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How to use name titles

When someone has earned a Doctor of Philosophy, or Ph.D., degree, that person is subsequently referred to as “doctor” in formal speech. The same is true of a person who is a medical doctor, psychologist, dentist or veterinarian. In formal speech, that person should be referred to as “doctor.” However, in written form, the titles “Dr.” and “Ph.D.” are not interchangeable.

Determine the Type of Doctor
First, identify what type of doctor you are addressing. Doctors of medicine and psychology, doctors of dentistry and doctors of veterinary medicine must be addressed differently in comparison to academic doctors who have earned a Doctor of Philosophy. A Doctor of Philosophy degree is just one kind of doctoral degree. There’s also, for example, a Doctor of Education and a Doctor of Psychology. The titles associated with the various doctoral degrees are not interchangeable. Only a person who has earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree should be addressed as Ph.D.

Addressing a Doctor in Writing
Place the title of “Dr.” before the name of a person who is a doctor of medicine or psychology, doctor of dentistry, or doctor of veterinary medicine, such as Dr. George Ross. Always abbreviate the word doctor before the person’s name. Never write Doctor George Ross.

Do not combine the title Dr. with any other title even if the person could appropriately be addressed by an additional title. Never write Dr. George Ross, Ph.D., even if the person is a medical doctor who has also earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree. Pick one title.

Do not use the Dr. title when referring to someone who is solely an academic doctor.

Comma Use
For a person who has earned a Doctor of Philosophy doctoral degree, put a comma between the name and the abbreviated title: Stacey Childs, Ph.D.

Do not combine the title of Ph.D. with any other title even if the person could appropriately be addressed by an additional title. For instance, even if the person is a doctor of medicine who has also earned a Ph.D., never write Dr. Stacey Childs, Ph.D. Pick one title. Do not use the Ph.D. title when referring to someone who not earned a Doctor of Philosophy doctoral degree.

By Maya Austin 
To view original article, click here. 

ALSO NOTE:
Degrees like a Ph.D., M.A., B.A., B.S. A.A., etc. can also be written without the periods. Just be consistent.
Writing PhD, MA, BA, BS, AA, AS is also acceptable. There will never be spaces between abbreviations. 

This differs from name initials, like D. H. Lawrence or J. R. R. Tolkien.