How long does a person have to be dead before it's no longer correct to refer to him as "The Late So-and-So"?

Question

I recently read a newspaper story that referred to the "late" Robert F. Kennedy. He's been dead for almost forty years. Could I say "the late Leonardo Da Vinci"? or "the late Genghis Khan"?

Answer 1

I don't think that it ever becomes inapropriate to call someone "the late" but usually it is only used as a title to avoid confusing the living with the dead... it's like saying "the former President Bush" but not "the former President Roosevelt" or "the former President Adams." When more than one person might be referred to by the same name a suffix or prefix is often added to distinguish them, or one is known by his middle name as well: "Hans Holbein the Younger" "John Quincy Adams" especially if they were not Father/son to be distinguished by Sr./Jr. or I/II/III... The word "late" is also used to let people know that someone has died... so the reporter might think that someone hasn't picked up a newspaper in 40yrs. and might need to be imformed that JFK is dead (maybe they were in a coma, I don't know); if it is in this use, it is usually just a polite way to correct someone who has misassumed that someone is still alive? "Oh is that a photo of your wife?" "My late wife, yes..."

Answer 2

typically using the term "the late" after a person has been dead for any length of time is to keep from causing confusion with a living person of the same name. In this case, it would seem to be used to differentiate between the dead father and the living son, both sharing the same name.

Answer 3

Usualy, about 20 years or so. Unless there is potential for confusing the dead person with a living one, then there's no limit.

Answer 4

How about the late George Bush? He's been dead since before he stole the Presidency.

Answer 5

It is impossible for them to be late anywhere. They are dead. If not, then why don't we say "the early Drew Carey" when he is still alive?

Answer 6

And the follow-up question, "at what point is a murder considered an assassination??"