Would you think I was joking
if I told you that in Canada and Australia the proper way to address the Mayor
is a His/Her Worship? It isn't a joke.
It’s correct. But don’t use that in the United State. There a mayor is addressed as
The Honorable or Mayor of (name the city) or Mr./Madam Mayor. Does it matter? Absolutely.
People everywhere care that
we get their names correctly. Using the
proper title can be equally, if not more, important. In a recent Los Angeles Times article a Swiss
student interning at the Seoul Museum of Art commented on the
challenge of remembering how to address all the people she worked with. In the Korean culture it’s important to
address people by their title, indicating their status. Remembering all their titles in order to be seen as polite and respectful – not an easy task for a new intern
Wondering how to know what
titles to use? Refer to Robert Hickey’s
blog Forms of Address. http://www.formsofaddress.info/faq.html
Robert is a terrific friend who has an extraordinary understanding and knowledge of titles and proper forms
of address. His book Honor & Respect
The Official Guide to Names, Titles & Forms of Address is a valuable
resource for everyone. You never know when you'll need to know how to address a letter or introduce someone. Be prepared. When you want to know "What shall I call him, her or
them?" - check with Robert.