4 ms·
I always just called my professors "professor {lastname}". that way I didn't have to keep track of who was a grad student or lecturer with a masters and who act
by leetcrew 6y ago
I always just called my professors "professor {lastname}". that way I didn't have to keep track of who was a grad student or lecturer with a masters and who actually had a phd.
- skissane 6y agoThat works in the US, given in the US students call all academics "professor". However, in other countries, you would not call someone "professor X" unless they actually had the word "professor" in their job title. Here in Australia, a lot of academics don't – you start out as a "Lecturer", then get promoted to "Senior Lecturer", then "Associate Professor", then finally "Professor", and calling a lecturer "professor" is not done. And you certainly wouldn't use the word "professor" when addressing a PhD student.
- pmiller2 6y agoIt's not correct at all for graduate student instructors, though.
- skissane 6y agoBut yes for any instructor who has a PhD?
- pmiller2 6y agoYes, PhD = "doctor." That's what the "D" is actually for. PhD is shortened from philosophiae doctor, meaning "doctor of philosophy." Anyone who holds a legitimate PhD can use the title "doctor," and, if they so desire, ask people to call them "doctor" legitimately.
- skissane 6y agoYes, I agree it is okay to address people with doctorates (including PhD) by the term "doctor", at least in certain contexts. But my question was about "professor" though, not "doctor". You say you wouldn't call a grad student instructor a "professor", but what about an instructor with a PhD (but without any formal academic title of "professor")?
- pmiller2 6y agoI would say that depends more on the culture of the institution than anything. "Professor" is acceptable at some places, first name is the norm at others, and "Mr./Mrs./Ms." at still others. When I was a grad student, I made a point when introducing myself on day 1 that I was not a professor, so please don't call me "Professor Pmiller2" Then, I said something about "if you call me "Mr. Pmiller2," I'm going to wonder if my dad is standing behind me, so, please just call me "$FIRSTNAME." That was pretty much the standard where I was among people in my department (grad students = first names).