how to write phd on business card

9 Correct Ways to Write PhD Title on a Business Card

Writing a Ph.D. title on your business card can be a great thing to include. However, there are a few ways to write it, and it would help to know which ones work best. This article will explore some of the best options.

The preferred choices are “name, Ph.D. in discipline name,” “name, Ph.D.,” and “Dr. name.” You can use these options to be subtle and clear on your business cards. It shows that you’ve earned a Ph.D. without going into too much detail and scaring people away.

Name, Ph.D. In Discipline Name

“Name, Ph.D. in discipline name” gives you a good way of showing what you specialize in. Being specific about the discipline that you studied is a great way of showing people what you know about and what you can bring to the table.

If your Ph.D. doesn’t directly relate to the job you have, it might be worth being more specific about the discipline you’re qualified in. This can let people know that you have a Ph.D., but it doesn’t directly translate to your current job.

There’s nothing wrong with this. After all, plenty of people go to university and get a degree but never use it once they get out into the working world.

As long as you have a Ph.D., you can include it on your business card.

Some people might be a little bit off by it, but that’s not always a bad thing. The only issue is if people think you’re bragging by including that you have a Ph.D. You should be careful if this is the case.

Check out these examples to learn how you can use this one:

• Sarah Terrence, Ph.D. in Social Science
• Tom Alexander, Ph.D. in Research
• Harriet Edwards, Ph.D. in Mathematics

Name, Ph.D.

If you don’t feel the need to be specific about the discipline you have a Ph.D. in, you can leave it out. Instead, you can just include your name before the Ph.D. title to show that you have achieved a doctorate at university.

This can be a much better choice than the previous one. Being specific about your discipline choice isn’t always a good move, especially if it doesn’t relate to the job you’re advertising with your business card.

However, if your Ph.D. does directly relate to the job you currently have, including “Ph.D.” as a title works well. It shows someone that you’ve spent a lot of time studying things related to the job that you currently possess.

This will allow most people to have more faith in you and your ability. Again, though, it can be a bit alienating to someone that doesn’t have a Ph.D.

These examples will show you more about how this works:

• Steven Tonbridge, Ph.D.
• Jon Magcargo, Ph.D.
• Arlow Burrows, Ph.D.

You can also use the “Dr.” title instead of “Ph.D.” Many people prefer to include “Dr.” before their name to show that they have earned their doctorate (which is a Ph.D.) in a particular field.

If you’re going to use “Dr.,” you should only use “Dr.” There is never an appropriate time where “Dr.” and “Ph.D.” should be used together. If they are seen together, it is informal and unprofessional because it is a redundant phrase that doesn’t work:

• Incorrect: Dr. Smith, Ph.D.

Some people think that “Dr.” is less aggressive than “Ph.D.” as well. This can help you to stop people from feeling more alienated by the fact that you’ve achieved your Ph.D. when they haven’t.

As before, it’s still better to include “Dr.” when it’s relevant to your job role. If it doesn’t do anything specific to add value to what you do, it might not be worth including it at all.

Check these examples out to see what you might be able to do with it:

• Dr. Tom Sawyer
• Dr. Matthew Perry
• Dr. Suzanne Barker

You might also find that the first name is dropped. However, this will remove the more personal flair that most business cards benefit from:

• Dr. Winters
• Dr. Arlington

Name, Ph.D., Job Title

You may also find that adding your job title after your name and Ph.D. title works well. This just shows people the kind of work that you do, and what you are able to do with your additional Ph.D. title.

Using a job title is a good way to show what people can expect from you after reading your business card.

Here are a couple of examples that can work well:

• Thomas Jeffery, Ph.D., Supervisor
• Patricia Merry, Ph.D., Customer Service
• Dexter Morgan, Ph.D., Blood Spatter Analyst

Dr. Name, Job Title

“Dr. name, job title” is a good option that shows you have a Ph.D. without using the formal title after the name. You can use “Dr.” here again, but include your job title after your name to show what you are offering.

Including your job title or role on a business card is a common practice for some people. It helps them to establish what they are offering through their business card, which allows the people who have the business card to know more about them.

These examples will show you how it can look on a business card:

• Dr. Sue Perkins, Number Cruncher
• Dr. Steve Taylor, Financial Advisor
• Dr. Marcus Christie, Freelance Auditor

Again, you can remove the first name when “Dr.” is used. We don’t recommend this in most cases because it might lose the personal touch:

• Dr. Honest, Stock Broker
• Dr. Pope, Estate Agent
• Dr. Tomkins, Translator

Name, Ph.D., University

You might also find that mentioning the university where you got your Ph.D. is a good choice on a business card. Some people like to do this when they want to show that they went to an esteemed university and earned the highest degree.

If you’re going to use this one, you need to be careful. Many people see this as a form of bragging. It will only work well if you’re giving your business cards to people of equal qualifications or interests.

Most people without a Ph.D. will disregard your business card if it’s written like this. Mentioning your university is another way of showing people that you might feel a bit more superior to them.

Even if you didn’t include the Ph.D. title and university name maliciously, it could still be perceived in this way. You’ll want to pay attention to these kinds of things before it comes to passing your business cards around.

These examples will give you an idea of how you can include a university:

• Garry Geary, Ph.D., University of Virginia
• Peter Taylor, Ph.D., Oxford University
• Tara Howard, Ph.D., Cambridge University

Dr. Name, University

Another good way of writing your Ph.D. title with your university is to include the “Dr.” title before your name. Remember, there is no need to include both Dr. and Ph.D. in the same name, as this is seen as a redundancy in most formal cases.

Again, you’ve got to be careful using something like this. It can easily alienate anybody who doesn’t have these qualifications.

The only reason you’d definitely want to include something like this on your business card is if it directly ties in with your job role. If you use your Ph.D. in some way for your job, it could be worth including it to show that you have spent a lot of time researching what you do.

Here are some examples of how you can use this:

• Dr. Paul Walker, King’s College
• Dr. Samantha Weiss, Brown University
• Dr. Sarah Fredrikson, Harvard University

Yet again, since “Dr.” is used, you can remove the first name. This can work in some cases, but you have to know whether the personal tone of including your first name is more appropriate for your particular business card:

• Dr. Westbridge, Oxford University
• Dr. Grace, Colchester University
• Dr. Smith, Cornell University

Name, University

You don’t need to include your formal title when you are writing your university. You can simply write your name if you do not believe that including your formal title helps your business card in any way.

Remember, a formal title can put a lot of people off. If someone doesn’t have a Ph.D. of their own, they might be intimidated or put off by somebody who does.

It can look like bragging, even if you don’t intend for it to be bragging. It might be wiser to avoid using it unless you know that it’s important to include it based on the business you’re trying to promote with your business card.

Simply including your name with no formal title works like this:

• Scott Abs, Oxford University
• Pete Walters, University of California
• Abbie Drawn, Brown University

Name, Job Title

It might be wise to remove your university name and formal title. In place of anything else, you’ll be better off just using your job title with your name. No titles or university names need to be included. This is a fairly informal option that works well.

While it doesn’t outright say that you have a Ph.D. of any kind, it can still work well for Ph.D. owners. After all, you don’t always have to talk about your Ph.D., even if you have managed to earn one.

If your Ph.D. adds nothing of value or note to your job role, then there’s no reason to include it on your business card. Again, it’s a good way to alienate people who don’t have a Ph.D. of their own.

These examples should clear up how this one should look:

• Jon Walker, I.T. Technician
• Peter Burrows, Financial Advisor
• Tom Christie, Broker

You may also like: DSc Degree vs. PhD Degree – What’s the Difference? Should I Write Ph.D. or PhD? (Complete Guide)

Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here .

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PhD Candidate Business Cards: Making a Lasting Impression in the Academic World

Are you a PhD candidate looking to make a lasting impression in the academic world? Look no further than business cards. Business cards may seem like a relic from the past in today’s digital age, but they still hold a certain charm and effectiveness when it comes to networking and professional interactions. In this article, we will explore why PhD candidate business cards are important, what information they should contain, and tips for designing impressive business cards that leave a lasting impression on colleagues and potential employers.

Why Are PhD Candidate Business Cards Important?

As a PhD candidate, business cards can serve as a valuable tool in your professional arsenal. They allow you to easily exchange contact information with fellow researchers, professors, and potential collaborators at academic conferences, workshops, and other networking events. While you may already have an online presence and a professional email signature, business cards offer a tangible and personal touch that can make you more memorable in the minds of others.

Building Your Personal Brand

Your business card is a tangible representation of your personal brand as a PhD candidate. By designing a unique and visually appealing card, you can showcase your professionalism, creativity, and attention to detail. This is especially important when you’re competing in a crowded academic environment.

Facilitating Networking Opportunities

Attending conferences and other academic events provides an opportunity to meet and connect with influential individuals in your field. By having your business card readily available, you can easily share your contact information, ensuring that others can reach out to you later for collaboration, research opportunities, or job prospects. It’s all about making those valuable connections that can shape your future career.

Leaving a Lasting Impression

In the fast-paced world of academia, it’s easy to forget someone’s name or research interests amidst a sea of faces and conversations. A well-designed business card with concise information can help others remember you long after the event has ended. Additionally, the act of exchanging a physical business card shows a level of professionalism and sincerity, leaving a positive impression on your recipients.

