed home for vacations with their families and freezers full of gourmet ice cream.

I can definitely see that, and it makes sense. There’s discrimination and denigration in higher circles, and then there is massive, widespread, ingrained oppression in the general population. More dots connected.

I will address your point “What makes a person with a doctorate somehow worthier of recognition and honorariums than a person without?” Nothing.

Now please point out where anyone said that people with doctorates are more worthy of recognition than a person without? You are more outraged about something that didn’t happen than you are that a right wing Trump-supporting op ed writer hypocritically attacked and demeaned Dr. Jill Biden for using a title that he was fine with Henry Kissinger and a host of other male right wingers using.

I am trying to understand why you would call uneducated people “deplorable” as you just did. I am trying to understand why you are pushing the same lie as the far right that democrats and progressives have said that people without education are deplorable.

In fact, EDUCATION had nothing to do with the Trump voters who were cited as deplorable. The “deplorables” were those who loved the racism and xenophobia and hate and violence. It had nothing to do with education. Why in the world are you angry that the democrats aren’t appealing to the voters who are attracted to hatred to non-whites and immigrants and are have threatened good progressives like AOC? Why are you angry that the “deplorables” who like appeals to violence against AOC aren’t supporting the democratic party? You really think the Democrats should change to appeal to those “deplorables”.

In fact, the democrat who cited the “deplorables” (which had nothing to do with their education) distinguished them from people who often did not have a lot of education and felt that the government was doing nothing for them.

The fact that you equated “deplorable” with uneducated folks reveals a lot about you. The democrats have never thought uneducated folks were deplorable. But that is certainly the narrative the right wing has pushed.

No one but you is insulting folks without education.

^^We Democrats believe that Jim Jordan is “deplorable” as are Mitch McConnell and other Republicans with “education” — from Trump’s children to Kushner to Matt Gaetz to Greg Gianfort. You seem to be suggesting that none of them are deplorable since they are all “educated”.

It would surprise those in their white bubble of “Biden is like Trump” privilege that there are people other than white folks without college education. You seem to be suggesting that democrats would consider African American voters without a college degree to be “deplorable” — and the fact that you think they are “deplorable” but college educated “Jim Jordan” is not “deplorable” is very revealing.

Sometimes it’s useful to use titles because they induce respect. If somebody talks about what’s happening in politics and she is introduced as Senator X Y, we then don’t have to think about whether what she is saying is authoritative. I also like to know that if somebody gives me an advice on Covid that that person is an MD and it spares me the time to get on google and conduct a tedious search whether what this person says is believable. If somebody talks to me about physics, …. If somebody talks to me about education in community colleges, ….

On the other hand, if Bill Gates talks about education policy, it should be a giveaway that we do not hear any titles associated with his name that would make what he is saying authoritative.

You miss the point, dienne. I can admire(or not) someone who has been awarded an academic degree for their academic pursuits and still be mighty glad that there are people who are farmers or auto mechanics. Neither has anything to do with whether I am outraged that a society like ours has so many people that are living on the edge whether through their own fault or not. That people’s preconceived notions about bootstraps and other such nonsense allow them to ignore the abysmal plight of so many is reprehensible. I did not realize that it was a requirement to spend every waking moment reflecting on the injustices of life.

My goodness, she is tiresome, isn’t she? “Heaps abuse” on our intelligence and logic for more than four years and still claims to be the victim. Just like her hero, the Idiot. And my comment above, among the 111, very clearly points out why this faux condescension and outrage is misplaced. It’s just not decent. To quote myself, “Being respectful of another’s accomplishments is just proper etiquette, not a reason for being inappropriately sanctimonious.” Decency, respect, etiquette. Quaint these days, I guess.

Since when it is forbidden for people to express outrage at sexist right wing hypocrisy because there is still poverty and many serious problems to address?

If that is the case, then is it also forbidden to express outrage at progressive critics of right wing hypocrisy because there is still poverty and many serious problems to address?

Is it also forbidden to express outrage at the underfunding of public schools if you spend your own money on private school tuition instead of donating it to a public school where most students live in poverty?

