Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2020 November 10

= 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)
 * 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)
 * 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)


 * 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)


 * 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)


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


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