Titles

A title is a designation that identifies status, ownership, or the name of a work or object. It is used in law, society, and culture, and its meaning depends on the context.

Honorific or personal titles address individuals to convey status or relation. Examples include Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms., Dr., Professor, Sir, and Dame, as well as military ranks and religious titles such as Rev., Imam, or Rabbi. Usage varies by culture and formality.

Professional and academic titles denote roles or qualifications. Postnominal initials such as PhD or MD indicate degrees; job titles like manager or director signal position within an organization. Titles commonly influence how people are addressed and perceived.

Titles of creative works function as proper names. Books, films, articles, and songs are typically set in italics or quotation marks in writing, and they follow capitalization rules that vary by style. In English, major words are capitalized; short function words are not unless they begin or end the title.

Legal titles denote ownership. A title to land or goods establishes ownership and may be recorded in public registers. A chain of title traces transfers over time, often requiring a title search and deeds or certificates.

Ceremonial and noble titles indicate rank within a peerage or order. Examples include Duke, Duchess, Earl, Baron, Sir, and Dame. These titles may be hereditary or conferred and are governed by law and custom in different countries.

In modern information systems, a title can be a metadata field used to label entries for identification and discovery.