How to Address an Alderman
See also Councilman or Councilwoman.
NOTE: See first Q&A below “Is My Alderman The Honorable?“ for more on whether or not your alderman is addressed as the Honorable (Full Name).
How to Address an Alderman
Alderman Addressed as the Honorable in the U.S.
—-Envelope or address block on letter or email:
—-—-The Honorable (Full Name)
—-—-(Name of Council)
—-—-(Address)
—-Address block for a letter or email:
—-—-The Honorable (Full Name)
—-—-Chairman/Chairwoman/Chair/Member
—-—-(Name of Council)
—-—-(Address)
—-Salutation:How to Address an Alderman
—-—-Dear Mr./Ms./Dr./etc. (Surname):
—-Conversation:
—-—-Mr./Ms./Dr./etc. (Surname)
—-—-Alderman (Surname)—– (most often used orally)
Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”
Alderman Not Addressed as the Honorable
—-Envelope on letterl:
—-—-Mr./Ms./Dr./etc. (Full Name)
—-—-(Name of Council)
—-—-(Address)
—-Address block for a letter or email:
—-—-Mr./Ms./Dr./etc. (Full Name)
—-—-Chairman/Chairwoman/Chair/Member
—-—-(Name of Council)
—-—-(Address)
—-Salutation:
—-—-Dear Mr./Ms./Dr./etc. (Surname):
—-Conversation, official:
—-—-Mr./Ms./Dr./etc. (Surname)
—-—-Alderman (Surname)—– (most often used orally)
– Robert Hickey How to Address an Alderman
Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”
Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”
Is My Alderman “The Honorable“?
In our city we have aldermen who are elected – serve on the City Council. Are they addressed as ‘the Honorable (Full Name)‘ ?
———– TF How to Address an Anderman
Dear TF:
U.S. officials – elected in a general election – are entitled to be addressed in writing as: The Honorable (Full Name)‘. So your Alderman qualifies. However, at a municipal/city/local level many jurisdictions do not address officials below the level of mayor as ‘the Honorable (Full Name)’. It’s always best to call and check for local tradition.
In a big city like you live in, I bet they are. In a small town, maybe … but maybe not.
‘Alderman’ is not formally used in writing as an honorific. You will hear an alderman orally addressed as ‘Alderman (Surname)’ at meetings and in the media as a shorthand to specify who said what. You will also hear an alderman orally referred to as in ‘Alderman (Name) will be here in ten minutes’ These are oral uses, not written.
‘Alderman (Surname)’ is not used by former officials, though they can certainly be identified as a ‘former alderman’ or as having served as an alderman from (year-to-year).
– Robert Hickey How to Address an Alderman
Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”
When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?
You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing a letter, invitation, card or Email. (If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.) The form noted in the salutation is the same form you say when you say their name in conversation or when you greet them.
___What I don’t cover on this site are many things I do cover in my book: all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions, etc. I hope you’ll get a copy of the book if you’d like the further detail.
Not Finding Your Answer?
—-#1) At right on desktops, at the bottom of every page on tablets and phones, is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.
—-#2) If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answered send me an e-mail. I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so (unless I am traveling.) Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.
—-#3) If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question – but always change all the specifics.
— Robert Hickey
Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”
Recommended Resources: The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW) and Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA) For more information see the Protocol Resources page.