When Can I Use The Title Doctor After PhD? When Can A PhD Be Called Doctor?
The PhD title is awarded to those who have completed a doctoral degree but, not many people know how to use it once they have it. You may wonder this – When can I use the title Doctor after PhD? When can a PhD be called Doctor?
You can use the title Doctor once you fulfilled graduation requirements. A PhD can be called Doctor when in less formal situations, such as when in speaking in classroom or when writing emails.
This article will go through everything you need to know about using the PhD title and when you can start using it.
The “rules” are relatively simple and can be broken as they are not officially set in stone – other than when you can officially call yourself a doctor.
There is no one correct answer but it may be misleading if you use the PhD title incorrectly. Here are the recommendations for effective communication for a PhD graduate.
It very much depends on the setting. Here are some examples of how I would use both the titles awarded to me after my PhD degree.
How Do You Write PhD Correctly After A Name? Is It ph d, phd or ph.d? Abbreviation Explained
It can be confusing to know exactly how to write PhD after your name as a person with a doctoral degree. Which bits are capitalised for a person with a doctoral degree? Is there a ‘.’ In the middle?
When writing a name with a PhD after it, the correct way to do so is to use “PhD” or “Ph.D. or Ph D”
Depending on the preference of the individual, either form can be used.
However, if the individual has a business card that states their degree in full, then the more formal “Doctor of Philosophy” should be used.
It is important to note that using “PhD” without any periods is incorrect; this abbreviation should only be used in informal contexts such as emails or text messages. I tend to use PhD in my YouTube videos and some people have pointed out that this is incorrect…
Following the individual’s preferred format will ensure that their name and credentials are properly represented.
Should You Use Dr As Well As PhD?
Some people like to use Dr and PhD in their official titles. There are a couple of important points that you need to know about markers and academic titles.
This could mean that I have two PhD’s, it could mean that I have a PhD and is a medical doctor, or it could just be that I want to use both the doctor and the PhD tags for the one degree.
However, in my experience, I still like to use both the title of doctor at the front and the PhD tag at the end of my name for official purposes.
Academia members would rarely use the PhD suffix in everyday communication. They would much rather just use the doctor title.
What Is The Proper Title For A PhD With A Doctorate Degree?
The proper title for a PhD is Doctor of Philosophy. However, some teachers and professors like to be referred to without their official title.
If you are not sure about how your professor, lecturer, or friend with a PhD wishes to be officially addressed you can ask them.
Most of the time, I like to refer to my colleagues with their doctor title for official purposes, but I do not include the type of doctoral degree at the end of their name. That is much better suited to a business card.
Your lecture may wish to be referred to as:
- Dr [last name]
- Dr [first name]
Asking them in the early stages of your relationship is the best way to work out which one they prefer.
If in doubt, always go for the more formal name and nomenclature.
When Can You Start To Use Your PhD Title After Your Doctorate? As A PhD student? After Your PhD Thesis?
When you have earned your PhD, you, as a person with a doctoral degree, can start using your title immediately. Although, it can be a little bit confusing as to when you have actually passed your PhD.
Is it when you have submitted your dissertation for the advanced degree? Is it when you have received the comments back?
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.
I started using my PhD title as soon as my confirmation letter arrived at my house. It was the first letter from the University that referred to me as Dr Stapleton. I was incredibly excited.
Generally, it is acceptable to use the title “Dr.” both professionally and socially but socially, people very rarely use it – at least in Australia. But you should never use it if you are a PhD student, PhD candidate or enrolled in a PhD program without a previous PhD qualification.
I do use it in professional settings but it always makes me feel a little bit awkward.
However, there may be some restrictions for certain settings . For example, if have a research degree resulting in a doctor title and you are working in a medical setting – some institutions do not like you to use Dr as it can confuse patients into thinking that you have a medical degree.
Instead, they ask that you use the PhD tag at the end of your name rather than the doctoral title for official and professional communications.
What Is The Correct Way To Write PhD?
When writing about someone’s PhD, the correct way is to write the term in full and capitalize each letter.
This should be done for all academic degrees, not just PhDs.
For example, it would be “Doctor of Philosophy” or “PhD” instead of “Ph.D.”, “Dr.”, or “DPhil”.
Additionally, it is common to mention the field of study in which the degree was earned if known, such as “Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics”. It is also good practice to include the institution that granted the degree if it is a recognized one.
When writing about someone’s PhD, use proper capitalization and include relevant information like field of study and institution if known to ensure accuracy.
How Do You Put A PhD In A Title?
Putting a PhD in a title is not as complicated as it may sound.