This kind of moral relativism is right wing propaganda. No one on the left can ever be perfect enough to criticize anything done by the far right – no matter how bad – because there is always some supposedly more important issue that should be talked about instead. AOC can’t talk about the Green New Deal anymore because she takes lyft or flies on an airplane. AOC can’t criticize horrible Trump policies that destroy our environment because she should be talking about kids living in horrible poverty. But if she starts talking about kids living in poverty, that isn’t allowed because she should be talking about the devastation caused by horrible environmental destruction. Change the subject, change the subject, whenever criticism of anything the far right does comes up.

This is sheer right wing propaganda used to shut down any criticism of their anti-progressive agenda. It doesn’t help the progressive movement at all, but it does normalize the far right and helps to empower it.

NYCpsp: Not to be nasty–just trying to tell you to not waste your valuable time–Dienne doesn’t read your responses, so writing 9 paragraphs to her is an effort in futility. Everyone’s opinion is valuable, but your constant scolding (& even of SDP!) and unending commentary is/are tiresome. Please do yourself (& us) a favor & stop. We are at “a site to discuss a better education for all,” not to interpret every meaning/intent of Dienne’s comments.

Thank you &, seriously, stay well, & happy holidays!

Agree . . .

retiredbutmissthekids,

Anytime someone starts out with the comment “Not to be nasty…” you can absolutely be certain that they want to be nasty.

I thought we were better than that on this blog, but I thought wrong.

I am sorry that offering up my opinion is “scolding”. I admit to writing much too long posts and I never demand anyone read them or respond. There is another person who often posts very long replies and often includes links, and I either ignore them or I read them and they are often interesting.

But, unlike retiredbutmissthekids, it never occurs to me to scold him for writing those posts.

And, unlike retiredbusmissthekids, I don’t excuse my intent to write something nasty by starting out “not to be nasty”.

I always invite anyone to reply to my posts or ignore them altogether. The idea that there are certain people whose wisdom is not allowed to be challenged (SDP) was not made to clear to me, but thank you, retiredbutmissthekids, for explaining that.

I recently had an exchange with John Merrow on his blog. I posted one of my too long replies, but he demonstrated the courtesy of reading and replying to it without needing to begin “Not to be nasty” and ignoring what I said in favor of scolding me for writing a reply that was too long or whose tone could have been better.

And I replied with my appreciation and apologized for my tone. Which he graciously accepted.

It appears that I expect too much here. Honestly, I’m just a random, unimportant parent of a kid in public school who will soon graduate. I’m starting to realize that I’m not welcome, and frankly, the more I am here and get these kinds of “Not to be nasty…” replies from teachers and retired teachers, the more I see why the public has become skeptical of unions. I have defended teachers’ unions for decades, but the more I stay on this blog, the less I support them, and I don’t want the nasty replies on this blog to influence me as I know that the teachers I meet IRL are not this way.

I will stop concerning myself with “educated” union teachers who have good benefits and instead start caring about people who are working for Amazon or on a farm or driving a truck or all of the people working in healthcare on the front lines of this pandemic instead of those who get to teach classes via zoom and know their healthcare is insured by their union membership.

As dienne77 points out, there are a lot of people who need help more than teachers or other professionals.

I can take the hint, retiredbutmissthekids, so you don’t even need to pretend not to be nasty. You neither want nor need the support of parents like me.

Hilarious comment, retired! You give a blanket pass to our sneering commentator who has, quite literally, never had a constructive comment to make (false equivalencies, whataboutism [remember the good old days of arguing Hillary/Obama/Biden are the equivalent of the Idiot], apologist for treasonous fascist authoritarianism, even attacks LeBron James for the IPromise school!). Literally not one. I suggest you go back four years and read the comments made prior to and immediately after the 2016 election as I did a few months ago. Please let me know how those fit into “a site to discuss a better education for all.” Please.

But NYPSP’s comments–which might be long for some and often, in my opinion, are too quick to apologize–are tiresome because they take the time to be clear and refute points in a categorical, thorough way. That’s a good one, retired. I don’t read them all, NYPSP, but please carry on if you choose to.

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I finally shredded my diplomas a few days ago after enduring four years of anti-science, anti-expertise attitude in the US, and the constant rhetoric calling scientists’ responses “fake” or just a “hoax” or much much worse. I’d been “doxxed” about a month ago … for posting a reply to a factually inaccurate post by Dr. Scott Atlas, and had to take down my website and email for several weeks because of the sudden flood of hate mail. Then watching the whole debate with Dr. Jill Biden, feeling disgust one day (since I was never a “real doctor” and the country that we’ve made great again seems to have no need for any virologist to comment on the current pandemic, I took my diplomas to the shredder. Yes, I was depressed. Very depressed. Feeling like I wasted my life and career doing something useless to my fellow countrymen. Still reeling from it.

