Forms of address in the United Kingdom

Forms of address used in the United Kingdom are given below.

Terminology

Abbreviations

Several terms have been abbreviated in the tables below. The forms used in the table are given first, followed by alternative acceptable abbreviations in parentheses. The punctuation of each abbreviation depends on the source. For example, the punctuation of "The Rt Hon" is not consistent throughout sources. The Gazette favours "The Rt. Hon.", while the government usually prefers "The Rt Hon" or "The Rt Hon."

"The Most Noble", which is an abbreviation of "The Most High, Potent, and Noble", is rarely used by Dukes and Duchesses; when used, the forenames of the peer or peeress can be used after "His Grace" but before "The Duke of ". This style is also sometimes used without "His Grace".

Names and territorial designations

"London" represents the territorial designation of any peerage.
*"Edinburgh" represents any territorial designation in Scotland.
*"Birmingham" represents any manor in England or Wales.
"John" and "William" represent any male name
"Jane" and "Mary" represent any female name.
"Smith" and "Brown" represent any surname, regardless of gender.

In regards to the nobility, Mary Brown represents a woman who married John Brown, while Jane Smith represents an unmarried woman.

Nobility

The preposition of may be omitted in the form of Marquessates and Earldoms and included in the form of Scottish Viscountcies. It is not often present in peerage Baronies and Lordships of Parliament, though always present in Dukedoms and Scottish feudal Baronies.
The definite article the in the middle of two or more titles is sometimes capitalized, as in these tables. However this is controversial: traditional British guides use the lower-case the. As a single example, Debrett's gives "Major-General the Lord...", and Pears' Cyclopaedia in the section on Modes of Address gives several examples where the definite article interior to a list of honours is lower case.

Eldest sons of dukes, marquesses and earls

Eldest sons of dukes, marquesses and earls use their father's most senior subsidiary title as courtesy titles, without "The" before the title. If applicable, eldest sons of courtesy marquesses or courtesy earls also use a subsidiary title from their grandfather, which is lower ranking than the one used by their father. Eldest daughters do not have courtesy titles; all courtesy peeresses are wives of courtesy peers.

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address
Courtesy marquess	Marquess London	My Lord or Dear Lord London	My Lord or Lord London
Courtesy marquess's wife	Marchioness London	Madam or Dear Lady London	My Lady or Lady London
Courtesy earl	Earl London	My Lord or Dear Lord London	My Lord or Lord London
Courtesy earl's wife	Countess London	Madam or Dear Lady London	My Lady or Lady London
Courtesy viscount	Viscount London	My Lord or Dear Lord London	My Lord or Lord London
Courtesy viscount's wife	Viscountess London	Madam or Dear Lady London	My Lady or Lady London
Courtesy baron Courtesy Lord of Parliament	Lord London	My Lord or Dear Lord London	My Lord or Lord London
Courtesy baron's wife Wife of courtesy Lord of Parliament	Lady London	Madam or Dear Lady London	My Lady or Lady London

Heirs of Scottish peers

Heirs-apparent and heirs-presumptive of Scottish peers use the titles "Master" and "Mistress"; these are substantive, not courtesy titles. If, however, the individual is the eldest son of a Duke, Marquess or Earl, then he uses the appropriate courtesy title, as noted above.

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address
Scottish peer's heir-apparent or heir-presumptive	The Master of Edinburgh	Sir or Dear Master of Edinburgh	Sir or Master
Scottish peer's heiress-apparent or heiress-presumptive	The Mistress of Edinburgh	Madam or Dear Mistress of Edinburgh	Madam or Mistress

Female descendants of peers

If a daughter of a peer or courtesy peer marries another peer or courtesy peer, she takes her husband's rank. If she marries anyone else, she keeps her rank and title, using her husband's surname instead of her maiden name.

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address
Duke's daughter Marquess's daughter Earl's daughter	The Lady Mary Smith, The Lady Mary Brown	Madam or Dear Lady Mary	My Lady or Lady Mary
Viscount's daughter Baron's daughter Lord of parliament's daughter	The Hon Mary Smith	Madam or Dear Miss Smith	Madam or Miss Smith
Viscount's daughter Baron's daughter Lord of Parliament's daughter	The Hon Mrs Brown	Madam or Dear Mrs Brown	Madam or Mrs Brown

Gentry and minor nobility

Knights and Baronets are distinguished by the use of "Bt" after the latter's names. Esquires are distinguished by the use of "Esq" except in the case of a Scottish laird, whose territorial designation implies the rank of esquire.

