Mr as a title

[nouamaneer]

Dear all,

I have got a question for you. Is "Mr", the title only combined with family names? Or is it for both?

In other words, is one or both of the following correct:

1- Mr John (first name)
2- Mr Smith (family name)

Thanks,

 

[5jj]

It is used only with family names by native speakers. When I lectured in Oman, the university insisted that students address us as Mr/Ms/Mrs/Dr X (first name). This was unnatural for us, though my wife and I eventually got used to being Mr Jed and Dr Andrea.

 

[Rover_KE]

I once dealt with an accountancy practice called Rushton and Rushton (two brothers - John and James).

The clerical staff routinely referred to the partners as Mr John and Mr James, so that's what the clients usually called them, too.

Rover

 

[5jj]

Rover's post has reminded me that, back in the 1960's, I worked for a company run by a father and son, both called Gerald Day. The father was known to the employees as Mr Day, the son as Mr Gerald. It sounded very old-fashioned to me, even at the time.

 

[Tdol]

And when addressing envelopes, you can use Mr John Smith