Generally speaking, the proper way to list a PhD in an academic or professional setting is by writing “Dr.” before the name, followed by the person’s full name and the appropriate abbreviations for their degree.
For example, if John Smith has earned a doctorate in psychology, his credentials would be listed as “Dr. John Smith, Ph.D.”
In some cases, such as when addressing someone formally in speech or on a business card, it may also be acceptable to list their credentials as “John Smith, Ph.D.”
Depending on context and personal preference, some people may also choose to list their higher degrees after their names by writing out the entire degree instead of just its abbreviation.
For example, John Smith could choose to write his full title as “John Smith, Doctor of Psychology”
However, I have not seen this in real academic life.
Should The Font Size Of Ph.D. Be The Same As Someone’s Name?
The question of whether the font size of a Ph.D. should be the same as someone’s name is an interesting one.
On one hand, it could be argued that the Ph.D. deserves to be highlighted and therefore should be given a larger font size than someone’s name to denote its importance.
On the other, it could be argued that this would not be necessary or appropriate, and that treating everyone equally regardless of their title or degree is more important.
It depends on context and usage – if both names appear in the same document then they should likely have the same font size.
However, if one appears in a formal setting such as a diploma or certificate, then it may make sense to give it a larger font size than someone’s name to emphasize its importance and significance.
Ph.Ds (or PhDs) are an important academic achievement and should be respected accordingly but without going overboard by giving them overly large fonts sizes which can take away from rather than add to their importance.
Wrapping up – Doctoral Title Rules
This article has been over everything you need to know that using the PhD title properly and effectively, since the person has worked hard to earn a degree very few people have.
The doctor title can be used in place of the PhD and for incredibly formal communications, such as a business email or card, you can use both.
However, sometimes using both can cause confusion as to whether or not there is a reason first using both the doctor and PhD tags. Nonetheless, many people still use both.
When Can I Use The Title Doctor After PhD – Frequently Asked Questions
1. what does phd stand for.
A PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy , which is a doctoral degree that represents the highest level of academic achievement in a specific field of study.
2. Is Ph.d the same as PhD?
Yes, Ph.d is the abbreviation for Doctor of Philosophy , and both terms are used interchangeably to refer to the same academic degree .
3. Can I use the title ‘Doctor’ with a PhD?
Individuals who hold a PhD have the right to use the title “Doctor” in front of their name as they are a person with a doctoral degree .
4. What is the correct way to write PhD?
The correct way to write PhD is with no spaces and with both letters capitalized, following the standard abbreviation for Doctor of Philosophy .
5. How do I abbreviate Doctor of Philosophy?
You can abbreviate Doctor of Philosophy as PhD , which is the most commonly used abbreviation for this type of doctoral degree .
6. Can I use both the title ‘Dr.’ and ‘PhD’ together?
Yes, you can use both the title ‘Dr.’ and ‘PhD’ together to denote your academic achievement as a holder of a doctorate degree .
7. What is a dissertation in relation to a PhD?
A dissertation is a scholarly document that Ph.D candidates are required to submit as part of their research degree in a specific field.
8. Who is considered a PhD candidate?
A PhD candidate is a student enrolled in a PhD program working towards the completion of their doctoral studies.
9. Is a PhD also referred to as a Doctorate?
Yes, a PhD is also commonly referred to as a Doctorate , signifying the attainment of the highest
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.
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How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name
—- For more on the the use of Port-Nominal Abbreviations , see that page . —- For more on use of an Honorary Doctorate , see that page . How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name
Here are the forms to use when addressing a person addressed as Dr. See the discussion below “How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name 1-2-3-4-5” for more information on who typically does use Dr. as part of their name and who does not.
—- Envelope or address block on letter or email to their office/place of work: ——– (Full Name), (Post-nominal abbreviation for doctorate held). ——– ( Name of office/place of work if appropriate) ——– (Address)
—- Social/Personal envelope: ——– Dr. (Full Name) ——– (Address)
—- Salutation – for both official & social: ——– Dear Dr. (Surname): How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name
Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”
How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name: 1-2-3-4-5
—- #1) Holders of doctorates who work in academia or research institutions are addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’ professionally and socially in a salutation or conversation. Thus, a Ph.D. professor at a college, a Ph.D. in biology doing scientific research, and a Ph.D. principal at an elementary school all use Dr. (Name) and everybody thinks it is normal.
—- NOTE: At some universities it is traditional to address faculty holding of academic doctorates as ‘Mr. (Name)’ or ‘Professor (Name)’ and not to address as ‘Dr. (Name)’. For those outside the academic community it is acceptable to follow the insider’s rule or to address holders of doctorates as ‘Dr. (Name)’ in writing or oral address.
