I just sent a message to someone that included the phrase, "he's a Dr." I was too lazy to write doctor. My question is, is dr. a valid abbreviation?

I saw a banner-poster today which read Packers Dr. (as in Green Bay Packers football). at first I read it as "Packers doctor", but upon reflection I'm sure it meant "Packers Drive".

I read that as 'he's a dear.'

I'd never understand dr. to be doctor. Dr., though lazy, seems OK.

For some reason, I've no clue as to why, I have never cared for "Dr" meaning 'doctor'. I would rather see MD or PhD or DDS or DVM or something meaningful.

> I have never cared for "Dr" meaning 'doctor'. I would rather see MD or PhD or DDS.

Here in Zild, I have yet to meet a DDS who is addressed as "Dr." I tried it once with my DDS, and he said, "just Mr. will do"

Yeah, and in Zild if you wanted to replace "Doctor" with the qualification, you'd have to trot out MBChB. No self-respecting New Zealand actually lengthens such things when they can be shortened to Dr.

Translation, please?

I've never seen doctor abbreviated to Dr. MD or PhD are the abbreviated terms I'd use and have always seen.

I have to admit that if I saw "He's a Dr.", I'd wouldn't know what you said and would need to read further to find out what you meant. Doctor is not the first word that would come to my mind. Drunk more likely.

I work in a hospital so Dr. has always meant doctor, I have never used dr. I did work in England for a while and found that once a doctor became a specialist they went back to being Mr. X and became quite shirty if you addressed them as Dr. X.

Translation, please?


MBChB = Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, a double baccalaureate which requires five years of study, but only in the Mother Country and a few of her progeny.

I write/edit the medical staff newsletter at a hospital, and our style has always been to use credentials on first mention (eg, John Smith, MD [or DO, DPM, DDS, PhD]) and "Dr. Smith" thereafter. To answer Jackie's original query, I've never seen Dr. used without a proper name attached.

I wouldn't use Dr. without a name as a correct form but as a quick shorthand when keeping notes. e.g. "Ind tsf to W/C. Plan D/C Fri. Dr. aware." Which in real people talk comes out as "Independantly transfers to wheelchair. Plan is for discharge Friday. The doctor is aware."

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.

thanks, Father Steve.

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery

OK, the Ch bit: does that come from another language? Like German Chirugie? Maybe via ME?

OK, the Ch bit: does that come from another language?

From Latin chirugia (whence also the German) < Greek kheirourgia (< kheirourgos literally working by hand), kheiros 'hand' + ourgos 'work'. So probably something like: medicinæ baccalaureatus et chirugiæ baccalaureatus.

All my news training has me programmed to aim for clarity. Dr. would be for Drive as in an address ... dr, I have no idea about.
I tend to use MD, PhD, etc for clarity and Dr.only if before a name on second reference :
"James Smith MD, is called Dr. Jim by his patients."
"Mary Jones PhD, does not like to be called Doctor Jones."

I wouldn't use dr. to abbreviate the word doctor--and wouldn't suggest that it would be so-used unless in informal codes. In fact, I wouldn't even use Dr. as an abbreviation for doctor unless used before the doctor's surname. I would think most people would find Dr. to be a bit bizarre-looking if used as an abbreviation for doctor without a surname--but most people often surprise me.

After a little research:

In AHD, dr. is listed solely as an abbreviation for debtor, and dr is listed as an abbreviation for dram. Dr. is listed as the abbreviation for both doctor and drive, as has been well-discussed above, but there is not a usage note about whether Dr. would be acceptable standing alone without a surname.

Thanks. Good thing I was writing informally!

There is such a thing? Writing informally?
Mercy!

My brother is called Doctor (PhD) by his students, one of whom saw him in a parking lot in NYC. The attendant overheard the greeting and started.."You know, I have this pain." Bro: "I'm not that kind of doctor." "Oh. My teeth have been giving me a problem." Again: "I'm not that kind of doctor." "Really. Well my mind has been..." Once more: "I'm not that kind of doctor." "Well," the car jockey asked, "Then what the Hell kind of doctor are you?"

I've found it even surprises some MDs that Doctorates are given in disciplines other than medicine!