Baronets

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address
Baronet	Sir John Smith, Bt	Sir or Dear Sir John	Sir or Sir John
Baronetess in her own right	Dame Mary Smith, Btss	Madam or Dear Dame Mary	Madam or Dame Mary
Baronet's wife	Lady Brown	Madam or Dear Lady Brown	My Lady or Lady Brown
Baronet's divorced wife	Mary, Lady Brown	Madam or Dear Lady Brown	My Lady or Lady Brown
Baronet's widow	Mary, Lady Brown Dowager Lady Brown, or Lady Brown	Madam or Dear Lady Brown	My Lady or Lady Brown

Scottish barons

Barons in Scotland are non-peerage nobles in the Baronage of Scotland. The Scottish equivalent to an English baron is Lord of Parliament.

'	Baron	Baroness or Baron's wife
Envelope	John Smith, Baron of Edinburgh or Baron of Edinburgh ' if baron has territorial designation	Jane Smith, Baroness of Edinburgh or Baroness of Edinburgh or Lady Edinburgh
Salutation in a letter	Dear Baron or Dear Edinburgh	Dear Baroness or Dear Lady Edinburgh
Invitation / Place Card / Introduction	The Baron of Edinburgh Together: The Baron of Edinburgh and Lady Edinburgh	The Baroness of Edinburgh or Lady Edinburgh
Oral address	Baron or Edinburgh	Baroness or Lady Edinburgh

Clergy

Church of England

Similar styles are also applied to clergy of equivalent status in other religious organisations. The words clergy and cleric/clerk are derived from the proper term for bishops, priests and deacons still used in legal documents: ".

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address
Archbishop	The Most Revd and Rt Hon The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury/York	Dear Archbishop	Your Grace or Archbishop
Diocesan bishop in Privy Council	The Rt Revd and Rt Hon The Lord Bishop of London	Dear Bishop	My Lord or Bishop
Bishop, diocesan or suffragan	The Rt Revd The Lord Bishop of Durham	Dear Bishop	My Lord or Bishop
Dean	The Very Revd The Dean of York	Dear Mr/Madam Dean	Dean or Mr/Madam Dean
Archdeacon	The Ven The Archdeacon of London	Dear Archdeacon	Archdeacon
Prebendary	The Revd Prebendary Smith	Dear Prebendary Smith	Prebend
Canon	The Revd Canon John Smith	Dear Canon	Canon
Priest	The Revd John Smith or The Revd Mr John Smith or The Revd Dr John Smith	Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms/Dr Smith	Mr/Mrs/Ms Smith or Vicar/Rector/Prebendary/Curate/Chaplain etc. as applicable
Deacon	The Revd Deacon John Smith or The Revd John Smith	Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Smith or Dear Deacon Smith	Deacon Smith or Mr/Mrs/Ms Smith

Church of Scotland

The Church of Scotland, as a Presbyterian church, recognizes state-awarded titles only as courtesy. In court a person may only be addressed as Mr, Mrs, Miss, Dr, Prof, etc. depending on academic achievement. Thus ministers are correctly addressed as, for example, Mr Smith or Mrs Smith unless they have a higher degree or academic appointment e.g. Dr Smith or Prof. Smith. It is 'infra dig' to use the style 'Rev' and even the use of 'the Rev Mr' requires sensitivity to official style.

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address
Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly	His Grace The Lord High Commissioner	Your Grace	Your Grace or Sir/Ma'am
Clergy	The Rev John Smith	Dear Mr Smith	Mr Smith/Dr Smith etc.
Current Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland	The Right Rev John Smith	Dear Mr Smith	Mr Smith/Dr Smith etc.
Former Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland	The Very Rev John Smith	Dear Mr Smith	Mr Smith/Dr Smith etc.

