PhD or Ph.D. or Ph.D

[HigherEdGuy]

Need some guidance (perhaps opinions) on the correct way to abbreviate. This is primarily for email signatures, which commonly included the abbreviation. There is no standard use at my institution. Please advise. 

[aside]

If you're old-school, then Ph.D.
If you're new-school, then PhD
If you're no-school, then Ph.D

[Parasaurolophus]

If you're old-school, then Ph.D.
If you're new-school, then PhD
If you're no-school, then Ph.D

Brilliant!

[HigherEdGuy]

If you're old-school, then Ph.D.
If you're new-school, then PhD
If you're no-school, then Ph.D

I'm intrigued. I always though the one period was European. The only two people I know who do this both have doctorates from an Ivy. Maybe it's it's an Ivy thing?

[mamselle]

Standard Anglo/English abbreviations use a period after the "Ph." (for "Philosophiæ") and the D. (for "doctor"), literally, in Latin. (As noted above)

In this case, the French Wikipedia has it correctly put:

   https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophi%C3%A6_doctor

It also summarizes the historical development of the degree's recent nomenclature.

M.

[financeguy]

I think either of the first two are accepted with the former being much more common. The grammar police tend to come out when you omit the ' for the plural of a degree when following a period in an abbreviation: Joe has two Ph.D.'s and three M.F.A.'s in his law school class. There are also four Medical Doctors.

[jerseyjay]

While the question of whether to use periods or not is one of style and preference, what is certain is that it must match the use of a period after Dr. preceding your name, hence:

Dr John Smith, PhD OR
Dr. John Smith, Ph.D.

But NEVER
Dr. John Smith, PhD NOR
Dr John Smith, Ph.D.

The mixing of punctuation is gauche and a sign of not understanding academic culture and norms.

[marshwiggle]

While the question of whether to use periods or not is one of style and preference, what is certain is that it must match the use of a period after Dr. preceding your name, hence:

Dr John Smith, PhD OR
Dr. John Smith, Ph.D.

But NEVER
Dr. John Smith, PhD NOR
Dr John Smith, Ph.D.

The mixing of punctuation is gauche and a sign of not understanding academic culture and norms.

Hey, that's handist!

[secundem_artem]

While the question of whether to use periods or not is one of style and preference, what is certain is that it must match the use of a period after Dr. preceding your name, hence:

Dr John Smith, PhD OR
Dr. John Smith, Ph.D.

But NEVER
Dr. John Smith, PhD NOR
Dr John Smith, Ph.D.

The mixing of punctuation is gauche and a sign of not understanding academic culture and norms.

Hey, that's handist!

Indeed.  Totally sinister.

[mamselle]

But we need people with dexterity and flexibility to get things done with a good will...

Don't we?

M.

[marshwiggle]

But we need people with dexterity and flexibility to get things done with a good will...

Don't we?

M.

But if they're *leftists we can expect them to get things done "from each according to ability, to each according to need".

*dextrous leftists, of course.

[apl68]

Since it seems vaguely relevant to this thread:


There once was a theologian named Fiddle
Who turned down a divinity degree
'Twas bad enough being Fiddle
Without being Fiddle, D.D.

[Parasaurolophus]

The grammar police tend to come out when you omit the ' for the plural of a degree when following a period in an abbreviation: Joe has two Ph.D.'s and three M.F.A.'s in his law school class.

Wouldn't that be a grocer's apostrophe?

[Cheerful]

List Dr. or Ph.D., not both.

There are people who do the following as soon as they receive the PhD: Dr. Jamie Smith, Ph.D.

No.

It's Jamie Smith, Ph.D. or Dr. Jamie Smith.

[clean]

List Dr. or Ph.D., not both.

There are people who do the following as soon as they receive the PhD: Dr. Jamie Smith, Ph.D.

No.

It's Jamie Smith, Ph.D. or Dr. Jamie Smith.

This is my understanding as well.  One or the other, but not both.