Forms of Address
How a name goes on a diploma, certificate, award, or plaque
A diploma or certificate uses the recipient full legal name, exactly as registered with the issuing institution, generally without a courtesy title like Mr. or Dr. An award plaque typically uses the full name plus any relevant post-nominal credential, ordered by the sequence the credentials were earned or by the issuing organization own convention.
Checked September 10, 2026/5 min read
Written by Claire PostReviewed against USPS Publication 28
What is on this page6 sections
A diploma, certificate, and plaque all share one thing that sets them apart from every envelope-addressing page on this site: none of them are correspondence addressed to a person, so none of them use a courtesy title the way a letter would.
The name itself is the one detail worth getting exactly right, matching whatever the issuing institution has on file rather than the casual form someone might use day to day, since the document is meant to stand as an official record.
Step by step
Use the full legal name on a diploma or certificate
Educational institutions generally print the name exactly as it appears in official student records, without Mr., Ms., or Dr., since the document itself is the credential establishing any title, not a piece of correspondence addressed to the person.
REBECCA ANN THORNTONCorrectStandard name format for a diploma. Include middle names or initials as registered
Match the exact form on file with the institution, full middle name, initial only, or omitted entirely, rather than the form the person might use casually.
Order post-nominal abbreviations after the name on a plaque or award
Credentials are generally listed in the order earned, or by the specific organization own house style: "Rebecca Ann Thornton, PhD, PE" for someone with both a doctorate and a professional engineering license, doctorate typically listed first.
Confirm the issuing organization own naming convention before finalizing
Some institutions and award bodies have specific house rules for name formatting, credential order, or whether a title is included. When producing a formal document, check their guidance rather than assuming a universal standard.
Quick reference
| Document | Name format | Title included? |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma | Full legal name, as registered | No |
| Certificate (professional) | Full legal name | Sometimes, if institution convention includes it |
| Award / plaque | Full name + post-nominal credentials | Credentials in place of a courtesy title |
| Post-nominal abbreviations | Listed after the name, comma-separated | Ordered by earned sequence or house style |
Special cases
The rule above covers most people. Here is what changes for the rest.
Does a diploma ever include Dr. before the name for someone who already holds another doctorate?
Generally no; the diploma itself is the document conferring the credential, so a courtesy title reflecting a different, prior credential is typically omitted in favor of the plain full name.
What if my legal name has changed since I earned the credential?
Most institutions can reissue a diploma or certificate under a new legal name through their registrar office, though the process and any fee vary by institution. The original document remains valid under the name it was issued with unless formally reissued.
How many post-nominal credentials is it appropriate to list?
This varies by context and personal or organizational preference; academic and professional settings sometimes list every earned credential, while a plaque or award context often limits it to the one or two most relevant to the specific honor.
Key terms on this page
- Post-nominal abbreviation
- A credential or honor listed after a name, such as PhD, MD, or Esq., indicating an earned degree, license, or honor.
- Legal name
- The name officially registered with an institution or government body, the form used on a diploma or certificate regardless of the name a person uses casually.