Common Errors and Misconceptions in Writing Business Card Titles

Common Errors and Misconceptions in Writing Business Card Titles

What's in a title? A lot, especially if it is placed on a business card. Business card titles are one of the main highlights of this identity card.

Look at how much information is written there. There's your name, company or organization, phone number, cellphone number, office address, email address and your title, of course. Given the very limited space of business cards, usually set at 2" x 3.5", you need to put in only the most significant information about you. And these are not just to tell people about your contact details. It is also a powerful tool to build a big impression, especially if you have a nice title to go with a sleek business card.

Notice that you really can't include anything much other than the data mentioned above. This means that, unlike brochures, postcards, flyers and other advertising tools, you cant say much about who you are, what you do and what you are offering. With business cards, recipients pretty much have a lot of deducing to do from the info found in the card, especially from the business card titles and logos.

Selling points

Having an office space in a posh and renowned commercial district leaves a mark. Being in a company that belongs to the Fortune 500 list is even more impressive, but having a highly regarded title/position either because of your educational achievements like getting a Doctor of Philosophy degree, or due to your well-deserved rise in the company hierarchy as vice president certainly speaks a lot about who you are and what you are capable of. So isn't it important that you write it properly?

Of errors and misconceptions

A person with a degree in Medicine is a doctor, and earns the suffix M.D., but should you write 'Dr. John Doe, M.D.'? Some people do. Here are some of the common errors in title-writing that you should avoid:

1. Do not include both your degree and your title. Choose one.

For doctors, either write 'John Doe, M.D.', or 'Dr. John Doe'. If you are done with your doctorate degree, write 'Dr. John Doe' or 'John Doe, PhD'. Lawyers, on the other hand, can write either 'Atty. John Doe' or "John Doe, Esq.'

The same follows if you have different titles like CPA and Esq. Do not write 'Atty. John Doe, CPA'.

2. Do not place 'Mr.' or 'Ms.' before your name in business cards.

Don't write Mr. John Doe' on your business card. 'Mr. John Doe, M.D.' is especially a big no-no. This also applies to other writings. Do not use 'Mr.' if you want to include your title or degree in your name.

3. Not all Abbreviations and Acronyms require periods.

PhD should actually be written as Ph.D. but more recently, the former has become accepted and widely used. The same goes for MD. Some of the other proper abbreviations and acronyms include: D.Ed. (Doctor of Education), D.M.D. (Doctor of Dental Medicine), RD (registered dietitian), RN (registered nurse), CEO (chief executive officer) and COO (chief operating officer).

So remember, before you venture into online printing for your next set of cards, check if the business card title is written correctly. It should be an asset, not a turn-off.