What Information Should Your PhD Candidate Business Card Contain?

While the design of your business card should be visually appealing and reflective of your personal brand, it’s crucial to include relevant and concise information to make it functional. Here are some essential elements to consider:

1. Your Name and Degree

Make sure your full name is prominently displayed on the card. As a PhD candidate, it’s also important to indicate your degree in progress. You can include “PhD Candidate” or “Doctoral Candidate” below your name. This helps establish your credibility and expertise, allowing others to recognize your academic standing right away.

2. Contact Information

Include your professional email address and phone number on the card. Ensure that the email address you provide is associated with your academic institution or a reputable platform like Gmail. Avoid using personal email addresses or unprofessional handles, as they can create a negative impression. Including your LinkedIn profile link can also be beneficial if you maintain an active profile.

3. Research Focus or Field of Study

Including a brief summary of your research focus or field of study can help others quickly understand your academic interests and expertise. Keep this section concise and to the point, emphasizing keywords and phrases that capture the essence of your work.

4. Personal Website or Portfolio (Optional)

If you have a personal website or an online portfolio showcasing your research, publications, and projects, consider including the URL on your business card. This allows interested individuals to delve deeper into your work and provides an additional avenue for making connections.

Designing Impressive PhD Candidate Business Cards

Now that you understand the importance of PhD candidate business cards and what information to include, let’s explore some tips for designing impressive cards that make a lasting impression:

1. Keep it Simple and Professional

Avoid cluttering your business card with excessive design elements or overwhelming information. Stick to a clean and professional design that reflects your academic field.

2. Choose a Legible Font

Ensure that the font you choose is easily legible. A combination of a sans-serif font for your name and a serif font for other text can create a pleasing contrast. Experiment with font sizes to make important information stand out without overwhelming the card.

3. Use High-Quality Printing and Materials

Invest in high-quality printing and materials to ensure your cards look and feel professional. Matte or glossy finishes, thick paper stock, and rounded corners can add a touch of sophistication to your business cards.

4. Incorporate Branding Elements

Consider incorporating elements from your academic institution, such as its logo or color scheme, to tie your business card to your current academic affiliations. This can help establish credibility and recognition within your field.

5. Double-Check for Accuracy

Before printing a large batch of business cards, meticulously proofread and double-check all the information. A typo or incorrect contact information can be embarrassing and undermine your professionalism.

6. Get Feedback

Show your design to trusted colleagues or mentors and ask for their feedback. Their insights can help you refine your design and ensure it makes the desired impact.

In Conclusion

As a PhD candidate, business cards are a valuable tool to establish your personal brand, facilitate networking opportunities, and leave a lasting impression on others. By including essential information and designing your cards with professionalism and creativity, you can elevate your presence in the academic world. So, don’t underestimate the power of a well-designed business card; it might just open doors to exciting research collaborations, job opportunities, and lifelong connections in your field as a PhD candidate.

Ava Taylor’s passion for branding and marketing shines through in her dynamic writing. She brings a unique perspective with her background in event planning, infusing creativity into her content. When she’s not writing, Ava enjoys organizing community events and gatherings.

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For those of you with a PhD, what's on your business card? Are you Dr NAME, or NAME, PhD?

I am a relatively recent PhD graduate and work for a not for profit research institute in the public health sector in Australia. On my business card I currently put my PhD as a post-nominal (i.e. NAME, PhD) instead of as an honorific (i.e. Dr NAME). I was recently approached by our head of communications asking to explain/justify why I chose not to put the Dr title on my business card or email signature. My reasons are a bit vague but include elements of not wanting to be mistaken for a clinician (as I do work in the health sector) and not wanting to sound pretentious. I should note that I do put Dr NAME when I am writing about myself (like in my bio for talks), just not in my email signature or on my business card. His question got me thinking about what the norm is for PhD holders out there, especially those without additional honorifics like 'Professor'.

So my question to all of you PhD holders is what do you refer to yourself as on your business card/email signature?

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How to use the PhD title and all the little doctorate “rules”… use ph.d etc the correct way.

There are many conventions in the academic world that can make it difficult to navigate the philosophiae doctor title. 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.

It’s best to use PhD not Ph.D in most cases!

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 or phd and 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.

• A person can have more than one marker in their name. For example my full title is Dr Andrew Stapleton, PhD, MChem.
• The doctor title at the front can be used as a variant to the PhD at the end.

It can be a little bit ambiguous if I was to use Dr Andrew Stapleton, PhD as there are two markers. This could mean that I have two PhD’s, it could mean that I have a PhD and a medical doctorate, 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.

Academics 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.

Frequently Asked Questions about using PhD or Ph.d

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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Professional designations and degrees on business cards and e-mail signatures [duplicate]

I'm going to be creating some simple business cards for myself going forward, and would like some advice on the addition of my degrees and professional designations to the card.

So far, the planned text, aside of the graphics, phone numbers, e-mail address, etc, would look like (using made-up names):

The P.Eng. designation is critical, as it means I am a "true" engineer, have the requisite supervised experience, no criminal record, have completed the law and ethics training, and so forth. In Canada, one is not allowed to have the word "engineer" in one's job title or on his/her business cards without earning the P.Eng. designation. It would be like calling one's self a "medical doctor" without the right credentials, and you can be fined heavily for it.

At least one academic degree should be listed, but I opted to list both my PhD and Masters in Engineering, as in my neck of the woods (North America), at least in the tech sector, there is a common trend where people will do just a Bachelors and a PhD, or sometimes just a PhD, usually from a degree mill. The common sentiment is that people who have taken this route are "professional students" with no relevant job skills, or the degree is meaningless if it smells like a degree mill; while one with the Bachelors, Masters, and PhD plus at least so many years of experience can actually be hired for real work. I've even known several individuals who don't even include their PhD on CVs/resumes for this reason.

I opted to leave out the Bachelors of Engineering since I feel it would be overkill. Finally, I feel the FIEEE designation shows a lot of committment to my field, and opted to include it.

So, my question is as follows: Does this seem to be overkill or snooty in professional or academic circles in North America? My main concern is listing two degrees, and using the format described above has already gotten me some vicious comments on e-mail threads for being "elitist", though the individuals who made those comments tend to exhibit anti-academic sentiments anyways, so I'm probably just (unintentionally) rubbing salt in a wound or hitting a nerve.

Also, if anyone could weight in on whether this is acceptable in Western Europe (I sometimes work with Field Application Engineers in France, UK, and Italy), it would be very helpful.

My plan is to use this advice to create multiple sets of business cards and/or e-mail signatures if there is enough variance in cultural attitudes to justify it. Thank you!

• professionalism
• business-cards
• 2 The answers here are likely to be very opinion based, especially when "snooty" is one of your options. I would think that P.Eng and Ph.D would be sufficient. The Ph.D either includes, or supersedes the Masters degree, and nobody would doubt your commitment to your profession unless you demonstrate your lack of commitment, so the FIEEE is not really necessary. IMO. (Southwestern USA, fwiw) –  Kent A. Commented Aug 9, 2015 at 17:06
• 3 Your business card is not your CV. If you feel like the only way you can be taken seriously is to beat people over the head with your qualifications, you're doing it wrong. –  Eric Commented Aug 9, 2015 at 19:00
• @Eric A business cad doesnt need to impress people but rather should be a small piece of paper which yields all information about a person. And if this guy is good at doing a specific or multiple thing (s) that it would be nice if other people would be able to see it because it adds value to the person and thus to the ability to connect to other people –  BlueWizard Commented Aug 9, 2015 at 22:42
• 1 @JonasDralle Again, your business card is not your CV. It's a way for people to remember you after meeting you and contact you. If you couldn't make your qualifications known and yourself memorable when handing out the card, you're doing it wrong. –  Eric Commented Aug 10, 2015 at 3:28
• The commentary about needing to have a Masters in addition to the PhD to be taken seriously sounds very odd. –  Chan-Ho Suh Commented Aug 10, 2015 at 5:41

3 Answers 3

It seems your question can be answered with the old cliche "You can't make everyone happy".

That's something that's very important to consider with personal branding. Are some people going to think you're an academic intellectual elitist with your large degree listings? Sure maybe...

But at the same time aren't a lot of people going to find your degree set as something that designates you as a great contractor to give their engineering department (or whatever they need consulting on) the boost forward it really needs? Probably. I think you have two pretty good options here...

You could experiment and collect metrics from your personal brand with different levels of degree suffixes, and see which one gains you the most customers and engagements with as much control of other variables as possible.

(What I would do) Is you can kind of apply the "have your cake and eat it too" principle by drawing minimum attention to the degree principle, which seems to (in my opinion) say "Hey I got all these awesome degrees but I'm totally not snooty about it". That best way to do that is to either put a more subtle color contrast on the suffix and/or make them smaller.

For example:

Hopefully that helped and to harp on that main point, you really can't please everyone, just make sure you're pleasing the most amount of people possible.

