3 ms·

Stop Calling Professors ‘Professor’

• Bostonian 5y ago
  "For a long time I have insisted that my graduate students call me “Tyler.” My goal has been to encourage them to think of themselves as peer researchers who might someday prove me wrong, rather than viewing me as an authority figure who is handing down truth." Some people are more comfortable with formality, and that should be accommodated. Our physics research group in the U.S. had a post-doc from Korea. The professor wanted the post-doc to call him by his first name, but the post-doc did so only with great discomfort. In Korea the post-doc would never have addressed his advisor so informally. If the post-doc would rather than say Dr. Smith or Professor Smith than John, let him. In general, I think first names are overused. If I read a paper and email the researcher, I address him as Professor Smith. He is not my friend and is doing me a favor by responding to a question about his work. When I board a plane, refer to the pilots as Captain Smith and Captain Jones, not Jack and Jill. They are not my friends. They are professionals who hold my life in their hands. End of curmudgeon rant. I'm only 50.