[ExI] Ms. vs. Dr.

[Stefano Vaj]

On Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 7:16 PM, Damien Broderick<thespike at satx.rr.com> wrote:
> I mentioned this because you expressed an interest in meeting her in
> Melbourne. My impression is that in Australia it tends to be regarded as
> impolite to refer to someone with a doctorate (or holding a professorial
> chair, etc) as "Mr." or "Ms."

Why don't we keep on the safe side and simply call her "Milady" if we
ever have to address her directly? :-)

BTW, in Italy anybody with a chair would be offended unless you him or
her Professor, rather than Doctor. Still, you would have to call a
lady a lady, not a doctor or a professor, in any non-professional
context. The same is not applicable to men, to whom academic or
professional title must be used even in social, but formal, contexts,
unless they enjoy a knighthood or aristocracy status.

-- 
Stefano Vaj