[HPFGU-OTChatter] Joanne Rowling's Doctorates

[Shaun Hately]

On 13 May 2003 at 1:52, Ladi lyndi wrote:

> Lynn:
> 
> It happens in the US.  I know a minister who had
> a GED and got an honorary doctorate for his work
> with drug addicts who signed everything after
> that with "Dr."  In fact he insisted on being
> referred to that way.  Since he's never stopped
> and he routinely deals with colleges in his area,
> I've always assumed that people are entitled to
> use the title.  Then again, he may have just
> ignored any attempts to stop him.
> 
> Also, when I graduated from college, our keynote
> speaker was introduced as "Dr. Smith" and he
> opened his speech by informing us that he had
> never finished school.  He was some business guy
> in California who had a couple of honorary
> doctorates and our college recognized the title. 
> Then again, the college wasn't anywhere near Ivy
> League, bush league maybe, but definitely not Ivy
> League.  LOL

Something I've looked into, mainly because this became an issue here a couple of years 
ago when our Governor-General mentioned he intended to use the title 'Doctor' after 
being awarded an Honourary Doctorate. And he is commonly referred to in the press 
now as Doctor Peter Hollingworth - rather amusing that a man fully entitled to be 
referred to as 'Your Excellency' and as 'Your Grace' is so eager to use 'Doctor' (-8

Anyway, I looked into this - practice varies from country to country. In the UK, it is 
*generally* not customary to use the title Doctor if all a person possesses is an 
Honourary Doctorate.The US is generally more flexible, but it depends on the type of 
doctorates. Honorary Doctors of Divinity quite often use the title.

But there's one overriding issue here, and that is *UNLESS* the person possessing the 
Honourary Doctorate chooses to use the title Doctor, the issue does not arise at all. If 
JKR chose to describe herself as Doctor Rowling that might have some legitimacy - but 
unless she chooses to use it, it is a definite breach of etiquette for anyone else to 
describe her in that way. It's discourteous to assign to an honourand an honourific they 
do not use themselves. If they choose to use it, the issue as to whether they should or 
not arises - but if they do not, there is no dispute.

(Sometimes having gone to a school that insisted you learn the rules of etiquette can be 
useful).

Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately |webpage: http://www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       |email: drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200

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