• You're very welcome –  salad_bar_breath Commented Aug 9, 2015 at 19:35
• Smaller - good Idea. That small - no. I think you worked hard for those titles and you have every right to show it to the world. This title is now legally part of your name and no one can blame you for using it like it. –  BlueWizard Commented Aug 9, 2015 at 22:40
• I threw that together in Paint.Net in less than sixty seconds, cut me some slack @JonasDralle lol. I agree it definitely shouldn't be that small but I was just trying to show the concept for content that you want to draw less attention to. I personally totally agree with you and I'm all about parading academic accomplishments (as you can see by my Dean's List awards flaunting on my LinkedIn). However, the intellectual elitist label is an existent one in our society, and I want to help him sell to as many clients as possible, including the ones tossing that label around... –  salad_bar_breath Commented Aug 9, 2015 at 22:52
• 1 Ah ok. I think it could look pretty good when it's the same font size but has a dark gray as color (not black) with small line thickness. This would look modern and decent without disturbing the eye thru diffrent font sizes. But thats just an Idea –  BlueWizard Commented Aug 9, 2015 at 22:56
• That would be pretty cool, I think it could work with the same or almost the same font size but I still think it would look good super-scripted. I put the colors on there more to demonstrate contrast, because I have no clue what color theme he was planning to stick on his business cards. Maybe you should start something up in Graphic Design Stack Exchange on how to throw together some sick designs on name/suffix combinations. Send me the link when you do I want to see that. –  salad_bar_breath Commented Aug 9, 2015 at 23:28

Unfortunately this depends a bit on context, culture and the recipient. For a while I had actually two set of business cards, one with the PhD and one with PhD off. PhD is useful in Europe and when interacting with the press and public communication. PhD in day to day business in the US feels pretentious so it's better to leave it off.

Business cards are cheap, so there is no problem in carrying two sets.

I would leave the Master's off. The PhD already implies that you have a master (and a bachelor, and a high school degree etc.), so unless it's in a different field or major, it doesn't add any information.

I'm assuming you are approaching this problem as an independent contractor trying to sell your services directly to potential customers.

You are not selling your credentials. You are selling services or solutions. If your competition with fewer credentials is offering better and cheaper solutions to your potential customers, you have a problem that your credentials alone will not solve. Your crendentials may make you a more trustworthy supplier to new customers, but after the first job, trustworthiness will be defined purely on how well you have already delivered. If you get word-of-mouth recommendations from customers, you can be assured it is not because you have 4 acronyms after your name but rather because you provided a great solution or service.

If you approach it from this angle, you will see that emphasizing your credentials is important, but it should not be the central focus of your message. You should mention your credentials clearly on your website in a section about your background. You should also place enough emphasis on your background and experience to be taken seriously in initial conversations. Your credentials are a small part of this. The main focus of your website and initial conversations, though, should be about how you will meet the potential customer's needs. You should focus on how great your solutions are, how you have provided similar solutions to other customers before, etc.

Once you have a great initial conversation and a great website to entice potential customers, then you should find that your e-mail signature and your business cards become more of a reminder to people of who you are and how to contact you rather than a sales vehicle in their own right. In this context, it should not be necessary to include your credentials everywhere.

If you simply can't resist putting credentials in your signature and on your business cards, try to limit yourself to one that best conveys how having that credential will ensure your solutions are top notch.

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Professional Title Etiquette: When to Use Your Dr. Title

Socially as well as professionally, medical doctors, dentists, and other professionals are addressed by, and introduced with, their titles. People who have earned a Ph.D. or any other academic, nonmedical doctoral degree have the choice of whether to use "Dr." both professionally and socially.  If, when meeting people with doctorates, you're unsure how to address them, "Dr." is always correct.  If they'd rather the title be dropped, they will let you know.

It's more common for women to use the title "Doctor" socially as well as professionally than in the past. When a married woman uses the title "Dr." (either medical or academic) socially, addressing social correspondence to the couple is a little trickier. If her husband is not a doctor, address letters to Dr. Sonia and Mr. Robert Harris. Her name comes first because her professional title "outranks" his social title. If her husband is also a doctor, the address is either The Drs. (Doctors) Harris or Drs. Sonia and Robert Harris (the order of the names doesn't matter).

The Reverend

In introductions and correspondence, many Protestant clergy are referred to as "The Reverend." While business correspondence is addressed to The Reverend James Norris, (D.D., if held), social correspondence is slightly different: The Reverend (Mr./Dr.) and Mrs. James Norris. In conversation, a clergyman or clergywoman is addressed as Dr./Mr./Mrs./Ms./Pastor/Rector/Reverend Norris.

Addressing a husband or wife who are both "Reverends" follows the same format as a husband and wife who are both doctors: The Reverends Norris or The Reverend Mrs./Ms. Patricia Norris and the Reverend Mr. James Norris. If either of the couple also has a doctorate degree, that person's name would go first: The Reverend Dr. James Norris and The Reverend Mrs./Ms. Patricia Norris.

Today "Esquire" is largely confined to business correspondence between attorneys and justices of the peace. An alternative is to write:

Mr. David Bowman

Attorney at Law

using two lines, no indent, and including the titles Mr. or Ms.

When "Esq." or "Esquire" is used, the name is never preceded by Mr., Ms., Mrs., or other titles such as Dr., and is written David Bowman, Esq. "Esquire" isn't used in introductions: "I'd like to introduce attorney David Bowman/Mr. David Bowman/David Bowman." It also isn't used for social correspondence, as when writing to a lawyer and his or her spouse or addressing a social invitation. Mr. and Mrs. David Bowman is the correct form.

Professional Designations

Professional designations such as CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or CLU (Certified Life Underwriter) are only used on business cards or business correspondence. They follow a person's name, and Mr. or Ms. isn't used: Martha Dawes, CPA; Phillip Olner, CLU. If a person has more than one designation, they're listed in the order received: Phillip Olner, CLU, CFP. Socially, use Mr., Ms., or Mrs. without the professional designation: Ms. Martha Dawes.

Other Titles

Every day we run into people who have an official title. The police officer at the desk is Sergeant Flynn; the head of the fire department is Chief Elmore; the club chef is Chef Rossi; the pilot on your plane is Captain Howe; and so forth. When on the job, such people are always addressed by their titles, just as they are when the matter at hand is related to their work. Socially, many don't use their titles, though they may. Sometimes a title sticks: A local judge, for example, who's been called by his title for a number of years, is usually addressed as "Judge" even after his retirement.

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How Do You Address Someone With a PhD Degree?

In academia and professional settings, knowing how to properly address someone with a PhD is crucial.

Jun 26, 2024

In today's diverse academic and professional landscape, knowing how to properly address individuals with advanced degrees is an essential social and professional skill. This guide focuses on the etiquette surrounding the PhD title, offering comprehensive insights into when and how to use it appropriately.

Understanding the PhD Title

A PhD, which stands for Doctor of Philosophy, represents the pinnacle of academic achievement in many fields. Despite its name, a PhD is not limited to philosophy; it can be earned in various disciplines, from sciences and humanities to arts and engineering. This prestigious degree signifies:

• Extensive expertise in a specific field of study
• Completion of original research that contributes new knowledge to the field
• The ability to conduct independent research and analysis
• A high level of critical thinking and problem-solving skills

It's important to note that while a PhD holder is referred to as "Doctor," this doesn't necessarily mean they are a medical doctor. The title "Doctor" in this context acknowledges their advanced level of education and expertise in their field of study.

When to Use "Dr." as a Title

Using the title "Dr." for PhD holders is generally appropriate in many contexts, especially in academic and professional settings. Here's a more detailed look at when and where to use this title:

Academic Settings

• In universities or research institutions
• During academic conferences or seminars
• In scholarly publications or academic journals
• When introducing speakers at academic events

Professional Contexts

• In formal business correspondence
• During professional conferences or meetings
• In industry publications or reports
• When introducing experts in their field at events or in media

Formal Correspondence

• In official letters or emails
• On business cards or professional profiles
• In formal invitations or announcements

Public Recognition

• When acknowledging contributions or achievements
• In press releases or media interviews
• On plaques or awards

It's worth noting that some PhD holders may prefer not to use the title outside of professional or academic settings. This personal preference often stems from a desire to maintain a more casual or approachable demeanor in social situations. When in doubt, it's always best to ask for their preference. 

Addressing Someone with a PhD in Email

Email communication often requires a balance between formality and friendliness. When writing to someone with a PhD, especially for the first time or in a professional context, it's best to err on the side of formality. Here are some guidelines:

• "Dear Dr. [Last Name],"
• "Hello Dr. [Last Name],"
• If they sign as "John," you can address them as "John" in your reply
• If unsure, you can ask: "How would you prefer I address you in our correspondence?"
• In the body of the email, continue to use "Dr. [Last Name]" until invited to do otherwise
• "Best regards,"
• "Sincerely,"
• "Thank you,"

Remember, it's always better to start formal and become more casual if invited, rather than starting too casually and potentially appearing disrespectful.

Easily pronounces technical words in any field

Using the Title in Person

Face-to-face interactions require a nuanced approach to addressing someone with a PhD. Here are some scenarios and how to handle them:

First Meetings

When meetings someone with a PhD for the first time, especially in a professional or academic setting:

• "It's a pleasure to meet you, Dr. [Last Name]."
• "Thank you for joining us, Dr. [Last Name]."