—- #2) Protestant clergy with doctorates are addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’ in a salutation or conversation. I specify ‘Protestant’ here because not all clergy is. For example, neither priests – addressed in a salutation or conversation as Father [Name] – nor rabbis – addressed as Rabbi [Name] – holding doctorates are ever addressed as Dr. [Name] . In a salutation or conversation they stick with Father[Name] and Rabbi [Name].
—- #3) Holders of doctorates who work outside academia or research don’t always prefer to be addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’. in a salutation or conversation. —- —- A) In the USA ‘Dr.’ may be used depending on the work environment and/or when the degree isn’t pertinent to the conversation. E.g., a Ph.D. in finance working at a bank or a Ph.D. in American history working in software development are not likely to insist on being addressed as ‘ Dr. (Name)’ . But always ask for their preference. Use of, or omitting, the honorific can be a sensitive issue to some individuals! —- —- B) And, outside the U.S.A. everyone holding a doctorate will want to be addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’ in every instance.
—- #4) In hospitals and healthcare environments historically there was a practice that only physicians (medical doctors, osteopaths, dentists, podiatrists, veterinarians, etc. ) are addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’. This was explained to be out of consideration for the patients who want to know who ‘the doctors’ are and who are nurses and allied healthcare professionals.
—- That made for some unhappy professionals who earned doctorates in hospital administration, pharmacy, physical therapy and nursing, etc. – who felt they too were properly addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’ . It’s my understanding that today all the holders of doctorates are addressed as Dr. (Name) and hospitals (etc.) have figured out other ways to define which doctor is a physician, which is a physical therapist and which is a nurse anesthetist.
—- #5) All that said, ultimately how one is addressed by others is up to the individual and usually everyone goes along. For example, if you and I meet a woman who identifies herself as ‘Monsignor Alice’ … I think it is unlikely she’s a Roman Catholic Monsignor. And, it’s unusual she has only one name, like Pink, Rhianna, Sting, Cher, or Madonna. But we should directly address her in conversation as ‘Monsignor Alice,’ it’s nice to meet you …’ because that’s what she says her name is. How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name
—- But, when she’s out of range, we will all be talking about her.
—- —- – Robert Hickey
Related Healthcare Links -V — — Chiropractor / Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine -V — — Dentist / Doctor of Dentistry -V — — Medical Doctor / Doctor of Medicine -V — — Military Physician / Armed Services -V — — Optometrist / Doctor of Optometry -V — — Osteopath / Doctor of Osteopathy -V — — Podiatrist / Doctor of Podiatry -V — — Veterinarian / Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
More Related Healthcare Links: -V — — Person holding a doctorate -V — — Pharmacist / Doctor of Pharmacy -V — — Psychologist -V — — Therapist
Related Links: —- —- —- Principal —- —- —- Headmaster —- —- —- President College University —- —- —- President of a School —- —- —- Chancellor —- —- —- Professor
When To Use Dr. (Name) and When To Use (Name), Ph.D.?
My daughter is receiving her Ph.D. and will be teaching. I would like to give her a name plate for her desk. Should it be ‘Dr. (Full Name)’ or ‘(Full Name), Ph.D. ‘? ——————- – AP
Dear AP, How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name
‘(Full Name), Ph.D.’ is the official form of her name. You will use it on the envelope, or in the address block of a letter, when you write to her with regard to her professional pursuits. This is the form the university will use when she is listed among the faculty. It is used by the degree holder, when specifying the exact degree is pertinent – like on business cards or in a list of academics.
‘Dr. (Full Name)’ is the social form of her name. You will use it when you write her name on a personal letter’s envelope, e.g., one sent to her home. This is the form everyone will use on the envelope when they send her a birthday or holiday card. It is rarely used by the degree holder since one does not correctly give oneself an honorific. The degree holder – in their signature or when introducing him or herself – just uses their name … no ‘Dr.’ It’s up to the other person to add the ‘Dr.’ E.g., I just introduce myself as ‘Robert Hickey’ – never ‘Mr. Robert Hickey.’
Sometimes you will observe a physician in a healthcare setting introducing him or herself as ‘Dr. (Name)’ – but there it is for the patient’s benefit to know they are the physician in a field of people wearing seemingly identical white coats!
‘Dr. (Surname)’ is the conversational form of her name. Use it both officially and socially in a letter’s salutation as well as in oral conversation.
So, for an office name plate use the official form of her name – (Full Name), Ph.D.