Judiciary

United Kingdom

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address	In court
Male Justice of the Supreme Court holding a peerage	The Right Honourable The Lord Smith	Lord Smith	Lord Smith	My Lord
Male Justice of the Supreme Court	The Right Honourable Lord Smith	Lord Smith	Lord Smith	My Lord
Female Justice of the Supreme Court holding a peerage	The Right Honourable The Lady Smith	Lady Smith	Lady Smith	My Lady
Female Justice of the Supreme Court	The Right Honourable Lady Smith	Lady Smith	Lady Smith	My Lady

England and Wales

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address	In court
Lord Chief Justice	The Rt Hon the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales	Lord Chief Justice	Lord Chief Justice	My Lord
Male Lord Justice of Appeal	The Rt Hon Lord Justice Smith	Lord Justice	Lord Justice	My Lord
Retired male Lord Justice of Appeal	The Rt Hon Sir John Smith	Judge or Sir John	Sir John	My Lord
Female Lord Justice of Appeal	The Rt Hon Lady Justice Smith, DBE	Lady Justice	Lady Justice	My Lady
Retired female Lord Justice of Appeal	The Rt Hon Dame Mary Smith, DBE	Judge or Dame Mary	Dame Mary	My Lady
Male High Court judge	The Hon. Mr Justice Smith	Judge	Judge	My Lord
Retired male High Court judge	Sir John Smith	Judge or Sir John	Sir John	My Lord
Female High Court judge	The Hon. Mrs Justice Smith, DBE	Judge	Judge	My Lady
Retired female High Court judge	Dame Mary Smith, DBE	Judge or Dame Mary	Dame Mary	My Lady
High Court Master	Master Smith	Master	Master	Master
Insolvency and Companies Court Judge	Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Smith	Judge	Judge	Judge
Circuit judge	His Honour Judge Smith	Judge	Judge	Your Honour
Recorder	Mr Recorder Smith	Judge	Judge	Your Honour
District judge	District Judge Smith	Judge	Sir or Madam	Sir or Madam
Justice of the Peace/Magistrate	Mr John Smith, JP	Mr Smith	Mr Smith or Sir or Madam	Sir or Madam or Your Worship
Chancellor of a diocese	The Worshipful Mr Smith	Chancellor	Chancellor	Your Worship

A judge's first name only forms part of their judicial style if, at the time of their appointment, there is a senior judge with the same or a similar surname. Thus, if there is a "Mr Justice Smith", subsequent judges will be "Mr Justice John Smith", "Mrs Justice Mary Smith", etc. High Court Judges and above who are King's Counsel do not use the post-nominal letters following appointment or after retirement.
A member of the Bar addresses a circuit judge or higher, out of court, as "Judge".

Scotland

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address	In court
Lord President of the Court of Session/Lord Justice General of Scotland	The Rt Hon Lord/Lady Smith Lord President of the Court of Session/Lord Justice General of Scotland	Lord President/Lord Justice General	Lord President/Lord Justice General	My Lord/Lady
Lord Justice Clerk	The Rt Hon Lord/Lady Smith Lord Justice Clerk	Lord Justice Clerk	Lord Justice Clerk	My Lord/Lady
Senator of the College of Justice and the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court	The Hon./Rt Hon. Lord/Lady Smith	Lord/Lady Smith	Lord/Lady Smith	My Lord/Lady
Sheriff principal	Sheriff Principal Smith	Sheriff Principal Smith	Sheriff Principal Smith	My Lord/Lady
Sheriff	Sheriff Smith	Sheriff Smith	Sheriff Smith	My Lord/Lady
Summary sheriff	Sheriff Smith	Sheriff Smith	Sheriff Smith	My Lord/Lady
Justice of the Peace	Mr John/Mrs Mary Smith	Mr/Mrs Smith	Mr/Mrs Smith	Your Honour

Academics

The forms of address used for academics can, in most cases, be either formal or social.

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address	In conversation
Chancellor	The Chancellor of	Dear Chancellor	Chancellor or by name and title	The Chancellor or by name
Chancellor	, Chancellor of	By name	By name or Chancellor	The Chancellor or by name
Vice-Chancellor	The Vice-Chancellor of	Dear Sir/Madam/Vice-Chancellor	Vice-Chancellor or by name	The Vice-Chancellor or by name
Vice-Chancellor	, Vice-Chancellor of	By name or Dear Vice-Chancellor	Vice-Chancellor or by name	The Vice-Chancellor or by name
Professor	Professor Jane Smith	Dear Sir/Madam	Professor Smith	Professor Smith
Professor	Professor Jane Smith	Dear Professor Smith	Professor Smith	Professor Smith
Doctor	Dr Jane Smith or The Revd John Smith DD or Susan Brown MD or Tom Brown PhD, etc.	Dear Sir/Madam	Dr Smith	Dr Smith
Doctor	Dr Jane Smith	Dear Dr Smith	Dr Smith	Dr Smith