Referring to two doctors

[Celeste Stewart]

Hi,
I'm writing about a husband-wife team of accupuncturists, both of whom hold Ph.Ds. Their last name is Ling. So, Dr. Ling and Dr. Ling. I want to refer to them in plural form as in:
. . . you can rest assured that Drs. Ling use disposable needles only.

Is that right? I could use "the Lings" or "both doctors" as well I suppose.

[Ed]

The most accessible information seems to be how to address two married doctors on an invitation or in a letter. The author includes a source:
http://www.businesswritingblog.com/busi ... rs_ma.html

On the other hand, other style guides indicate only medical doctors should be referred to with the title Dr. Ph.D's should be referred to as "First Name, Last Name, Ph.D. " Other sources indicate either is okay.

I think it is clearer to refer to a Ph.D doctor as a Ph.D rather than as "doctor." In a field like acupuncture, this distinction might be important.

If something more definitive reveals itself, I'll let you know.

Ed

[Celeste Stewart]

Thanks. The content is for their accupuncture clinic where I assume their patients call each of them Dr. Ling. Right now, I have been saying, "The Lings' clinic" and "The Lings have served the community. . ." and so on. Does that seem disrespectful? To continually refer to them as Roger Ling, Ph.D. and Barbara Ling, Ph.D. seems awkward. (Names have been changed for privacy BTW).

[Ed]

Yes, I see what you're saying. The patients would certainly use "Dr. Ling" to refer to either practitioner. The problem is stylistic in nature, so it's ultimately your call. "Drs." is the most readable solution.

[Celeste Stewart]

Okay, I'll do that. I think I'll use it when discussing the clinical stuff and the refer to them more generically when less clinical such as "The Lings are also successful authors." Thanks for the help.

[Lysis]

> I think it is clearer to refer to a Ph.D doctor as a Ph.D rather than as "doctor."

*sniff* this is my goal (Phd), and the plan is to insist that people call me doctor since I didn't spend a gazillion years in school researching to be called ma'am or ms.

[Debbi]

I wish there was some honorific for all the ABDs like me who completed everythign but the dissertation. Dr. Debbi would sound so nice Quasi-Dr. Debbi? Pseudo-Dr. Debbi? Ante-Dr. Debbi? I think in some universities, they handed out PhCs or some such to denote that state of "close but no cigar".

[canywriter]

Celeste,

How about referring to them by first names individually, then add a common last name - as in "Drs. Roger and Barbara Ling..,"

[BarryDavidson]

I wish there was some honorific for all the ABDs like me who completed everything but the dissertation. Dr. Debbi would sound so nice Quasi-Dr. Debbi? Pseudo-Dr. Debbi? Ante-Dr. Debbi? I think in some universities, they handed out PhCs or some such to denote that state of "close but no cigar".

Well, you can try and get your college to give you an honorary doctorate(usually involves money or knowing someone). While you can't "sell" yourself as a Ph.D or Dr. to the general public in a business/clinical sense, you can use it in correspondences and letterheads. While I only hold a masters in religion, I can use the Dr. appellation because I also have an honorary doctorate. (Granted, the Dr. must follow Reverend.) I'm not truly a minister, but sometimes that Rev. Dr. before my name comes in real handy (mainly dealing with idiots in government offices).