I've been taught that only Med doctors or teachers should use their academic Phd as a title. Engineer friend insists we call him by first name or his title, never just Mr.
sounds pretentious to me....
2006-07-26 06:31:14 · 9 answers · asked by gdaugman 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
its their choice but usually call them DR.
2006-07-26 06:34:25 · answer #1 · answered by caribeanswimer 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Typically it is only medical doctors or teachers who are called doctor. But If your engineer friend has a PhD, sounds like he has the right to be called Dr. At the place I work, we have a lawyer who also has a PhD and though he prefers being called Mister, we still introduce him as Dr. If you don't like calling your friend "doctor," you always have the option of calling him by his first name.
2006-07-26 07:05:09 · answer #2 · answered by Jules 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a bit pretentious. Technically, any one with a PhD., should be addressed as Dr., but what if you don't know they're a PhD.? Titles can get way too fussy, it all depends on the relationship. For example, I have three friends who are ministers. I have known Rev. Zolezzi for 20 years. I call him Steve or Rev. Z, but never Reverend Zolezzi. I was introduced to Rev. Ray Clark as, Elder Clark, so I call him, Elder Clark. Minister Sammie Hart introduced himself to me as Minister Hart, so I call him, Minister Hart, but we have a really tender relationship, so sometimes I call him Sammie. Minister Hart is almost twice my age, so some might consider my calling him by his first name rude, his son did, however, the relationship is between me and Min. Hart, not me and his son. But, I'm not purposely trying to offend his son either; so I make sure to address him as Minister Clark around his son. In private conversations, I often call him sir, and he affectionately calls me young man (I am 47 years old, so I'm not called young man very often any more).
2006-07-30 04:32:31 · answer #3 · answered by oneyed 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you are supposed to say Dr. - if it is a friend, just call him by his first name and don't worry about it - it isn't really pretentious, it is true. He is a doctor if he has a PHD...
2006-07-26 06:38:24 · answer #4 · answered by Fortune Favors the Brave 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is pretentious, but they did earn that title (unlike certian "Knights" I could speak on). I always default to a title until I'm told otherwise.
It is better to sit at the end of a table and be asked to the head than the other way around.
2006-07-26 06:36:42 · answer #5 · answered by Sean/Guy Wiley 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I address myself as "Dr" in professional situations because a professional distance is required between doctors and patients and between doctors and other medical staff. Using a title in social situations sounds pretentious to me too. In social situations, I prefer "Elvis". ;-)
2006-07-26 06:36:50 · answer #6 · answered by Nowayjose 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people get hung up on the technical specifics, if they ask to be called doctor indulge their ego.
2006-07-26 06:36:50 · answer #7 · answered by M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is appropriate to address a person with a Ph.D. in any field as "Doctor".
2006-07-27 06:55:13 · answer #8 · answered by drshorty 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
calling them Dr. isn't wrong, and is a sign of respect... so, depends on who
2006-07-26 06:34:52 · answer #9 · answered by warriorn639mr 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