Purdue Online Writing Lab Tips: Use Titles with Surnames

"Titles are used only with family names. Some people will mistakenly apply a title to a given name (for example, “Ms. Nancy” for a graduate student named Nancy Krajenski). Addressing someone this way comes across as unusual, and even as a bit of a joke. Instead, use only family names (“last names”) with titles (“Ms. Krajenski”)."

The same goes for your own name in a formal self introduction, for example:

◎　My name is Chip Sorensen.
◎　My name is Mr. Sorensen.
×　My name is Mr. Chip.
×　My name is Sorensen.

Remember, when writing or speaking, if you only use your last name, then you should use Mr., Mrs., or Ms. with your last name--even when you are talking about yourself. If your last name is also your nickname, then you could say, "Hi. I'm Mr. Suzuki. Please just call me Suzuki."

Note: There are groups of people who often use only a last name without Mr., Mrs., or Ms.: military personnel (soldiers, sailors, etc.), police officers, prisoners, prison guards, sports coaches, fellow sports team players, mean bosses in an office, and many more.

Another note: [Mr./Mrs./Ms. + Name] does NOT equal [Name + ちゃん・くん・君・さん・様・等]. We use the the title INSTEAD of the first name.

Online Writing Lab
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana U.S.A.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/684/1

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