News Files:Forms of Address

From Star Trek: Gamma One

Here are some guidelines on how to address Starfleet Officers in-character:

1. 'Sir' is the appropriate way to address a senior officer, and is gender neutral. 'Ma'am' should never be used to address a female officer in a formal situation unless the officer has made it known such is her preference.
2. 'Mister', when used to designate a Starfleet officer, is gender-neutral. There are differences between direct (face-to-face) and indirect (third party reference) use of the word 'Mister'
   1. When used to refer to another officer to that officer's face, 'Mister' is only appropriate if you outrank the other party by at least one full rank and grade -- positional rank, such as a Chief of Security and an DCoS who are both full Lieutenants, does not count for this, but a Chief of Security who is a Lieutenant Commander could refer to an DCoS who holds a full Lieutenant's rank as 'Mister' in direct address. 'Mister' is also permissible in direct reference to refer to a Cadet.
   2. When used to refer to a third party, 'Mister' is correct in informal conversation regardless of rank. An Ensign giving a brief verbal description to the Captain of the XO's incapacitation on an away mission might briefly refer to 'Mister Roshak' instead of 'Commander Roshak,' even if Roshak is resent in the room; the formal report, however, should not use that term to refer to the XO.
   3. It should go without saying that 'Mister' is never, *ever* used to refer to a Chief. Only 'Chief' is acceptable on this one.
3. Using Chief only applies to characters with one of the ranks of chief. Department Heads are not referred to 'Chief' ever unless they request it.
4. A 'Lieutenant Junior Grade' is 'Lieutenant' in both direct and indirect, informal address. In indirect formal reporting, 'Lieutenant J.G.' is acceptable.
5. A 'Lieutenant Commander' is 'Commander' in direct address; in indirect address, full rank is used.
6. 'Captain' is appropriate to refer to the CO of a ship regardless of rank. Some COs prefer 'Skipper' or, rarely, 'Boss'. Never, ever call a CO 'Chief'. 'Captain' is not used as an honorific when the CO is the CO of a station or outpost, unless they really hold the rank of Captain. 'Commander' is likewise appropriate for the XO of a ship, regardless of rank. Note: both of these conventions apply only to the assigned commanding officer of a vessel or installation -- in the event that a vessel comes into the control of a CO that wasn't assigned to him by Starfleet Command (e.g., a pirate attack which backfires, leaving the pirate ship under control over the Starfleet officers), the CO has the authority to name a subordinate officer as temporary CO of that ship, and in that case, the honorific would apply.
7. Civilians who are in active command of a ship may be referred to as 'Captain'. Should they lose their ship, they are no longer entitled to that courtesy.
8. It always permissible to refer to a foreign military officer, allied or otherwise, by the Federation Standard translation of the word(s) for their rank. You need not refer to a Klingon CO as 'HoD', but can use 'Commander', as necessary.
9. Cadets are always referred to as Cadet or Mister, even by non-commissioned officers.
10. Medical officers can be referred to as Sir and Mister as per the above guidelines. The following forms of address are also permissible.
    1. An officer who has the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade or greater and who has completed the Medical Doctor track can be referred to as 'Doctor.'
    2. A nurse or a combat medic may be referred to as 'Nurse.'
    3. Medical Residents and any other medical personnel working towards their M.D. will be called by their rank, or by 'Sir' or 'Mister.'

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