##  [Abbreviations: Titles with personal names](/writing-tips-plus/abbreviations-titles-with-personal-names)

##  Avertissement

Ce contenu est offert en anglais seulement.

## On this page

- [Common abbreviations for titles that precede names](#abbreviations-precede)
- [Common abbreviations for titles that follow names ](#abbreviations-follow)
- [Title combinations to avoid](#combinations-to-avoid)
- [Professional and official titles](#titles)
- [Particular cases](#particular-cases)
- [Dr., Rev. Dr.](#dr-rev-dr)
- [St.](#st)
- [Rt. Hon., Hon., Rev.](#hon)
- [Additional information](#additional-information)

## Common abbreviations for titles that precede names

Use the following abbreviations for non-military titles preceding personal names:

- Dr. (Doctor)
- Hon. (Honorable)
- Mr.
- Mrs.
- Ms.
- Messrs. (plural of **Mr.**)
- Mmes. (plural of **Mrs.**)
- Msgr. (Monsignor)
- Prof. (Professor)
- Rev. (Reverend)
- Rt. Hon. (Right Honorable)
- St. (Saint)

For more detailed information about common courtesy titles, see the articles [Courtesy titles](courtesy-titles-in-english) and [Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms.](mr-mrs-miss-ms)

## Common abbreviations for titles that follow names

Use the following abbreviations for non-military titles following personal names:

- Esq. (Esquire)
- Jr. (Junior)
- Sr. (Senior)

Note that a comma is necessary before the title **Esq.**, but not before **Jr.** or **Sr.**

## Title combinations to avoid

Don’t use **Mr.**, **Mrs.**, **Ms.**, **Dr.** or **Esq.** with any other abbreviated title or with an abbreviation denoting an academic degree or honour.

- Correct: Dr. Roberta Bondar **or** Roberta Bondar, MD
Incorrect: Dr. Roberta Bondar, MD
- Correct: Mr. Paul Kelly **or** Paul Kelly, Esq.
Incorrect: Mr. Paul Kelly, Esq.

## Professional and official titles

Abbreviate professional and official titles only when they are used with both first and last names, or initials and a last name:

- Gen. Lewis MacKenzie, **but** General MacKenzie
- Dr. Theresa Tam, **but** Doctor Tam
- Prof. G. E. Hinton, **but** Professor Hinton

Note that there are spaces between each period and the following initial or name.

Note also that in formal contexts, the titles **Mayor**, **Vice-President**, **Professor** and **Father** are normally written in full when used with personal names.

## Particular cases

Special guidelines apply to the abbreviations below.

### Dr., Rev. Dr.

Don’t use the abbreviation **Dr.** or **Rev. Dr.** before the names of individuals who hold only honorary doctorates.

### St.

**Saint** is written out for names of persons revered as holy:

- Saint Helen
- Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
- Saints Peter and Paul

However, this title may be abbreviated in informal contexts and in lists and tables. **St.** and **SS.** (plural) are the abbreviations used.

### Rt. Hon., Hon., Rev.

Even when used to address someone in correspondence, **Rt. Hon.**, **Hon.** and **Rev.** must be preceded by **the**:

- The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada
- The Hon. Michelle O’Bonsawin, Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada
- The Rev. John Smith

For more information on the abbreviations **Hon.** and **Rt. Hon.**, see the article [Honourable, Right Honourable](honourable-right-honourable). ## Additional information

- [Courtesy titles](courtesy-titles-in-english)
- [Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms.](mr-mrs-miss-ms)
- [Honourable, Right Honourable](honourable-right-honourable)

##  Avis de droit d’auteur pour l’outil Writing Tips Plus

© Sa Majesté le Roi du chef du Canada, représenté par le ou la ministre des Services publics et de l’Approvisionnement
Un outil créé et mis en ligne par le Bureau de la traduction, Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada

## Rechercher par thèmes connexes

Vous voulez en apprendre davantage sur un thème abordé dans cette page? Cliquez sur un lien ci-dessous pour voir toutes les pages du Portail linguistique du Canada portant sur le thème choisi. Les résultats de recherche s’afficheront dans le [Navigateur linguistique](/fr/navigateur-navigator).

- [Abbreviations, acronyms and symbols](/fr/navigateur-navigator?search_api_fulltext=-&field_writing_tools=All&sort_by=views&f%5B1%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A447#navigateur-navigator-resultats-results)
- [Abbreviations](/fr/navigateur-navigator?search_api_fulltext=-&field_writing_tools=All&sort_by=views&f%5B0%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A447&f%5B1%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A448#navigateur-navigator-resultats-results)

## Liens connexes

- [Writing Tips Plus](/fr/writing-tips-plus/index-fra) (page d’accueil)
- [Outils d’aide à la rédaction](/fr/outils-tools/index-fra)
- [Navigateur linguistique](/fr/navigateur-navigator) (permet de trouver rapidement des conseils linguistiques)
- [TERMIUM Plus®](http://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-fra.html?lang=fra)