Introductions

When introducing a PhD holder to others:

• "I'd like to introduce Dr. [Last Name], who specializes in [field of study]."
• "This is Dr. [First Name] [Last Name], our expert in [area of expertise]."

Ongoing Interactions

After the initial introduction, follow the PhD holder's lead:

• If they invite you to use their first name, you can do so in subsequent interactions
• If they continue to use formal titles, maintain that level of formality

Social Settings

In more casual environments, it's often acceptable to use first names, but when in doubt, ask:

• "How would you prefer I address you in this setting?"

Envelope and Formal Letter Etiquette

When addressing formal letters or envelopes to someone with a PhD, there are a few accepted formats:

• Dr. [Full Name], PhD Example: Dr. Jane Smith, PhD
• [Full Name], PhD Example: Jane Smith, PhD
• Dr. [Full Name] Example: Dr. Jane Smith

The choice between these formats often depends on the level of formality and the specific requirements of the communication. For instance, when submitting a paper to an academic journal, you might use the second format to clearly indicate the author's credentials.

Proper Salutation in Various Contexts

In universities or research institutions, formality is key:

• Written: "Dear Dr. [Last Name],"
• Verbal: "Dr. [Last Name]" or "Professor [Last Name]" if they hold a professorship

Professional Conferences

At conferences, titles are commonly used in introductions and presentations:

• "Our next speaker is Dr. [Full Name], an expert in [field]."
• "We're honored to have Dr. [Last Name] sharing insights on [topic]."

In casual situations, follow the PhD holder's lead:

• If they introduce themselves by their first name, it's usually fine to use it
• If unsure, you can politely ask, "How would you prefer to be addressed?"

Common Questions About Addressing PhD Holders

Should i use "dr." or "phd" after the name.

Generally, use "Dr." before the name rather than "PhD" after it. For example:

• Correct: Dr. Jane Smith
• Less common: Jane Smith, PhD

The exception is in formal academic writing or when listing credentials, where "Jane Smith, PhD" might be appropriate.

Can I use "Mr." or "Ms." instead of "Dr."?

It's best to use "Dr." unless the person has indicated otherwise. Using "Mr." or "Ms." for someone with a PhD can be seen as diminishing their academic achievements. If you're unsure of someone's credentials, it's better to ask or research before addressing them.

How do I address someone with multiple doctoral degrees?

If someone holds both a PhD and an MD, for instance, you can use either "Dr." or their professional title, depending on the context. In medical settings, "Dr." would typically refer to their MD, while in academic settings, it might refer to their PhD. When in doubt, you can ask which title they prefer in the current context.

What about cultural differences in using titles?

It's important to be aware that the use of academic titles can vary significantly across cultures. In some countries, academic titles are used much more frequently in everyday life, while in others, their use is more restricted to professional settings. When dealing with international colleagues or in multicultural settings, it's helpful to research or inquire about local customs.

Addressing someone with a PhD correctly is more than just a matter of etiquette; it's a show of respect for their academic achievements and expertise. While using "Dr." is generally appropriate in formal and academic settings, it's essential to be attentive to individual preferences and context. The key is to be respectful, adaptable, and willing to ask when unsure.

Remember these key points:

• Use "Dr." in formal and academic settings unless told otherwise
• In email, start formal and adjust based on the recipient's response
• In person, use the title for introductions and follow the individual's lead
• Be aware of context - what's appropriate in a university might differ in a social setting
• When in doubt, it's always acceptable to politely ask for preference

By following these guidelines, you'll be well-equipped to navigate the etiquette of addressing PhD holders in various situations, showing respect for their accomplishments while maintaining professional and social grace.

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How to Write PhD

How to Write PhD – Once you’ve completed your doctorate (PhD), you’ll want to put this achievement at the top of your resume envelope. The problem is how to put this academic milestone to good use if you decide to explore new career opportunities in business or discovered that you truly enjoy academic research.

Writers often use Ph.D. after their names to boost their credibility and professionalism, but what does it mean when the abbreviation doesn’t immediately follow your name?

Table of Contents

How do you Write PhD correctly after a name? Is it ph d or phd?

Here are the steps to write phd correctly:.

• Firstly,  “P”  must be in a capital case.
• Secondly,  “h”  is in small case with no space after  “P”
• Thirdly, use period/full-stop after  “h”
• Fourthly, Write  “D”  in capital case.
• Fifthly, keep Period after  “D”
• Finally, the correct way to write is  Ph.D .
• Or, It can be also written as PhD in a sentence.
• As per APA style, write  Ph. D
• As per Chicago style, write  PhD
• As per MLA style, write it as  Ph. D.

For example this is how to write  PhD title  after your name:  Dr.John Mathew, Ph.D.  You can write PhD after name on your business cards, resumes, CV’s or identity cards or on nameplates etc. Some have confusion with the use of comma and full stops while writing PhD title after name. Here is my indepth review how to write out properly PhD.

Writing a PhD title after name

Use capital “p” and “d” in the word ph.d..

You must write ‘P’ as capital and ‘D’ as capital letters. Though there is no strict rule on how to use capital and small letters, many of them do this way. Both letters which I have just mentioned must be written in Capital because those letters are the heart of the abbreviationPh.D. There is no other way of writing. Even if you search the whole world and ask many people and read many books, this is how PhD title is written.  Sometimes there are possibilities that both letters are written in small letters by mistake. You need to correct instantly if such is the case. Otherwise, it looks awkward when someone looks at it or reads it.  Usually, mistaken words are clearly observed than that of rightly written ones.

Use small letter ‘h’ in the word Ph.D.

The letter ‘h’ is what written small letter in this 3 letter word is.  We write it in a small letter after name because this letter ‘h’ is in the middle of the word Ph.D.  Here also don’t write mistake by using capital letters. This is the reason why many people write a PhD title after the name wrongly. They are confused about where to use capital letters and were not to use small letters. I suggest you practice all the letters in one or other way.

Why do we write a PhD title after the name?

We write a PhD title after the name to know that one has completed his doctoral studies and it is a sign of knowledge and status.  We write a Ph.D. even for other purposes. For example, if someone is working in a university, it is mandatory that his qualification must be known to all the students and as well as the staff. This is why we write the Ph.D. title after the name. Not only in the university but also to the competent authorities who come for an inspection to the university must know the status of the faculty profiles.  So the title Ph.D. is written after every faculty name as a title.

Should we use bold letters

I say a big no. You cannot write bold and fashioned way while writing PhD title after your name. As you write you must make it look similar along with the name without any difference. There is no way that you must write the Ph.D. title in bold fonts. This way, it looks very odd for those who look. Instead of reading your name, they will read Ph.D. firstly. So there is a chance of not remembering your name. So never use bold fonts while writing PhD title after your name.

Should we use Italic Letters

Again it is a big no. Do be too creative while writing a Ph.D. after your name. The use of italics is a big mistake. Do not use such writing in italics. Every time you use italic, again it looks very different from the original name adjacent to it.

Is Ph.D. a title after your name?

Do you think it is a PhD title or just a status?  It is both status and title.  Though in my personal opinion it is not a title, many call it as a title. But if you ask me I would tell it is a status word that is symbolically represented a matter of qualification. This is only my personal opinion about the title of Ph.D. So if at all you have some doubts about how this title arose as a part of history, you must read a vast number of history books about the Ph.D. title. It all requires for you to understand that a Ph.D. is not a title finally and just a resemblance of qualification.

Is it good to put PhD after title in your identity cards?

No, you must not use the title Ph.D. after your name in any type of identity card. These cards are existing irrespective of your qualification. This is meant to identify you as you are. There is no necessity what you have achieved. There is no need for knowing your qualifications. So in any type of identity card which is issued by the government like passport and voter card etc, you cannot use such title after your name. But there is one exception that the identity card at university or college or at job area must be given with Ph.D. title. If you ever need expert help with writing your Doctoral level papers, go to WriteMyPaperHub and send your request to  write my PhD thesis for me .

Should we use the subject name when using a Ph.D. with the name?

This thought is quite awkward. But I must still mention this. There are some who use the subject name after the Ph.D. title along with the name. Like for example Dr. Luke, Ph.D. in Linguistics. Using this way is quite reasonable if there are some important debates or international meetups. Otherwise, I don’t suggest such type of writing after your name.

What happens if you don’t use a Ph.D. after your name?

If you do not use the Ph.D. title after your name, people around you won’t know that you are a doctoral research fellow. So it is very important to let them know it. You can only use this if at all there are some students around you or any known people. If there are unknown people around you, then there is no way that it is mandatory to use a Ph.D. after your name. Anyhow, I say that there is no danger of not using Ph.D. after your name.

Should comma be addded before or after PhD

Yes, a comma is a mandatory thing to be added after Ph.D. This is a rule. Otherwise, it is mixed combined with your original name. It will become part of your name. So comma is good after your name. I have already given the example above on how to put a comma after your name. But let me give here one more example as a matter of understanding.  Dr.Mohima, Ph.D. If you see the name, for example, there is a comma used after the name to separate Ph.D. from it. So try to put a comma. But never use another punctuation mark as such full stop or colon after your name. I have seen people using other punctuation marks like semicolon after name and then they write the title Ph.D. Some don’t use at all. All such things are mistakes. Use the only comma after your name always.