What does all of this say to anyone wanting to work in a STEM field?

It says that if you keep reading hate mail, you are going to get a really warped view of what a whole lot of people think. There are people out there who assume you are part of the elite crowd if you have more than a high school education, and if you went to any elite university with ivys at the top, you can’t possibly be trusted. Said but true. I for one want my virologists to know the h*** what they are talking about because they spent a whole lot of time, and still do, studying virology. Diane can probably tell you about hate mail. It’s just sad that people can be taken in by talking heads who haven’t the faintest idea what they are talking about.

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I have an earned PhD from UT Austin. I completed a 300 page dissertation adding new knowledge to my field of endeavor. An EdD does not require a dissertation, therefore I do not acknowledge EdDs as a doctors even though they can legally and professionally use the honorific.

Wow, 300 pages. That’s a lot of new knowledge, Dr Pearson.

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Don’t we refer to Martin Luther King as Doctor? People just like to complain 🤨

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Honorary Doctorate degree is not the same as a doctorate degree, it is not a academic doctorate degree and should not call themselves doctor. Please.

Doctor means teacher, so every teacher can use Dr if they want to.

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The use of the title “Dr.” for first lady Jill Biden must be placed in perspective. This title is used with several advanced degrees – most notably the M. D., for a practitioner of medicine; the Ph. D. for someone trained to perform advanced, original research, the Juris Doctor degree for practitioners of law and the Ed. D. for advanced practitioners in education. A Ph. D. may be earned in education, which prepares the recipient for research and teaching at the graduate level in the field. Mrs. Biden received an Ed.D. degree; having written a pathetic “dissertation/executive position paper” while her husband was a powerful politician in Delaware, whose state university conferred the degree on her. “Dr.” Jill’s “dissertation” is available on line at: http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/jill_biden_dissertation.pdf . A review of this effort reveals many typos and math errors, demonstrating her ignorance and the carelessness of her faculty advisors, each of whom signed a statement: “I certify I have read this dissertation and that in my opinion it meets the academic and professional standards required by the University as a dissertation of the Doctor of Education.” For example, Mrs. Biden’s paper shows she neither understands fractions nor basic arithmetic: “Three quarters of the class will be Caucasian; one quarter of the class will be African American . . . the remaining seats will be filled with students of Asian descent or non-resident aliens.” (Page 2) Mrs. Biden also described a “quintupling” of enrollment as a 230% increase: “‘By 1963, public and private two year headcount enrollment stood at 850,361. By 1980, enrollment had grown to 4,526,287. . . approximately a 230 percent increase in student attendance.'” (Page 13) Worse yet, the so-called “scholars” who guided her — were equally careless to allow these glaring mistakes to remain in the final draft of the paper. The assumption is that because Mrs. Biden received a doctorate, her paper must have been a “dissertation.” It was merely an “executive position paper” with no original research, as is required for a true dissertation. Many attorneys receive the Juris Doctor degree, but few are presumptuous enough to misappropriate the “doctor’ title. Mrs. Biden’s degree was not the equivalent of a Ph.D, a medical degree, or even an advanced professional degree like a Juris Doctor degree in terms of its rigor. It is insufferably pretentious for Mrs. Biden to call herself “Dr.” and demonstrates the ignorance of journalists who incorrectly associate the “Dr.” title with the degree she received. Ignoring the shortcomings of her “scholarly treatise”, she should be referred to as Jill Biden, Ed.D. Even Dr. Seuss would be embarrassed — but amused because his “Dr.” title, which he conferred on himself, is as appropriate to use as “Dr. Jill’s”.

