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Business & Technical Writing/sequence of academic degrees with British honors

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Expert: - 8/21/2007


Question
An author holds an MD degree, is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, and is a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.  What is the proper sequence for these initials following her name?  Is it A. A. Brown, MD, FRCP, DBE?  Or, is it A. A. Brown, DBE, MD, FRCP?

Answer
I would give precedence to the academic degree and the professional affiliation before the social honor.

MD, FRCP, DBE

I do not know of a standard convention, however, and have not been able to locate one. This just seems a logical order to me.

Hope this helps.

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I have been a professional writer and editor for more than 30 years, taught speech and English composition at the university level, and have developed speech and English composition courses and seminars for businesses. I am experienced in editing a wide variety of materials, especially business, scientific, and other academic papers. I am familiar with all the major style guides.

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