Can we write Dr instead of Ph.D. after the name?

Writing a doctor instead of a Ph.D. means a different thing. So you cannot use such way. As this is not the right format. ‘Dr’ is used at the beginning of the name as another title. But after the name, it must be a Ph.D. and not ‘Dr’

Should we write a Ph.D. at all after one’s name that is too long?

Sometimes it so happens that your name is too long to write Ph.D. after it. During this trouble, you must cut out some part of the name and type PhD as a title after your name. There is no other way to do it.  Usually, longs name are common in some countries like Germany and India. But in the USA we have shorter names. Whatever may be the length, you must try to use the most used name and eliminate the rest of the name. This way you can use the title Ph.D. comfortable after your name. Always try to use the same name. Don’t change the name or cut your name in different ways on different days. These will again a problem to your recognition.

Should we write phd or ph d on business card, welcome banners during functions?

On welcome banners and business cards, it is very important to mention the title Ph.D. This will be more serious if you do not use the Ph.D. title after the name. There are many people watching that public banner. If you do not write the title after the name, you are disrespecting the guest totally. So be aware of using the title ofPh.D. whenever you have public functions or welcome banners or during some important meetings.  This is a sign that others should treat the guest better than the other out there.

Should the font size of Ph.D. be the same as someone’s name?

The name and the title Ph.D. must be in the same size. There must not be unusual differences. Font sizes matter a lot. Don’t use wrong font size or awkward fonts while using your title Ph.D. after your name. The best font could be like Ariel, Lato, Times New Roman, etc. These fonts will look better as a Ph.D. title after your name. Initially, there is some confusion about using the right font. But once you learn the size usage, you are comfortable using them rightly. Even when you write manually, you can easily write with similar size throughout. This requires a good amount of practice to write the Ph.D. title after your name with good font limitations.

10 tips for writing a PhD thesis

Writing up a PhD can often take place in a frenzy of activity in the last few months of your degree study, after years of hard work. But there are some steps that you can take to increase your chances of success.

• Do not be daunted by the task of “writing up”. Work on the text as your PhD takes shape, remember that all writers need editing, and help yourself by using these basic tips to make life easier. Read what great writers say about how to write before you start, and take their advice to heart. There is no dark art to clear, concise work; it is mostly a result of editing, and editing again. Above all, keep Elmore Leonard’s advice in mind: “If it reads like writing…rewrite it.”
• Plan the structure of your thesis carefully with your supervisor. Create rough drafts as you go so that you can refine them as you become more focused on the write-up. Much of writing comprises rewriting so be prepared to rework each chapter many times. Even Ernest Hemingway said: “The first draft of everything is shit.”
• Academic writing does not have to be dry. Inject some flair into your work. Read advice on writing and remember George Orwell’s words in  Why I Write : “Never use the passive where you can use the active”; and Mark Twain’s on adjectives: “When you catch an adjective, kill it.” If you prefer, Stephen King said: “The road to hell is paved with adverbs.”
• Do not write up in chronological order. Work on each chapter while it is fresh in your mind or pertinent to what you are doing at that moment, but come back to it all later and work it up into a consistent, coherent piece, restructuring sections where necessary.
• Think carefully about your writing. Write your first draft, leave it and then come back to it with a critical eye. Look objectively at the writing and read it closely for style and sense. Look out for common errors such as dangling modifiers, subject-verb disagreement and inconsistency. If you are too involved with the text to be able to take a step back and do this, then ask a friend or colleague to read it with a critical eye. Remember Hemingway’s advice: “Prose is architecture, not interior decoration.” Clarity is key.
• Most universities use a preferred style of references. Make sure you know what this is and stick to it. One of the most common errors in academic writing is to cite papers in the text that do not then appear in the bibliography. All references in your thesis need to be cross-checked with the bibliography before submission. Using a database during your research can save a great deal of time in the writing-up process. Helpful software includes EndNote or Paperpile. Managing your bibliography from day one may seem obsessive but it will save you a great deal of time and stress by the end of the PhD process.
• Use a house style. Professional publications such as  Times Higher Education  use a house style guide to ensure consistency in spelling. For example, do not use both -ise spellings and -ize spellings, stick to British spelling and be consistent when referring to organisations or bodies. Because dictionaries vary in their use of hyphenation, use one dictionary and stick to it throughout the writing process. If you consult the  New Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors , you will note the extraordinary number of words with alternative spellings. It can also be a very useful guide to preferred spellings, use of italicisation and foreign phrases.
• Take care when quoting from other sources. Ensure you note whether the italic emphasis is in the original and take careful notes when you are collecting quotes for your thesis. Transcribe them accurately to save work later and keep original spellings (even if they differ from your chosen style) to ensure fidelity to your source.
• Think about plagiarism. If you are quoting from works, quote from them accurately and paraphrase where necessary for your argument. This is where careful note-taking and use of references is invaluable and will help you to avoid even inadvertently plagiarising another work.
• Remember that your thesis is your chance to present your work in the best possible light. Consider your opening paragraphs, entice your reader with your writing and above all be clear about your hypothesis and your conclusion. Append material where it adds value but not where it merely bulks out your work. Consider your reader at all times. This is your chance to showcase your work.

If you stick to these simple rules, your writing will be clear and jargon-free. Above all, take to heart Orwell’s advice: “Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.”

In the academic world, having a PhD after your name means you have been awarded a prestigious three-year doctoral degree from a university or college. A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy degree and can be earned in a variety of subjects.

Student Business Cards

Harvard Griffin GSAS graduate students can order business cards online in blocks of 250, 500, or 1,000. 

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For graduate students, attending conferences and building connections with others in their field is a key component of professional development. Having a business card on hand can be an important way to share information.

Students enrolled in degree programs at the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences can order business cards online in blocks of 250, 500, or 1,000. Cards will be available for pick up at the reception desk at the Harvard Griffin GSAS administrative offices on the third floor of the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center, 1350 Massachusetts Avenue, and you will be contacted when they are ready. You may also select to have your cards delivered to you directly for an additional fee. Production time is 7–14 business days from approval. 

 Please follow the instructions below when placing an order.

• Go to hgsasstudent.fenwayprint.com .
• You will be prompted to create an account in order to log in.
• Once you are logged in, click on the Student Business Card button.
• Select the quantity of cards you’d like to purchase—$52/250, $55/500, or $98/1,000.
• Click “Customize Order.”
• Fill in all necessary information. Required fields: Name, Degree Program, Phone Label 1, Phone 1, Email Optional fields: Phone Label 2, Phone 2, Addresses 1 and 2 Please note:   For the program field, please use the program in which you are studying and not the specific subject of study. You may use “student” or “candidate” as appropriate (e.g. “Student in Middle Eastern Studies,” “PhD candidate in mathematics,” and “Government”). Business cards are not intended for Teaching Fellow appointments. All business card orders are subject to approval by Harvard Griffin GSAS. You will be notified upon approval or rejection. 
• Click on the “Update Preview” button on the bottom left to view your card. Be sure to check your proof carefully as this will be your only proof and you are solely responsible for the content of the card. The cost associated with reprints due to content errors will be yours. You can download this pdf and save it for your records by clicking “Download Proof.”
• Once you are satisfied with your design, check the “Yes, I approve this document” box and click “Finished Editing” in the bottom right-hand corner.
• Confirm your order and click “Proceed to Checkout.”
• Fill in your credit card information and click the “Credit Card” button to process your order.
• Save a copy of the receipt for your records; it is also your order confirmation. 

For additional questions, please email  [email protected]  or call 617-495-2321.

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

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.

From admission to dissertation. Tips on making the PhD journey happy, productive and successful

How To Write PhD? Is it ph d or phd

How do you write phd correctly after a name is it ph d or phd, here are the steps to write phd correctly:.

• Firstly, “P” must be in a capital case.
• Secondly, “h” is in small case with no space after “P”
• Thirdly, use period/full-stop after “h”
• Fourthly, Write “D” in capital case.
• Fifthly, keep Period after “D”
• Finally, the correct way to write is Ph.D .
• Or, It can be also written as PhD in a sentence.
• As per APA style, write Ph. D
• As per Chicago style, write PhD
• As per MLA style, write it as Ph. D.

For example this is how to write PhD title after your name: Dr.John Mathew, Ph.D. You can write PhD after name on your business cards, resumes, CV’s or identity cards or on nameplates etc. Some have confusion with the use of comma and full stops while writing PhD title after name. Here is my indepth review how to write out properly PhD.

Writing a PhD title after name

Use capital “p” and “d” in the word ph.d..

You must write ‘P’ as capital and ‘D’ as capital letters. Though there is no strict rule on how to use capital and small letters, many of them do this way. Both letters which I have just mentioned must be written in Capital because those letters are the heart of the abbreviationPh.D. There is no other way of writing. Even if you search the whole world and ask many people and read many books, this is how PhD title is written.  Sometimes there are possibilities that both letters are written in small letters by mistake. You need to correct instantly if such is the case. Otherwise, it looks awkward when someone looks at it or reads it.  Usually, mistaken words are clearly observed than that of rightly written ones.

