Forms of Address

There are many forms of address used in the Honorverse stories, and many of them are replicated and used within The Royal Manticoran Navy: The Official Honor Harrington Fan Association, Inc..

Dame

In the societal context, it is a title of nobility for women who are members of the various orders of knighthood within the Star Empire. The title 'Dame' is pre-pended to their names and the post-nominal letters of their order(s) of knighthood are appended in descending order of seniority. In the case of military women in a military context, the title is inserted after their rank and before their name. For example, Alice Truman is a Knight Companion of the Most Honorable Order of King Roger. Socially she is announced as Dame Alice Truman, and in the Manticoran peerage she appears as Dame Alice Truman, KCR. Militarily, she is Vice Admiral Dame Alice Truman.

Ma'am

A shortened form of 'Madam', this is the proper form of address by an enlisted person or warrant officer to a female commissioned officer; also how a junior officer properly addresses a senior female commissioned officer.

Sir

This has two primary modes of use.

1. In the military context, it is how an enlisted person or warrant officer addresses a male commissioned officer; it is also how a junior commissioned officer addresses a senior male commissioned officer.
2. In the societal context, it is a title of nobility for men who are members of the various orders of knighthood within the Star Empire. As such, it is pre-pended to their names, and the post-nominal letters of their order(s) of knighthood are appended in descending order of seniority. In the case of military men and in a military context, it is inserted after their rank and before their name. For example, Aivars Terekhov is a Knight Companion of the Most Honorable Order of King Roger. Therefore, socially, he would be announced as Sir Aivars Terekhov. In a peerage listing, he would appear as Sir Aivars Terekhov, PMV, KCR, MC. When addressed or referred to formally in a military context, he is Captain Sir Aivars Terekhov.