While Angelou apparently has adopted the use of the "doctor", "It is not customary, however, for recipients of an honorary doctorate to adopt the prefix 'Dr' " and "many universities, however, request that an honorary graduate refrain from such practice". See Honorary degrees#practical use.

As an extra point, sometimes honorary degrees (although not in this case) have been given to people whose accomplishments are in fields other than intellectual, as a means of trying to derive prestige for the institution from its association with the person. For example, Cathy Freeman was given one. Freeman is an amazing athlete but she is no intellectual. I remember one offended quietly hardworking academic, on learning of this award, asking for an honorary Olympic medal, so long as it wasn't in synchonised swimming. Thankfully, it seems that here at least, honorary doctorates are given these days for for intellectual achievement.

Even a professional academic such as Marie Curie does not have her degree in the lead. Perhaps she should, but as with most real academics, the doctorate is the foundation, that is, the beginning, not the end of their achievements. The case of  Agnes and Margaret Smith is instructive. They were world famous scholars, many of whose honorary degrees were granted by German universities at a time when their own university (Cambridge) did not award degrees to women.

The place for earned degrees may be in the lead, but generally, honorary ones should be in the text under Awards.

Whiteghost.ink


On 5 August 2012 07:29, Emily Monroe <emilymonroe03@gmail.com> wrote:
I think the standard way to name a human subject of a Wikipedia article is by their bolded full name at the first mention (so Dr. Maya [middle name(s)] Angelou) and then by their last name (Angelou) by then on
.
From,
Emily



On Sat, Aug 4, 2012 at 4:24 PM, Valerie Aurora <valerie@adainitiative.org> wrote:
On Sat, Aug 4, 2012 at 2:17 PM, Pete Forsyth <peteforsyth@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Aug 1, 2012 11:09 AM, "Sarah Stierch" <sarah.stierch@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Miss Angelou
>
> Sorry to be a nitpicker, but while in high school I had the privilege of
> meeting DOCTOR Angelou (through a Facing History and Ourselves program), and
> it was impressed on us early and often (and effectively, it seems) before
> that meeting that DOCTOR Angelou's name is DOCTOR Angelou, not Maya, Miss
> Angelou, etc :)

I forget to use women's titles sometimes too, but if I remember, I
take positive pleasure in calling women with PhD's "Dr." - especially
in areas where people don't often use their titles. :)

-VAL

--
Increasing the participation of women in open technology and culture
http://adainitiative.org

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