Formal writing Types of abbreviations

Titles and academic degrees

Titles before surnames

The titles "Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr." are used before surnames. For example: Mr. and Mrs. Stone will be back next Wednesday. Dr. Brown is a surgeon. Dr. Reed is a historian.

In American English, these titles are written with a period: Mr. Smith, Mrs. Jones, Ms. Reed, Dr. Edwards. In British English, they are usually written without a period: Mr Smith, Mrs Jones, Ms Reed, Dr Edwards.

Other titles of this kind may also be abbreviated (Prof. Redman, Capt. Miller), but it is advisable to write them in full (Professor Redman, Captain Miller) if they are used in sentences.

Abbreviated titles are pronounced as full words; for example, "Mr., Dr., Prof." are pronounced as "Mister, Doctor, Professor". Note again that the titles "Mr., Mrs., Ms." are always written in the abbreviated form before surnames.

Titles after surnames

Titles after surnames include abbreviations of academic degrees. For example: B.A., B.S., M.A., M.S., M.D., M.B.A., Ph.D. Or: BA, BS, MA, MS, MD, MBA, PhD.

Academic degrees are used after surnames. For example: The lecture will be given by Thomas Newman, M.D.

Academic degrees can also be used without a surname, but in a different construction. For example: He received his B.A. last year.

Titles used after surnames also include "Jr." (Junior) and "Sr." (Senior). In modern use, commas before and after "Jr." and "Sr." are not required. For example: James Edwards Jr. is a lawyer. Older use: James Edwards, Jr., is a lawyer.