If your have a PHD this confers the title Dr. Which you should not put on your email or business cards (either as Dr or PHD and most definitely not both!). In academia the title is redundant, in industry the title makes you pompous. But above all, in the mega rare instance someone needs a quick bit of CPR at 30,000 feet the MD takes exclusive entitlement of the title for all other occasions?. So why if all this is true, is there any point in the term 'doctorate' in a PHD?
Strange as it sounds; all these points come up when you look at Phd etiquette online. Admittedly mostly in the US where they seem hugely egalitarian. Personally I will use the title, but also be mindful not to abuse it. I dont want people to think im all that. But equally I dont want to hide it like a dirty secret! Like many a student I feel it a reasonable reward for the monumental effort involved.
Also, using in a real world context is dangerous if someone needs urgent medical treatment. I know of a case where an academic was pulled out of bed to treat an hart attack victim whilst hotel staff was waiting for an ambulance. It didn't go down too well with the hotel and their interpretation was 'Dr.' inferred medical expertise.
I wonder if PhDs should have a compulsory first aid course to cover this potential eventuality. It would only take a couple of days out of their studies. :-)
Finally, the opening poster is correct. You can call youself "Dr. Joe Bloggs" or "Joe Bloggs PhD", but not "Dr Joe Blogs PhD". This latter form infers you're doctor twice, which is a misrepresentation.
If titles have to be used, I prefer the "Joe Blogs PhD" representation, as this clearly differentiates you from a medical doctor ("Joe Bloggs M.D.") thus preventing the mix up the above academic experiences.
The 'safer' qualification after the name representation is fairly standard in North America.
Ian (Mackem_Beefy)
Ian, thanks for the great posts and adding to the discussion. What are your veiws on professional doctorates like the DEng/EngD. This is more of an applied qualification, based in industry. Is the use of Dr Engineer still a no no in a relevant domain and setting?
I really have a problem with some of the replies here, which are speaking from a non-academia environment, or, I believe, speaking from outside the UK.
In the UK the Dr title is *not* redundant in an academic environment. Though when it is used it should be Dr John Smith, not Dr John Smith PhD. So if you are working as an academic of course it can be on your business cards.
I do not use my title outside academia, but I do have it on my bank card. The reason is that it gives me extra ID with my doctorness on it, which can be useful. But I never speak to any banking person who would see it, so it never comes up in that kind of conversation. Nor does it come up in any shop setting, because I'm the one bunging the card in the Chip and PIN unit.
I am a non-affiliated academic, due to severely disabling progressive neurological disease. But I have an honorary research fellowship (ongoing, probably for life), and am pursuing an academic path as much as I can, as an independent academic historian, publishing academic journal papers, speaking at academic conferences, and taking part in my university department's research community. In no way in any of these settings is my 'Dr' redundant.
I think the situation is very different for anyone working outside academia, and it can be different in other countries. But do not make broad claims for its misuse in academia in the UK.
Personally I can't wait to get the Dr title and I shall definitely be using it. I want to stay in academia anyway so maybe it's more relevant but even if it's not I will have earned it and therefore will be using it :)
PostgraduateForum Is a trading name of FindAUniversity Ltd
FindAUniversity Ltd, 77 Sidney St, Sheffield, S1 4RG, UK. Tel +44 (0) 114 268 4940 Fax: +44 (0) 114 268 5766
An active and supportive community.
Support and advice from your peers.
Your postgraduate questions answered.
Use your experience to help others.
Enter your email address below to get started with your forum account
Enter your username below to login to your account
An email has been sent to your email account along with instructions on how to reset your password. If you do not recieve your email, or have any futher problems accessing your account, then please contact our customer support.
or continue as guest
To ensure all features on our website work properly, your computer, tablet or mobile needs to accept cookies. Our cookies don’t store your personal information, but provide us with anonymous information about use of the website and help us recognise you so we can offer you services more relevant to you. For more information please read our privacy policy
Agree Agree