Addressing Envelopes; What do you think this means?

[tonilea]

Here is another thought, maybe she is adressing stacks of cards/invitations and gets in the habit of writing Mr. & Mrs. That sounds like something I would do.... have my list, write Mr. & Mrs.... look at the list to see who is next and write their name.....

FWIW, and it probably isn't worth much, it wouldn't occur to me to address a family member as Dr.

 

[Think-tink]

I don't mail them often as we live close to each other and see each other frequently. When I do send them something in the mail I address it to Mr. and Mrs.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I have a good friend that I've known since the 4th grade. She's a vet. I address all snail mail with the Dr. title. Now this is someone I've grown up with and is like a sister to me. I address her with the title of respect for her accomplishment. In person though she's still the same person I grew up with and gets no respect.

 

[BCV513]

Just wanted to give you props for working "My husband is a doctor" and "I own a Cadillac CTS" into one post.


Seriously, I don't think your SIL is trying to insult you or your husband. He's her big brother. She probably doesn't think of him as a doctor just as a brother. And an invitation to a nephew's graduation isn't as formal as a wedding invitation, so I wouldn't be too upset.

 

[Kit'smommy]

My BIL has a doctorate and his wife is an MD. I address all correspondence to them as Mr. and Mrs. John Doe. I guess I don't see what he big deal is . I only see mine and DH's professional designations on the address stickers on our professional journals and on the agendas when we give a presentation in our field and wouldn't expect anyone to ever use them on personal correspondence.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Just wanted to give you props for working "My husband is a doctor" and "I own a Cadillac CTS" into one post.


Seriously, I don't think your SIL is trying to insult you or your husband. He's her big brother. She probably doesn't think of him as a doctor just as a brother. And an invitation to a nephew's graduation isn't as formal as a wedding invitation, so I wouldn't be too upset.

Excuse me while I look for the screen cleaner.

 

[Stitchfans]

Same here. I don't use titles for any social occasion. Seems to stuffy to me. If it is an invitation, Christmas card, whatever, IMO it isn't needed.

 

[frisco]

I only open mail up if it's addressed to me as my Guitar Hero username:
Sir Maximus Studlious Rockefeller

If someone can't be bothered to show me the proper respect, they simply aren't worth my time.

 

[Angelhalo]

I only open mail up if it's addressed to me as my Guitar Hero username:

Sir Maximus Studlious Rockefeller

If someone can't be bothered to show me the proper respect, they simply aren't worth my time.

 

[PaulaSue]

Maybe she doesn't know "the rules"?

 

[INDISMOM]

I think it means you might be bigger on titles than you think.

My brother-in-law is an orthodontist and I don't think it has ever crossed my mind to address something Dr. & Mrs Smith. I usually just address it The Smiths. They know we love them and wouldn't think twice of how I addressed an invitation to them.

My kids address cards to them Aunt A and Uncle B Smith and I would hope they would value that "title" more than Dr anyway!

 

[kirbydog48]

Wow, call me old fashioned, but I would definitely use Dr. and Mrs., just as a sign of respect. My neighbor is a good friend and is an MD, and I always address cards, etc as Mr. John smith and Dr. Jane Jones Smith. My brother is a retired Colonel in the Marines, and since he risked his butt in Vietnam, I address his mail as Col.

 

[disykat]

I think it means you might be bigger on titles than you think.

My brother-in-law is an orthodontist and I don't think it has ever crossed my mind to address something Dr. & Mrs Smith. I usually just address it The Smiths. They know we love them and wouldn't think twice of how I addressed an invitation to them.

My kids address cards to them Aunt A and Uncle B Smith and I would hope they would value that "title" more than Dr anyway!

There's a difference. The way you addressed the cards DOES use correct titles. Aunt and Uncle are correct. Calling the couple The Smiths is also correct.

I think very few people have occasion often to use formal titles with family. The question is IF/WHEN you use formal titles, do you use the correct ones?

I think it is common to notice this stuff. I always notice when DH's family only addresses head of household. My name never even appears.

 

[ckay87]

First of all....seriously?

Second, I'm wondering, IS there such a thing as good or bad manners between siblings? I thought interacting with my sister gave me a free pass to be whatever kind of witch I feel like being that day. Really.

Finally, OMG, I love this post!!!

I only open mail up if it's addressed to me as my Guitar Hero username:
Sir Maximus Studlious Rockefeller

If someone can't be bothered to show me the proper respect, they simply aren't worth my time.

 

[merryweather20]

I only open mail up if it's addressed to me as my Guitar Hero username:
Sir Maximus Studlious Rockefeller

If someone can't be bothered to show me the proper respect, they simply aren't worth my time.

I actually addressed a card to my friend "The Supreme Ruler of the Universe 'wife's name' and the lucky son of a 'husband's name'"

I thought it was funny once, but their mail carrier thought it was so hysterical I had to keep doing it.

 

[INDISMOM]

There's a difference. The way you addressed the cards DOES use correct titles. Aunt and Uncle are correct. Calling the couple The Smiths is also correct.

I think very few people have occasion often to use formal titles with family. The question is IF/WHEN you use formal titles, do you use the correct ones?

I think it is common to notice this stuff. I always notice when DH's family only addresses head of household. My name never even appears.

Actually, the OP asked why her SIL might do this and I am just giving my experience.

When it comes to family I would think that it probably doesn't even register. I knew my BIL LONG before he was an orthodontist, so when addressing things I don't even think about him being and orthodontist -- I think about him being my husband's brother.

I usually don't even pay attention to how things are addressed to me/us unless it is an invitation to a wedding/special event and that's only so I know if our children are invited or not.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Dawn, ask your husband what he thinks. He is the doctor and it's his sister after all.

I married into a family of doctors and other professionals with titles and we don't adress mail with their professional title. We also don't receive mail from them with SFC and Tina.

Of course, the sister in law maybe just doing it to get your goat. I understand that. I do alot of things to annoy my inlaws.

 

[Becky2005]

I think very few people have occasion often to use formal titles with family. The question is IF/WHEN you use formal titles, do you use the correct ones?

However, the OP was talking about Christmas cards too. Since when did Christmas cards become a formal affair? It sounded to me that it bothered the OP that the title wasn't on every single thing they got mailed from her SIL.

 

[DawnCt1]

DFIL is a doctor and no one addresses anything to him as Dr. X. I don't even think we addressed his wedding invitation with Dr. X. To us he is "John" not Dr. so and so.

I'm not sure what your Cadillac has to do with anything.

It was a snide comment he made when we pulled up to the barbecue that we all were invited to. He said, "Is that your car? Who would want a Cadillac"? and rolled his eyes. I answered, "Me". and left it at that. I would never comment negatively on anything that anyone owned. It was an odd, but not an atypical comment.

 

[DawnCt1]

I wouldn't see it as unusual to see no title, but it does seem weird to me that she uses the "wrong" title. Like you, I wouldn't see it as a big deal or say anything, but it would make me wonder why she doesn't use the title since everyone else does. If I felt awkward using a title, I'd make a point of writing first names and skipping the titles altogether.

My SIL is almost done with her doctorate. I've already given thought (just in passing) about how I'll address a formal envelope differently if the opportunity arises.

My Dad is a retired physician and now frequently goes by Mr. When he was practicing, although he wouldn't have cared, it was rare for people who knew him to be a Dr. to call him Mr. I can name two people off the top of my head immediately who always did so. Again, not because it was a big deal - it was unusual.

Exactly. No more than what you said.