– Robert Hickey
Doctors present the official form of their name to the public: (Full Name) (Pertinent post-nominals for the service offered). The social form of their name does not include their degree: Dr. (Full Name). In both official and social salutations and conversations patients use Dr. (Name).
If My Doctorate is in Music, am I ‘Dr.’?
I hold a DMA, Doctorate in Music, from a Boston university and am a Church Music Director. Please could you advise me as to whether it is acceptable for the church where I work to list me in the service bulletins as: ‘Dr. (First name) + (Last name) ‘? —————- – CJ
Dear CJ: How to Use a Doctorate with your Name It is correct to list yourself in the bulletin using the professional form of your name … (First name) + (Last name), DMA. It specifies your academic credential in your professional domain.
Among protestant denominations many address their clergy with a doctorate orally and in a salutation as Dr. (Surname). If your church is one of those, and it is your preference is to be Dr. (Surnhttps://formsofaddress.info/wp-admin/post.php?post=13983&action=edit#ame), tell everyone that it is your preference to be addressed Dr. (Surname).
Usually academics and researchers who go by Dr. (Surname) professionally – use Dr. (Surname) socially. But ultimately whether a particular Ph.D. holder is ‘Dr. (Name)’ socially … especially outside of healthcare, academia or research … is at the preference of the bearer. Some insist, some don’t care, others say they answer to anything they are called. Ultimately your name belongs to you and if you want to be Dr. (Surname), then it’s your right to request everyone address you that way.
– Robert Hickey How to Use a Doctorate with your Name
May I Call Myself Dr. (Name) if my Degree Is Not Related to the Service I Offer?
I have a Ph.D. and license in counseling. Recently I sent out an announcement for a yoga class I will be teaching. The state of Colorado says I should not teach yoga as “Dr. (Name)”. How can I convince them I can? ——– – Kevin S., Ph.D., L.P.C., C.M.T., I.K.Y.T.A. , Counseling, Yoga Therapy, Integrative Health & Healing
Dear Dr. Kevin, How to Use a Doctorate with your Name
Your Ph.D. is in a field not related to the service you are offering.
A couple of typical practices I observe in the USA come to mind:
Professionals use with their name the degrees pertinent to their profession service. The degrees and certifications are provided for the benefit of the public so the public can quickly evaluate your credentials.
Here’s what I mean by pertinent . A pastor who would be the Reverend (Full Name) & Pastor (Name) at church on Sundays, would not use the Reverend (Full Name) & Pastor (Name) when teaching English Monday through Friday, at the local high school. That he or she is the Reverend might be mentioned in a complete biography or introduction. It just isn’t part of his/her name at school.
So, I can see if you are using ‘Dr. (Name)’ when offering a class in yoga, and your doctorate is not directly to the service you are offering, say a doctorate physical therapy or kinesthetics …. it would be confusing to me … and the state officials must think it is misleading to the public.
– Robert Hickey How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name
Should I Use Dr. or Ph.D. on an Invitation?
If a person holds a Ph.D., should his or her name be ‘Dr. (name)’ a wedding invitation? Or ‘( Name), Ph.D.’ ? Is this true for the father of the bride? The groom? Is the rule for names on wedding invitations and wedding envelopes different that the guidelines for social correspondence? ————– – Beverly Russell, Winchester, Virginia
Dear Ms. Russell: Wedding invitations and their envelopes are social correspondence. Post-nominal abbreviations ( Ph.D. is a post nominal abbreviation) aren’t used on social correspondence:
—- —- DON’T use Ph.D.
—- —- DO use Dr. (Name)
Another question that typically comes up is whether to use Doctor or Dr. (spelled out or abbreviated) on the invitation or on the mailing envelope?
The rule is to spell out everything and not to use abbreviations unless space is an issue.
But, Mr., Mrs., Dr., and Ms. (for which there is no spelled-out version) are typically used on invitations and when addressing invitations in even the most formal circles. I think ‘Doctor (Name)’ looks oh-so-highly precious, but I know some wedding planners who would wrestle me to the mat on that one.
When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?
You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing a letter, invitation, card or Email. (If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.) The form noted in the salutation is the same form you say when you say their name in conversation or when you greet them. ___ What I don’t cover on this site are many things I do cover in my book: all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions , etc. I hope you’ll get a copy of the book if you’d like the further detail.
Not Finding Your Answer?
—- #1) At right on desktops , at the bottom of every page on tablets and phones , is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.
—- #2) If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answered send me an e-mail . I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so (unless I am traveling.) Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.
—- #3) If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question – but always change all the specifics.
— Robert Hickey
Recommended Resources: The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW) and Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA) For more information see the Protocol Resources page.
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