University of Oxford Style Guide

Combining titlesFor someone entitled to a styling such as Sir/Dame as well as an academic title,the academic title always precedes the Sir/Dame if both are used.Professor Sir John SmithProfessor Dame Susan JonesSir Professor John SmithFor Reverends, Right Reverends, Very Reverends etc, the religious titleprecedes the academic title. Always use a capitalised ‘The’ before the title.The Revd Dr Giles Fraser resigned from St Paul’s.The Revd Professor Andrew Linzey is a member of the Faculty ofTheology.Dr Revd Giles Fraser spoke to the press about his decision to resign.If someone who has been ordained in the clergy of the Church of England issubsequently honoured, they do not use Sir/Dame as a title but can use theappropriate postnominal letters.Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch, Kt, is a Deacon of the Church ofEngland.In a shortened subsequent mention, use either Sir/Dame/The Revd orthe academic title, not both – consider which title is more appropriatefor the context (academic titles are often better for University purposes).Note that non-academic titles should not be used with surnames only andthat ‘The Revd’ should not be used with surnames alone; revert to Dr/Mr/Miss/Mrs as appropriate.Sir JohnProfessor JonesDr FraserThe Revd FraserRevd Professor LinzeyProfessor Sir John Baggins will attend the lecture to be given byThe Revd Dr Peter Precise in the Examination Schools on Thursday.Dr Precise and Sir John are both senior members of the OxfordUniversity Tiddlywinks Club, and Dr Precise is the author of thebestselling Pedantry and Hypothetical Names. He is not to be confusedwith his colleague, The Revd Bona-Exempla Familyname. MissFamilyname will give her lecture next week.Return to Contents19