Use small letter ‘h’ in the word Ph.D.

The letter ‘h’ is what written small letter in this 3 letter word is.  We write it in a small letter after name because this letter ‘h’ is in the middle of the word Ph.D.  Here also don’t write mistake by using capital letters. This is the reason why many people write a PhD title after the name wrongly. They are confused about where to use capital letters and were not to use small letters. I suggest you practice all the letters in one or other way.

Why do we write a PhD title after the name?

We write a PhD title after the name to know that one has completed his doctoral studies and it is a sign of knowledge and status.  We write a Ph.D. even for other purposes. For example, if someone is working in a university, it is mandatory that his qualification must be known to all the students and as well as the staff. This is why we write the Ph.D. title after the name. Not only in the university but also to the competent authorities who come for an inspection to the university must know the status of the faculty profiles.  So the title Ph.D. is written after every faculty name as a title.

Should we use bold letters

I say a big no. You cannot write bold and fashioned way while writing PhD title after your name. As you write you must make it look similar along with the name without any difference. There is no way that you must write the Ph.D. title in bold fonts. This way, it looks very odd for those who look. Instead of reading your name, they will read Ph.D. firstly. So there is a chance of not remembering your name. So never use bold fonts while writing PhD title after your name.

Should we use Italic Letters

Again it is a big no. Do be too creative while writing a Ph.D. after your name. The use of italics is a big mistake. Do not use such writing in italics. Every time you use italic, again it looks very different from the original name adjacent to it.

Is Ph.D. a title after your name?

Do you think it is a PhD title or just a status?  It is both status and title.  Though in my personal opinion it is not a title, many call it as a title. But if you ask me I would tell it is a status word that is symbolically represented a matter of qualification. This is only my personal opinion about the title of Ph.D. So if at all you have some doubts about how this title arose as a part of history, you must read a vast number of history books about the Ph.D. title. It all requires for you to understand that a Ph.D. is not a title finally and just a resemblance of qualification.

Is it good to put PhD after title in your identity cards?

No, you must not use the title Ph.D. after your name in any type of identity card. These cards are existing irrespective of your qualification. This is meant to identify you as you are. There is no necessity what you have achieved. There is no need for knowing your qualifications. So in any type of identity card which is issued by the government like passport and voter card etc, you cannot use such title after your name. But there is one exception that the identity card at university or college or at job area must be given with Ph.D. title. If you ever need expert help with writing your Doctoral level papers, go to WriteMyPaperHub and send your request to  write my PhD thesis for me .

Should we use the subject name when using a Ph.D. with the name?

This thought is quite awkward. But I must still mention this. There are some who use the subject name after the Ph.D. title along with the name. Like for example Dr. Luke, Ph.D. in Linguistics. Using this way is quite reasonable if there are some important debates or international meetups. Otherwise, I don’t suggest such type of writing after your name.

What happens if you don’t use a Ph.D. after your name?

If you do not use the Ph.D. title after your name, people around you won’t know that you are a doctoral research fellow. So it is very important to let them know it. You can only use this if at all there are some students around you or any known people. If there are unknown people around you, then there is no way that it is mandatory to use a Ph.D. after your name. Anyhow, I say that there is no danger of not using Ph.D. after your name.

Should comma be addded before or after PhD

Yes, a comma is a mandatory thing to be added after Ph.D. This is a rule. Otherwise, it is mixed combined with your original name. It will become part of your name. So comma is good after your name. I have already given the example above on how to put a comma after your name. But let me give here one more example as a matter of understanding.  Dr.Mohima, Ph.D. If you see the name, for example, there is a comma used after the name to separate Ph.D. from it. So try to put a comma. But never use another punctuation mark as such full stop or colon after your name. I have seen people using other punctuation marks like semicolon after name and then they write the title Ph.D. Some don’t use at all. All such things are mistakes. Use the only comma after your name always.

Can we write Dr instead of Ph.D. after the name?

Writing a doctor instead of a Ph.D. means a different thing. So you cannot use such way. As this is not the right format. ‘Dr’ is used at the beginning of the name as another title. But after the name, it must be a Ph.D. and not ‘Dr’

Should we write a Ph.D. at all after one’s name that is too long?

Sometimes it so happens that your name is too long to write Ph.D. after it. During this trouble, you must cut out some part of the name and type PhD as a title after your name. There is no other way to do it.  Usually, longs name are common in some countries like Germany and India. But in the USA we have shorter names. Whatever may be the length, you must try to use the most used name and eliminate the rest of the name. This way you can use the title Ph.D. comfortable after your name. Always try to use the same name. Don’t change the name or cut your name in different ways on different days. These will again a problem to your recognition.

Should we write phd or ph d on business card, welcome banners during functions?

On welcome banners and business cards, it is very important to mention the title Ph.D. This will be more serious if you do not use the Ph.D. title after the name. There are many people watching that public banner. If you do not write the title after the name, you are disrespecting the guest totally. So be aware of using the title ofPh.D. whenever you have public functions or welcome banners or during some important meetings.  This is a sign that others should treat the guest better than the other out there.

Should the font size of Ph.D. be the same as someone’s name?

The name and the title Ph.D. must be in the same size. There must not be unusual differences. Font sizes matter a lot. Don’t use wrong font size or awkward fonts while using your title Ph.D. after your name. The best font could be like Ariel, Lato, Times New Roman, etc. These fonts will look better as a Ph.D. title after your name. Initially, there is some confusion about using the right font. But once you learn the size usage, you are comfortable using them rightly. Even when you write manually, you can easily write with similar size throughout. This requires a good amount of practice to write the Ph.D. title after your name with good font limitations.

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Syam Prasad Reddy T

Hello, My name is Syam, Asst. Professor of English and Mentor for Ph.D. students worldwide. I have worked years to give you these amazing tips to complete your Ph.D. successfully. Having put a lot of efforts means to make your Ph.D. journey easier. Thank you for visiting my Ph.D. blog.

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• Ars Lykaion
• The Boardroom

mentioning credentials (MS, MBA, PMP) in your business card

• Thread starter nixss7
• Start date Nov 5, 2010

More options

Wise, aged ars veteran.

• Nov 5, 2010
• Add bookmark

This is a simple question, but after days of reviewing online, I am not sure about this. Is it okay to mention your degrees and certifications after your name in business cards. Some say that it depends on the audience. Some suggested to have 2 cards. One formal card (where you work) where you do not mention the credentials and one personal card which mentions all your credentials. But if you were to have one card, would you have the degrees and certifications mentioned in your business card? Please advise. Thanks.  

Ars Scholae Palatinae

Tacky.  

ChloroFiend

Ars praefectus.

In my field (IT/INFOSEC), it's pretty commonplace and accepted to add those in. I personally wouldn't display more than 2 or 3 designations, as after that point it strikes me as an exercise in e-peen measuring. For instance, I could technically list out "ChloroFiend, MS, CISSP, MCSE:Security, CCSE, Sec+" and a few others I've likely forgotten. Instead, I only use "ChloroFiend, CISSP" as its pretty much the capstone credential in my field. I'll add on the CISM as well too when I earn that designation but don't anticipate tacking anything else on. I terms of academic degrees, I do hold an MS but don't list that anywhere. I wouldn't do that with an MBA either. PhD only if its specifically relevant to the position.  

Ars Legatus Legionis

if the qualification isn't intrinsic to your job (md, dds, etc), don't put it on.  

Bright Wire

Either use the capstone of your profession or leave it off completely. Nothing is more ridiculous than watching folks put expected credentials on cards and in email signatures like Joe Black, Computer Support Tech: A+, Network+, MCP. Watching Project Managers put down MBA and PMP is always laughable. It tells me nothing more about your ability to do the job than adding on "Can pee standing up" in my experience. Bonus points for reordering your creds to the following: Nixss PiMP mmMBAp w/ MS  

Thanks for the great advice. I did think it was kinda tacky as well.  

English_C6H^

I went back and forth on this for a long time before I figured out a simple test. Here's my test: Would you be held to a higher legal standard for having those letters behind your name? If you're not sure, think about this: If you worked free-lance, would you need malpractice or "errors and omissions" insurance? If you do, congratulations, you're held to a higher legal standard. With great power comes great responsibility (and the opportunity to put letters after your name on a little piece of a dead tree). e.g. - MD - Yes DDS/DMD - Yes CPR - No CPA - Yes CFP - No, AFAIK (Cert. Financial Planner) PE - Yes (Professional Engineer) CIH/DABT - Yes (Certified Industrial Hygienist, Diplomat of American Board of Toxicology) CSP - Probably not (Certified Safety Professional)  

But if you were to have one card, would you have the degrees and certifications mentioned in your business card? Click to expand...

Ars Tribunus Angusticlavius

I have no degree, and no certifications. And yet, I put HMFIC after my name on business cards.  