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I completely disagree. Dr. Jill Biden deserves to be called Dr. Whether you agree or disagree with President Biden. President Biden will be a two term president and President Trump will be in prison. Go Dr. Jill Biden and Dr. Joe Biden!! 😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

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Using Dr. to address someone is very misleading. Attorneys do not call themselves “Dr.”, nor should someone with a degree in education. Not that those who have put in the work for advanced degrees not have a special title, however when used in misleading scenarios to portray being an MD it causes issues. I have this currently in a court case-

I just graduated 🎓 with my Doctorate degree in Education Ed.D. and l refer to myself as Dr. However, let’s be clear l’m only a virtual teacher teaching middle school students and sometimes elementary students. As a general teacher l call myself Dr. to my students and educate them as to the many types of Doctors. As it comes to other teachers without Doctorate degrees l also refer to myself as Dr. Lastly, some of my teachers or others in my profession call me Mr. and l’m okay with it because most K-12 teachers don’t have Doctorate degrees but many have advanced degrees including Doctorates and Educational Specialist degrees which is at the Doctorate level. Everyone is different. Sometimes l refer as Dr. but he wants to be called by his first name. Ultimately you must be happy 😊 with who you are no matter what others say or what title they give you.

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“What’s the point of working for years to earn a doctorate if you can’t use the title?” Seriously? It’s pretentious and a sign of insecurity.

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IMAGES

  1. The Pros And Cons Of Getting An MD-PhD

    do we call phd doctor

  2. Dr. vs Professor: What Do You Call Someone With a PhD? ( When To Use Dr. Or Professor )

    do we call phd doctor

  3. How do I write my name as Dr or PhD?

    do we call phd doctor

  4. How I Chose a PhD in Health Sciences...and Why?

    do we call phd doctor

  5. Abbreviation For Doctor Of Education

    do we call phd doctor

  6. Should You Do PhD Before Medical School?

    do we call phd doctor

VIDEO

  1. Why I Became a DOCTOR 🩺

  2. O.T Unfiltered 😷🔥...#doctor #neet #shorts @DoctorBerwal_Ortho

  3. Get CRORES for your research! (ICMR Call for Research Proposal 2024)

  4. who will become doctor

COMMENTS

  1. How can one differentiate between Dr. (PhD) and Dr. (MD or DO)?

    3. While both have the title of "doctor," that is identifying the fact that they both have the same education level, a doctorate. The meaningful difference here is occupation: one might be a professor, the other a physician. To differentiate between the two you can use the actual doctorate type or the job title:

  2. Should All Ph.D.'s Be Called 'Doctor'? Female Academics Say Yes

    Even in 2018, with women making up 34 percent of active physicians and more than half of medical school matriculants and doctorate recipients, many people assume that "Dr." refers to a man. Bias in forms of address and use of titles is not limited to gender, many participants in the Twitter discussion pointed out.

  3. Who gets to be called 'doctor'?

    The NPR ombudsman explained that like many media outlets, NPR follows the Associated Press stylebook, which says if someone practices medicine, NPR calls them doctor. If it's someone with a Ph.D., it's up to the individual media outlet. On the radio, we don't have a lot of time, and every word counts. Saying someone is a doctor or saying ...

  4. How to Correctly Use the Titles Dr. & PhD With a Name

    Put a comma followed by the title "Ph.D." after the name of a person who has earned a Doctor of Philosophy doctoral degree. For example Stacey Childs, Ph.D. Do not combine the title of "Ph.D." with any other title even if the person could appropriately be addressed by a different title. For instance, even if the person being addressed ...

  5. "M.D." vs. "Ph.D." vs. "Dr.": Are They Synonyms?

    M.D., which can be used with or without the periods (M.D. or MD) is the designation for a medical doctor. This is earned by attending medical school (typically a four-year program after completing at least one undergraduate degree, plus a residency program), and learning to diagnose patients' symptoms and offer treatment.

  6. Can a PhD be called Doctor? Doctoral Degree Titles

    Published on: March 10, 2023. If someone holds a PhD, they are able to call themselves Doctor. The doctor title is very prestigious and often projects expertise and respect in those who decide to use it. A person with a PhD can be called Dr. However, many people with PhD degrees choose not to use their official titles unless they are ...

  7. Whom should we really call a "doctor"?

    This is in response to the News article by Roger Collier. 1 These days many health professionals use the title "doctor.". Indeed, The Canadian Press Stylebook now decrees that the title of doctor should be reserved for physicians. Physicians, surgeons, dentists, chiropodists, university professors and, in some countries, pharmacists ...

