#forms of address

[A heavily researched 6.5k+ hyperfocus from my Google docs, to help your fanfics]

Disclaimers:

Sources are not consistent. You’d think they would be. They are not. I’ve corralled several reliable websites and books into something that I think makes sense, is accessible, and fits [largely] with portrayals in Bridgerton/modern media.

That being said, Bridgerton/modern media make mistakes. You might notice in reading through all this that there is something different to how it is portrayed in media. Feel free to discuss with me, I could very well be wrong, but also know that you are consuming fiction and this is intended to be fact.

However, whilst trying to be correct, many sources are modern and it is difficult to confirm how titling and forms of address may have changed in the past 200–300 years. Though, I imagine not greatly given the peerage and aristocracy still exists.

Where possible, I have used Bridgerton characters as the examples so that it is easier to make sense/contextualise it. Names in red are not characters, just placeholder names. Hence I have reduced, reused, recycled these names.

On the note of using names from within the Bridgerverse, the Marquess of Ashdown was not married when we met him. I’d also like to know what Julia Quinn has against Earls and Marquesses, Marquesses especially.

Second note of using names in the Bridgerverse, I refuse to use Baron of Kent because it is a factual/historical disaster. More on that here.

This only applies to aristocracy of Britain/UK [minimally Ireland, read here], if I do more of Europe/anywhere else I will link it below but let me know if you want that.

All of these posts may be edited/expanded at any time as my research continues.

Further posts:

General info, start here!

Glossary

A brief history of the peerages/titles

The different peerages [England, Great Britain, United Kingdom, Scotland, Ireland]

How royal titles work

Peerage applications and functions in the modern day

Privileges of the peerage

How titles apply to the child of peers

Rank and precedence within the peerage

Titling rules for non peers

Other roles and titles I can give address information for

Female inheritance of titles

Territorial designations, and when the surname differs from the title name

Haven’t decided if I will do a post on grammar rules when writing peers because despite studying etiquette and titles for over a decade, and linguistics and grammar for seven years, the grammar/capitalisation rules of writing peers broke my final straw of sanity. Let me know how much you want it, or just drop any specific questions.

Put any questions about any of this in my ask :)

Since the book doesn't reveal Bob's name until the Ghost of Christmas Present chapter, but just calls him "the clerk," we don't know how pre-redemption Scrooge normally addresses him.

@bethanydelleman's recent post about 19th century formalities of address has made me wonder whether "Mr. Cratchit" or just "Cratchit" would be more realistic. I have no idea how wealthy businessmen usually addressed their clerks. Since male friends commonly addressed each other by their surnames with no "Mr.," it would seem that addressing Bob as "Mr. Cratchit" would add more distance and make it clear that they're a master and employee, not friends; but at the same time, it also adds a hint of respect. Calling him just "Cratchit" seems more intimate yet ruder.

Okay well, it would be different depending on whether LWJ was Emperor or Emperor’s brother, and also what era you’re working in (because titles changed depending on the Dynasties/eras and it’s all very complicated). I just finished writing a Qing Dynasty AU so my head is full of those titles, but I’ll try to generalise as much as possible.

Emperor!LWJ

WWX => LWJ = 皇上,  陛下 (depending on era)

LWJ => WWX = 皇后, or by his name in private

WWX => concubine = By the concubine’s title, which depends on the concubine’s rank? Which also differs depending on the dynasty you’re writing in. E.g. if you’re in the Qing Dynasty and the concubine is a 贵人 from the Jin family, then they’ll be called 金贵人 (unless an honorary title was bestowed on them). Maybe 妹妹 as a “friendly” gesture.

LWJ => concubine = by their title (as above), or by their name in private

Concubine => WWX = 皇后娘娘, 娘娘

Concubine => LWJ = 皇上, 陛下 (again, depending on era)

Both WWX and the concubine would refer to themselves as either 嫔妾 or 臣妾 when talking to LWJ, who would refer to himself as 朕 or 寡人 (again, depending on the era - 寡人 was mostly used for pre-Imperial China, Warring States etc.).

When talking to the concubine, WWX would refer to himself as 本宫. The concubine would refer to themselves as 嫔妾.

The term 嫔妃 is mostly used as a collective term for all Imperial concubines.

殿下 is for princes, 陛下 is for Emperors.

Emperor’s Brother!LWJ

WWX + concubine => LWJ = 王爷 (depends on the era and his title - e.g. Qing dynasty would be 贝勒爷)

LWJ => WWX + concubine = their names (LWJ may call WWX 夫人, or refer to him as 王妃 to other people)

Concubine => WWX = 王妃, or 姐姐

WWX => concubine = their name, or 妹妹

Both WWX and the concubine would refer to themselves as 妾身 when talking to LWJ, and LWJ would use 本王 to refer to himself.

New Learnt: Nominals