<p>Suppose a professor holds a Ph. D, is it appropriate to use the terms "Dr. X" and "Professor X" interchangeably while engaging in oral discourse?</p>
<p>In other words, is it rude to address a professor verbally as "Dr. something" rather than "Professor something"?</p>
<p>Not in my opinion or what I’ve encountered. Some professors prefer one term over another, but there’s really no way to tell other than asking them.</p>
<p>I would have guessed it was the other way around, that it was a safer bet just to say Dr. instead of Professor. I go with Dr. because they obviously have a PhD…and if that is somehow offensive then I guess I would be dealing with a peever, and I’m not a mind reader.</p>
<p>My husband the professor just answered this: professor is better because it reflects his role at the school. On the other hand, at his school, they’re more like to use his first name. Why not ask? If it’s inappropriate to ask directly, ask one of the dept staff.</p>
<p>If you think of it like “Professor reflects his/her most recent achievement” whereas “Dr. represents a past achievement” then professor would be preferred over Dr. </p>
<p>And always use the term “professor” regardless of whether the person in question is an assistant, associate, visiting, full, or endowed professor.</p>
<p>Use professor. It equalizes things. Maybe a professor has not yet completed his/her PhD degree (ABD), or only has a Masters.</p>
<p>DO NOT call your professor by her/his first name unless you are told to do so.</p>
<p>Professor is actually a title of greater respect and honor than Doctor. In Britain and countries with more history of formal titling, only the chair of a department has the right to be called Professor. We are a bit more lax here about the rules on that, but I think Professor is still both more respectful and more commonly used in speaking and writing to a professor.</p>
<p>fascinating to watch this thread. I had no idea…I hope that professors have not interpreted me as disrespectful…</p>
<p>You can’t go wrong with either doctor or professor. But what about TAs? Mr. and Ms/Mrs.? Sounds too high school…</p>
<p>I addressed professor duncan as prof. and he said I only respond to doctor. What a ******</p>
<p>t. michael duncan?</p>
<p>that’s just t-dunc being t-dunc. He’s a ******, but we all love him.</p>
<p>TAs you definitely use their first name.</p>
<p>did a quick googling about this debate, which obviously happens at universities besides Cornell. here is one interesting take: <a href=“https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/hschein/www/readings/What%20Should%20We%20Call%20the%20Professor.htm[/url]”>https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/hschein/www/readings/What%20Should%20We%20Call%20the%20Professor.htm</a></p>
<p>I have a couple questions…</p>
<p>Any suggestions on how to email my advisor in regards to subject line? (I have yet to meet her so it’s kind of awkward). </p>
<p>Also, I did email her last week, but she never responded. What should I do? I don’t want to seem to be so obnoxious.</p>
<p>^what do you want from your advisor? since you haven’t met her, maybe you are trying to set up a meeting? I’d put something about “advising meeting” in the title in that case.</p>
<p>you should send another email because she probably gets lots of emails, yet it is undoubtedly part of her job to be helping you.</p>
<p>faustarp- great article.</p>