  8. Doctor (title)

    Former Vassar College president Catharine Bond Hill wearing doctoral robes. She has a doctorate and can thus carry the title of "Doctor". Doctor is an academic title that originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb docēre [dɔˈkeːrɛ] 'to teach'. It has been used as an academic title in Europe since the 13th ...

  9. How to Properly Address a PhD

    You should address a PhD with the honorific term "Doctor," followed by their name in both spoken and written situations. The term strictly applies to anyone who has obtained a PhD degree, MD (Doctor of Medicine), or JD (Doctor of Law). English derives the honorific "Doctor" from the Latin word docere, which means "to teach," and it ...

  10. Who gets to be called 'doctor?' Why the controversial ...

    Why news outlets do not refer to PhD holders as doctors. Several publications—such as NPR and Scientific American—follow the Associated Press (AP) ... So while they're often taking on this provider role, they are not doctors by training—and we shouldn't call them doctors. However, many of the alternative terms that are often used can ...

  11. How to Address a PhD in Email: Professors, Doctors, and More

    If you're want to write someone's name and they have a Ph.D., put "Dr." in front of their full name. If you're addressing a Ph.D. directly or writing to someone who knows them, skip the first name and just write "Dr. Jones.". You may have seen Ph.D. holders put "Ph.D." at the end of their name.

  12. Who Can Call Themselves 'Doctor'? The Debate Heats Up

    The Debate Heats Up. Christine Lehmann, MA. May 05, 2021. Physicians and non-physicians clearly differ in whether or not a PhD or EdD should be able to call themselves 'doctor,' a new Medscape ...

  13. Should someone with a PhD be called "Doctor"? [duplicate]

    It seems wrong to put a "Doctorate" designation in front of someones name who holds a higher degree. If a person held both degrees, Dr. J Doe (occupation) PhD might be appropriate, but otherwise, I think each, individually, by themselves should hold prominence. Doctor of this ,PhD of that.

  14. Should a PhD be called Doctor?

    YES definitely, this is the way. just know that a Ph.D. entitles a person to use the title doctor. Basic Knowledge: The term 'doctor' is derived from the Latin word 'doctor,' which means 'teacher ...

  15. What Should You Call a Professor?

    The distinction to be clear of here is that the title of Dr. is used to denote a PhD degree holder (or a similar doctoral degree) whilst the title of Professor is an academic job title given to an individual employed by the University as a Professor. If an academic uses the title Professor, then they should be called Professor Surname even if ...

  16. What Do You Call A PhD Student?: Are They A Doctor?

    If you are referring to PhD students, it is ok to address PhD students as Mr., Ms., or Mx. However, if they are your instructor, you might want to address them as professor as a way to show respect. If they are your Teaching Assistant, you can address them as Mr., Ms., or Mx., and, Sir or Madame. If they are more informal, you can use their ...

  17. Who Should Be Called a 'Doctor'?

    A new Georgia law has renewed debate over the legal use of the title as more people earn doctorates in healthcare fields and challenge the notion that only MDs should call themselves doctor. Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, president of the American Nurses Association, remembers the day well. She was at a meeting of administrators at the hospital where she worked and the physicians there were ...

  18. Who is entitled to the title of "doctor"?

    In 2009, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario provided input to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care about the use of the title "doctor.". One of the main concerns was that the lack of consistent requirements for professionals permitted to be called "doctor" would be confusing to the public. "Within a health care ...

  19. Should an Ed.D. or Ph.D. Be Called "Doctor?"

    Your degree is, I believe, an Ed.D., a doctor of education, earned at the University of Delaware through a dissertation with the unpromising title "Student Retention at the Community College Level: Meeting Students' Needs.". A wise man once said that no one should call himself "Dr." unless he has delivered a child.

  20. Why is it customary to call people with doctoral degrees doctors but

    In some countries the custom is different. In the Czech Republic, Europe, where I come from, it still is generally customary to call masters masters.The title is different (magister, ingenieur*, or doctor**) but is more or less equivalent to the American master.And yes, it makes it easier to study for the sole purpose of being called names titles.. In neigbouring Germany, however, only doctors ...

  21. Quora

    We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us.

  22. Dame Esther Rantzen renews call for assisted dying vote after report

    MPs should be given the opportunity to debate and vote on assisted dying after the findings of a new report, Dame Esther Rantzen says. The Health and Social Care Committee found evidence it has ...