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murielm99 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-30-07 06:23 PM
Original message
Grammar Nazis: Help!
I have to address and introduce a married couple who are both doctors.

How do I do this? Dr. James Smith and Dr. Susan Smith? Doctors James and Susan Smith? Dr. and Dr. Smith?

I know what sounds right to me, but what is correct?

Thanks in advance.

Just to be on the safe side, if anyone has a link, that would be great. I Googled, but ended up with peerages and similar things.
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Kali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-30-07 06:26 PM
Response to Original message
1. need more info
address them how? mail or in person? formal invitation or some other reason? Introduce them under what circumstances?
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murielm99 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-30-07 08:59 PM
Response to Reply #1
14. This is both a formal written invitation
and an announcement where I ask them to stand and be acknowledged at a political event.

I don't know if it is the same for both things!
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Critters2 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-30-07 06:27 PM
Response to Original message
2. I'd say "Doctors James and Susan"
but I think either of the others would be correct, too.
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-30-07 06:27 PM
Response to Original message
3. Drs works
Edited on Mon Jul-30-07 06:29 PM by redqueen
Also Doctors


edit oops: here ya go
http://www.businesswritingblog.com/business_writing/2006/08/when_doctors_ma.html
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hiaasenrocks Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-30-07 06:54 PM
Response to Original message
4. I have no link/source, but...
I would say "Dr. James Smith and Dr. Susan Smith" for the simple reason that addressing them by the title Doctor, individually, is appropriate because they earned it. Also, it doesn't sound awkward, so I wouldn't worry about that.
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janx Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-30-07 07:05 PM
Response to Original message
5. Dr. James Smith and Dr. Susan Smith
This is really splitting hairs, but I'd go with it because it respects each as a doctor (I'm assuming M.D.s) without regard to who married whom and took on the other's name.

Think back to Howard Dean and Judith Steinberg Dean--both "Dr. Dean." You wouldn't respectfully call them Doctors Howard and Judy Dean (unless in an informal setting), and you certainly wouldn't call them Dr. and Dr. Dean.

So give each his/her due.

No, I'm not going to look this up in the Chicago Manual...no need to. ;-)
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begin_within Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-30-07 07:06 PM
Response to Original message
6. You got a paradox
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Oeditpus Rex Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-30-07 08:08 PM
Response to Original message
7. This reminds me of a 'MASH' line
when Henry was introducing Hawkeye and Trapper to someone.

Henry: "These are captains Pierce..."

Hawkeye: "And these are captains McIntyre."

:D
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lizziegrace Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-30-07 08:09 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. I love that show
:)
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Oeditpus Rex Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-30-07 08:23 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. Yeah?
Then what episode was that in? :P





Actually, I think they did it twice. But I can remember only one of 'em.
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lizziegrace Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-30-07 08:25 PM
Response to Reply #9
10. You had to ask that
I can see them in that scene, but couldn't tell you which episode. :(
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Oeditpus Rex Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-30-07 09:12 PM
Response to Reply #10
16. The one I remember
was the one with Henry's barely post-adolescent girlfriend, Nancy Sue Parker.

"I got the big 'L!' L-U-V!"

:D
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meow2u3 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-30-07 08:27 PM
Response to Original message
11. Drs. James and Susan Smith
You can write the greeting: Dear Drs. Smith:

OK?
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DogandPony Donating Member (86 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-30-07 08:30 PM
Response to Original message
12. Drs James and Susan Smith n/t
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Darth_Kitten Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-30-07 08:45 PM
Response to Original message
13. grammar "nazis"??
I know it's an expression, but it is rather necessary?
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murielm99 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-30-07 09:03 PM
Response to Reply #13
15. I used it because it gets attention.
And I have seen it used here often.

I have to know how to do this ASAP.

Thanks everyone!

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya:
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Karenina Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-30-07 09:47 PM
Response to Reply #13
17. In this context, it grabs the attention of those
who care and have knowledge about such things.
I tell my ESL students at every opportunity, "CONTEXT is EVERYTHING!"
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