English_C6H^":484gh1r2 said: I went back and forth on this for a long time before I figured out a simple test. Here's my test: Would you be held to a higher legal standard for having those letters behind your name? If you're not sure, think about this: If you worked free-lance, would you need malpractice or "errors and omissions" insurance? If you do, congratulations, you're held to a higher legal standard. With great power comes great responsibility (and the opportunity to put letters after your name on a little piece of a dead tree). e.g. - MD - Yes DDS/DMD - Yes CPR - No CPA - Yes CFP - No, AFAIK (Cert. Financial Planner) PE - Yes (Professional Engineer) CIH/DABT - Yes (Certified Industrial Hygienist, Diplomat of American Board of Toxicology) CSP - Probably not (Certified Safety Professional) Click to expand...

Danger Mouse

• Nov 6, 2010

Heresiarch":3oa87sk9 said: My rule of thumb (when evaluating email sigs and business cards) is simple: "the more credentials they feel the need to include, the more likely it is they're a complete cock". I may unfairly a few exclude people who are simply proud of what they've achieved, but meh Click to expand...

NervousEnergy

• Nov 8, 2010

Would you be held to a higher legal standard for having those letters behind your name Click to expand...

• Nov 10, 2010

brainchasm":2jq6gzhk said: I have no degree, and no certifications. And yet, I put HMFIC after my name on business cards. Click to expand...

LordFrith":3guoauzc said: Heck, I find it tacky when people add "PhD" after their names on business cards, and that's significantly more work than any cert. Click to expand...

death_to_novell

"Heck, I find it tacky when people add "PhD" after their names on business cards, and that's significantly more work than any cert." I don't think I've ever seen that. I do occasionally see Dr. when interacting with people in industry. It's kind of good because it tells me the person I'm talking too might not be a clueless moron who can't help with my questions.  

As a Senior Network Engineer, I was keen on putting my CCIE number on my cards and email signature. Now that I am in a management role, I leave that off. I also don't put my M.S. on there either. I guess I just let my work do the talking. I keep all my certs active and list the relevant ones on my resume, but I don't just vomit all of them on to the paper.  

M. Jones":119a2lnh said: brainchasm":119a2lnh said: I have no degree, and no certifications. And yet, I put HMFIC after my name on business cards. Click to expand...

JasonF":2596tv5a said: I do occasionally see Dr. when interacting with people in industry. It's kind of good because it tells me the person I'm talking too might not be a clueless moron who can't help with my questions. Click to expand...

The Mighty Zoltan

• Nov 15, 2010

English_C6H^":1lbx43qt said: JasonF":1lbx43qt said: I do occasionally see Dr. when interacting with people in industry. It's kind of good because it tells me the person I'm talking too might not be a clueless moron who can't help with my questions. Click to expand...

• Nov 16, 2010

I used to do desktop support at a small firm that was all MD, MBA, PhDs. Yes, everyone had all of those degrees. Great people, they couldn't tie their own shoes, but great people. Click to expand...

• Nov 17, 2010

JasonF":1t504q46 said: I don't think I've ever seen that. I do occasionally see Dr. when interacting with people in industry. It's kind of good because it tells me the person I'm talking too might not be a clueless moron who can't help with my questions. Click to expand...

Ars Tribunus Militum

I guess I'm tacky, because I have PhD on my card. In an academic/research setting it does make a difference in how you get perceived. If I were out in industry, I wouldn't, but here at a gov't research institute I do. I don't go around shouting that I have the degree, but occasionally it's nice not to be thought of as some IT flunky, computer guy. I'm so low-key about it, that one of the secretaries said to me recently that she just found out I was a "doctor". We've been working in the same group for 8 or 9 years.  

Heresiarch":3km6pjhr said: My rule of thumb (when evaluating email sigs and business cards) is simple: "the more credentials they feel the need to include, the more likely it is they're a complete cock" Click to expand...

I met a guy once who listed his A+ certification on his business card. No joke.  

I think I have my name followed by CCNP and CCSP because those are the two highest and most recognized certs that I have. When I finish my CCIE, damn right I will be putting my CCIE # on my cards. I see nothing wrong with PMP or some other high level or capstone cert. As for degrees, I only think academic degrees are appropriate when they are graduate degrees. So you would not put Joe Schmo, B.S. but Joe Schmoe, P.H.D. or M.D. or J.D. is appropriate. Master's degrees are a bit iffy, especially an MBA.  

pauli":2fzgd50n said: if the qualification isn't intrinsic to your job (md, dds, etc), don't put it on. Click to expand...

FWIW I work with a number of PhDs in a commercial setting, and I think they've earned it. However I won't (seriously) call you Doctor unless you're an MD. Beyond the terminal PhD level degrees, in an appropriate professional setting I think I like the "legal standard" one is pretty good. EDIT: Agreed on the JD thing. It's reasonable to put on a business card, and you did complete post-graduate level course work. However you aren't a Doctor. JSD, sure, ok.  

clm100":o13fmhxp said: FWIW I work with a number of PhDs in a commercial setting, and I think they've earned it. However I won't (seriously) call you Doctor unless you're an MD. Beyond the terminal PhD level degrees, in an appropriate professional setting I think I like the "legal standard" one is pretty good. Click to expand...

EDIT: Agreed on the JD thing. It's reasonable to put on a business card, and you did complete post-graduate level course work. However you aren't a Doctor. JSD, sure, ok. Click to expand...

How to Use My Honorary Degree?

How to Use My Honorary Doctorate with My Name?

I hold a few degrees and am about to receive an honorary doctorate. How do I indicate the doctorate with my name? I currently have (Full Name), B.B.A., B.Th., and an M.R.E. The honorary doctorate will be in Theology . —————- – Marc Coffee

I have just been granted an honorary doctorate. Am I correctly addressed as ‘ Dr. (Name)’ now? —————- – Sandor Green

Dear Mr. Coffee & Mr. Green: An honorary degree is a great honor, but it is an honor . It is not exactly a  degree.

—- #1) Honorary-degree recipients may be addressed as Dr. (Name)  orally during the ceremony or in correspondence from by the granting university as a courtesy.

—- #2) But recipients are not addressed orally or in writing as Dr. (Name)  by other academic institutions – and not correctly addressed as  Dr. (Name)  in their professional/personal life. They continue to be addressed orally and in writing with the form of address to which they entitled prior to receiving the honor. E.g., Mr./Ms./Mrs.

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

—- #3) They may use the pertinent post-nominal abbreviation for the honorary degree with their name if they use the words honoris causa with the post nominal for the degree – to note that the degree is honorary, not earned.

—- #4) On one’s resume/CV, honorary doctorates are listed with honors or awards, not as education with your earned academic degrees. In a complete introduction it would be stated that ‘Marc Coffey received an honorary Doctorate in Theology from (Name of Granting Institution)’

The best source on this topic is Academic Ceremonies: a handbook of traditions and protocol by April Harris. Google it.  You’ll find it.  It’s the bible on the use of academic degrees.

– Robert Hickey

Use of an Honorary Doctorate with the Honorable ?

We have a newly elected official who received an honorary doctorate. She wants to be addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’ I’ve always followed the rule not to use a double honorific. But to this person, it’s important. (What can I tell you!) How to Use My Honorary Degree?

She is suggesting we use one of these. What do you think?

—- —- The Honorable Dr. Mary Jones —- —- —- or —- —- Dr. The Honorable Mary Jones?

– Anne Lesley How to Use My Honorary Degree?

Dear Ms. Lesley:

__ #1) In the USA ‘the Honorable (Full Name)’   is not used in combination with honorifics. We just one thing at a time. So she is: ————– The Honorable Mary Jones

__ #2) If she insists that she be addressed as ‘ Dr. (Name)’  – in a salutation or in conversation she’d be: ———- — — Dr. Smith

__ #3) Everyone is entitled to have their name be what they want it to be, But recipients of honorary doctorates are not entitled to be addressed as ‘ Dr. (Name)’  except at the granting university.

__ #4) In the USA – all honors and distinctions would be mentioned on a resume under honors. In an introduction it might be mentioned that she was a awarded an honorary doctorate. See the post at the top of this page on the use of honorary degrees for the details.

You can’t tell that to her of course, unless she asks your opinion. But she’s going to look either ignorant of the correct style (not good for a person holding a doctorate I’d say) – or pretentious – if others know she’s asking to be addressed as  ‘Dr. (Name)’ when the degree is an honorary one.

– Robert Hickey How to Use My Honorary Degree

Related Posts: — — — Author’s Name on a Book — — — Name Badge or Tag — — — Writing the Names of Deceased Persons — — — Names on an Award, Certificate, Diploma or Plaque — — — Naming a Road, Gallery or Building — — — Names on Place Cards — — — Use of Post-nominal Abbreviations — — — Use of Sr., Jr., II, III, IV, etc. Sequence Post-Nominals — — — Name on a Tombstone or Grave marker — — — Use of ‘The Late” with Names — — — Your Signature

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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Is it correct for a PhD holder to sign as "Dr. J. Doe, PhD"?

I have seen some of the PhD holders sign as "Dr. [First Name] [Surname], PhD".

Is it academically correct to write "Dr. Frank Amoani Arthur, PhD"?

