Ettiquette Boss: Letter perfect

WRITING PROTOCOL FOR TEENS: Social media has made writing letters almost obsolete. The backlash has been that employers complain constantly of new hires not knowing how to address a simple envelope. MIT and other universities are now holding annual etiquette seminars.

Today’s column will give your teen a winning edge when it comes to addressing people with professional titles. For example, never use Mr. or Ms. when a professional title is used after someone’s surname. A letter can be addressed to ‘Janet Brooks, M.D.’ but never ‘Dr. Janet Brooks, M.D.’

The same applies to members of professional organizations. For example, George Jones, A.I.A. (member of the American Institute of Architects) is correct, but Mr. George Jones, A.I.A. is incorrect.

Ms. should be used when addressing adult women, regardless of marital status. Gone are the days when women were discriminated against because their marital status was publicly announced, while men were allowed to keep their privacy in this matter. Miss meant a woman was never married. Mrs. before her husband’s surname meant she was married, and Mrs. before her maiden name meant she was divorced.

When a father and son share the same name and live in the same city, the father uses Sr. after his surname, and the son, Jr. However, the son drops the Jr. within two years of his father’s death.

An exception to this tradition is when the father is a very famous man, such as the late Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr., who needed to distinguish himself from his late father. When a man is addressed as the second, he is the grandson or nephew of someone with the same name. A title such as John Jones III, signifies he is the great grandson or great nephew of John Jones.

BEAUTY TIPS: Facial Exercises

Facial exercises are truly the natural way to have a facelift. No cream can accomplish the results of tightening the muscles under your face through exercise.

For a quick neck-tightening exercise, sit upright and tilt your head back, looking toward the ceiling. Move your lower lip over the top lip slowly and keep it there for a count of five. Relax, bring head slowly forward, and repeat five to 10 times without strain.

Phillipa Morrish is the president of Etiquette Training International.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.