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Which of the following is not correct when using titles and titles that follow a name?

a) David Fowler, M.S.
b) Mary R. Brown, M.D.
c) Jackson Davidson, Ph.D.
d) Dr. John H. Brown, M.D.

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

The option that is not correct when using titles is (d) Dr. John H. Brown, M.D., as it redundantly uses 'Dr.' and 'M.D.' together, which is unnecessary and incorrect.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct usage of titles and titles that follow a name is important to respect professional and academic achievements. Looking at the provided options, (d) Dr. John H. Brown, M.D. is not correct when using titles and titles that follow a name. The redundancy occurs because the title 'Dr.' implies a medical doctor or someone with a doctoral-level degree, while 'M.D.' specifies the type of doctoral degree. Therefore, it's unnecessary and incorrect to use both 'Dr.' and 'M.D.' together directly before and after a person's name.

When addressing an individual with a title, it is important to either use their title preceding the name or the title that follows the name, not both. For example, you can choose to write 'Dr. Atul Gawande' or 'Atul Gawande, M.D.' but not both 'Dr.' and 'M.D.' directly next to each other. Moreover, when addressing someone in a business or formal context, it is better to use their highest-ranking title or the one they prefer to be addressed by. If unsure of a woman's marital status, the title 'Ms.' is appropriate.

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