Language desk
< November 9	<< Oct \| November \| Dec >>	November 11 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Language Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is a transcluded archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

November 10

Combining titles?

I'm currently assisting on an article (American Revolutionary War for those interested) where people are given both a formal title and a military rank (e.g., "Sir" and "General"). Is it considered appropriate to blend the two together (such as, General Sir William Howe)? —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 19:07, 10 November 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Not typically, no. I would do it like "The opposing General was Sir William Howe," then refer to him as simply Howe from then on. Temerarius (talk) 21:18, 10 November 2020 (UTC)[reply]

General Sir William Howe is fine, but I would tend to go with Temerarius's suggestion. Do take care not to give people titles they did not hold at the time, a common error . DuncanHill (talk) 21:33, 10 November 2020 (UTC)[reply]

I think that a large number of writings refer to the Duke of Wellington in the Peninsular Campaign, even though technically his title was not yet a dukedom. It's just what he is most commonly known as.... AnonMoos (talk) 23:56, 10 November 2020 (UTC)[reply]

One hardly ever sees reference to the Queen, between her marriage and her accession to the throne, as "Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh", but that's exactly what she was. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 03:22, 11 November 2020 (UTC)[reply]

You may be interested in General Sir William Howe's Orderly Book. Alansplodge (talk) 09:04, 11 November 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Dunno about appropriate, but it's very much done. —Tamfang (talk) 01:51, 13 November 2020 (UTC)[reply]