• 28 Are you in Germany? If not you can do whatever you want. –  Cape Code Commented Oct 8, 2016 at 5:42
• 3 In addition, "Dr. X Y, PhD" would be correct if the person actually holds two different doctoral degrees: a Dr. and a PhD. –  lighthouse keeper Commented Oct 8, 2016 at 6:51
• 4 I would like to add that in some fields and (sub)cultures, adding the ", PhD" bit after your name may seem unnecessarily pretentious. –  Gimelist Commented Oct 8, 2016 at 8:01
• 1 It certainly depends on the usage context. In a job talk title slide, naming the degree seems justified, while in a conference talk or in a twitter profile, it would look pretentious. –  lighthouse keeper Commented Oct 8, 2016 at 8:09
• 1 @CapeCode Not just Germany. In The Netherlands it is a criminal offense to write your name like this. The law explicitly provides that you have to choose between either writing "dr." or writing "PhD". –  Tom van der Zanden Commented Jun 22, 2021 at 7:54

7 Answers 7

There are two important points to note about name markers that refer to academic titles:

• You can have more than one of these markers in your name: Kay Doe, PhD, MD indicates a person who is both a doctor of philosophy and a doctor of medicine.
• The marker Dr. can very often be used as a variant of the post-positioned markers. If both of them are equivalent markers in your country, you can choose either marker to refer to your academic title.

These two observations make the suggested name form Dr. Kay Doe, PhD rather ambiguous.

Does it refer to a person with two doctor titles because there are two markers? Or do both markers refer to just one doctor title? But if so, why is that doctor referred to twice in one name? This may even lead to suspicion: Does the name bearer use two markers which refer to the same title with the intention to sound more impressive than their academic distinction actually warrants?

This ambiguity is avoided if you use only one title marker per title.

• 1 +1 for not asserting that something is "correct" or "incorrect" and instead focusing on what is the most effective for communication. –  Thomas Steinke Commented Jun 21, 2021 at 22:43
• In Germany, we tend to list multiple doctor titles in front of the name, e.g. Dr. phil. D. med. Dr. h.c. Max Mustermann would declare a doctor of philosophy, a medical doctor and an honorary doctor all at once. But notably, these titles must match the precise expression of a title that has been awarded. So Dr. phil. X cannot be used instead of X, PhD , except if the awarding university explicitly declared it that way. Here you can find a list of examples (need to scroll down to a table). –  xamid Commented Mar 27, 2023 at 5:59

In the US, at least the title doctor doesn't imply a medical doctor, though it includes that. My students would usually refer to me as Dr. Buffy. Someone not knowing that I hold a doctorate might call me Mr. Buffy, but Dr. Buffy is more specific.

If I wish to list my degrees after my name they aren't being used a title like Dr. or Ms.

So, being pedantic: Dr. Buffy, BA, MA, PhD. is just fine. In Germany, and places with a related academic culture, degrees are used more as titles so it is a bit different: Herr Doctor Professor Buffy.

Medical doctors (again in the US) insist on being called Doctor and have no difficulty with Dr. Foobar, MD. It would be extremely uncommon for them to be listed any other way.

• 5 "Herr Professor Doctor", actually. –  Oleg Lobachev Commented Aug 1, 2018 at 15:07
• 1 Yes, Herr Student @OlegLobachev. Kidding of course. Thanks. In the US we would garble it, of course. As I did. I listed them in the order I did because of the order I earned them. I was Doktor before I was professor. –  Buffy Commented Aug 1, 2018 at 15:12
• 2 There is a story of a quite famous mathematician (a professor) who was living with one of his students in a "romantic" relationship. He once is said to have informed her that she didn't need to refer to him with all of his titles as long as they were in private. Apocryphal? You judge. –  Buffy Commented Aug 1, 2018 at 15:15
• 1 There's a reason why physicians are Dr. Foo, M.D. The Dr. part is for public appearances, so patients perceive that they're authoritative. The M.D. part is required by regulation in some places like hospitals and medical schools, as to disambiguate Ph.D., D.O., D.D.S./D.M.D., O.D., D.V.M. etc. which all have different rights/requirements when interacting with patients. My major US institution sticks both (Dr. Foo Bar, PhD) on everybody's e-mails and ID cards and computer accounts, even for non-medical people. –  user71659 Commented Aug 2, 2018 at 7:02

I'm sure this must have been dealt with in previous questions, but the short answer is:

This is correct if you are both a medical doctor and an academic doctor. But just being an academic allows you to write Dr. (name) XOR (name) PhD.

• 12 This is not universally true. –  Cape Code Commented Oct 8, 2016 at 7:23

If you have Dr. NAME only it might cause some confusion. I was once caught in a situation where I was asked to be on standby for assistance during a medical emergency because my boarding pass identified me as Dr. MYNAME. I had to explain that the Dr was for a PhD and not for medical practises. In my opinion the academic the title should be Dr. LASTNAME or Dr. LASTNAME M.D. for a medical practitioner Dr, LASTNAME PhD for an academic qualification Dr. LASTNAME HC for an honorary doctorate ( honororium causa )

As you can see from some of the answers here, there is substantial variation in use of academic titles and suffixes for degrees. It is certainly okay to use the suffix PhD if you have a PhD, and it would be hard to mount an argument that it is "incorrect" to use a suffix for a degree you actually have. There is wide variation in what is common practice in academia, but what is most important is to consider the following practical issues:

IMPORTANT --- avoid confusion with medical doctors: In most places, in an academic context the title "Dr" is fine for someone with a PhD (though in some countries they are distinct). However, in contexts outside academia it can cause confusion. In particular, for a person with a PhD who is not a medical doctor, it is often desirable to avoid using the title "Dr" in contexts where it might cause people to think that you are the appropriate contact person in a medical emergency ---e.g., " Dr O'Neill, this man is having a heart attack - do something! " So, for example, when I am checking into a plane, or in similar circumstances, I try to ensure that I am booked in as "Mr" not "Dr", notwithstanding that the latter title would apply in an academic context.

Academics rarely use the degree suffix: Because the PhD is so common among academics, we would rarely use this suffix outside of a CV. It is common for academics to use titles (e.g., Dr, Assoc Prof, Prof, etc.) in descriptions such as a signature block, staff page, etc. It is uncommon (but not incorrect) to additionally add the suffix "PhD". The main reason most academics leave this part off is because the degree is common among academics.

Dual use might clarify or it might confuse, depending on who is reading it: If you use both a title and a suffix for the same degree, that can potentially help to understand the source of the title, or it can look awkward or cause confusion. This really depends on the audience. In most cases, if you use the title "Dr" and the suffix "PhD" then people will assume that the title comes from the degree specified in the suffix, which is accurate here. It is perhaps a bit unusual to use both, but it is not unheard of.

I think in the US anyway, you can sign your name however you wish. In my case, I am a DVM and I have a Masters degree. I want my business cards to say Dr. MYNAME, DVM, MS. I have seen multiple DVMs that write their name the same way. I think it's good to know what kind of Dr. I am, and this helps others to know it also. Even if I didn't have the Masters degree, I would likely still want my business card to say Dr. MYNAME, DVM.

• 1 What is a DVM ? –  astronat supports the strike Commented Jun 21, 2021 at 14:10
• 2 @astronat Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. –  Bryan Krause ♦ Commented Jun 21, 2021 at 14:13

Dr Jones if he has a medical degree. Mark Jones, Ph.D. or Dr. Jones, if he has a Ph.D. Never Dr. Jones, Ph. D.

• 4 What if a PhD who is also a medical doctor? I think "Never" is too strong a word. –  Nobody Commented Aug 1, 2018 at 6:34
• 5 @scaaahu Mark Jones, MD, PhD. –  Nicole Hamilton Commented Aug 1, 2018 at 9:38
• 1 @NicoleHamilton That's a good one. –  Nobody Commented Aug 1, 2018 at 9:45
• My major US university puts "Dr. Jones PhD" on everybody's ID cards, e-mails, computer accounts, directory, etc. It's because the medical school and hospital have all kinds of "Dr." running around and they need to make it easy to identify what responsibilities you have. –  user71659 Commented Aug 2, 2018 at 7:07

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Ph.D. or PhD: which is correct?

What is the correct abbreviation for phd answered. .

How to spell PhD? Is it Ph.D. or PhD?

Answer: both are correct, Ph.D. and PhD are correct abbreviations of Doctor of Philosophy or the Latin term Philosophiae Doctor . Apart from these two, another correct abbreviation is DPhil. 

PhD and Ph.D. abbreviations explained 

Although both, PhD without periods and Ph.D. with periods are correct, currently the language is evolving into a more simplified spelling. The current tendency is to write PhD rather than Ph.D. (similarly to the spelling of ‘pm’ instead of ‘p.m.’)

Now let’s look into some examples. 

How to write Ph.D. on a business card?

Examples of ph.d. and phd on business cards.

• Jane Fox, M.D., Ph.D.
• Adam Murphy, PhD
• Charles Newman Ph.D. Candidate Department of Geology

How to use Ph.D. in a sentence? 

Examples of phd and ph.d. usage in a sentence.

• John is currently working towards his PhD. 
• Sylvia has a PhD in chemistry. 
• A PhD is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities.
• His current PhD research focuses on second language acquisition. 

How to write Ph.D. in a signature?

Examples of ph.d and phd in signatures.

• Timothy Smith Ph.D. in Psychology Cambridge University 
• Deborah Williams, PhD CEO, Brilliant Ideas 

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