Using titles: Dr, Professor, Mr, Ms
Formal Polite
What it really means
Titles are used less in Britain than many countries, but they still matter in first contact and formal writing. "Dr" is for PhDs and medical doctors; "Professor" is a senior rank, not every lecturer. Use "Ms" not "Mrs" for women unless you know their preference. After the first exchange, most people move to first names quickly.
Chinese explanation
英国用头衔比很多国家少，但初次联系和正式书信中仍然重要。"Dr"用于博士和医生；"Professor"是高级职称，并非所有讲师都是教授。称呼女性用"Ms"而非"Mrs"，除非你知道对方的偏好。第一次往来之后，大多数人很快就改用名字了。
Example conversation
A: Dear Dr Patel, thank you for your reply...
B: (replying) Thanks for this — and please, it's Anita.
A：尊敬的Patel博士，感谢您的回复……
B：（回信）谢谢——另外，叫我Anita就好。
What you could say back
No spoken reply needed for this one.
Related phrases
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Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake