In the context of writing-to-others,
- etiquette is a set of shared expectations (regarding appropriate behavior) in a particular discourse community for a given social situation or social transaction.
Choosing (and using) the socially-appropriate manner of address in an important aspect of etiquette when writing a letter (especially when the desired consequence of that letter is for the target audience to use their agency on your behalf).
Of course, conforming to the etiquette expectations of your target audience is also an important part of overcoming an Acceptance Challenge (which is located at The Refiner's Fire).
An honorific is a term used to convey honor (to another) or express ones respect (of another), and honorifics are commonly used in formal conversation, public speaking, formal correspondence, and professional writing.
Examples of honorifics include:
- Mr., Mrs., Miss, and Ms.
- Ma'am (Madame), Doctor, and Lord
- Rabbi, Reverend, and Professor
Styles are a subset of honorifics, and styles:
- usually contain a pronoun (e.g., "Her") or an article (e.g., "The"),
- usually contain a descriptive term,
- usually used to address:
- persons of royalty,
- persons holding a political office, and
- persons holding religious office, and
- usually contain the full name of the person being addressed.
Examples of styles include:
- the Reverend (insert full name here),
- His Holiness Pope Benedict VI,
- His Royal Highness the Prince (insert the prince's first name here)—when the prince is the son of a British sovereign, and
- The Honorable (insert full name here)—for members of the United States Congress
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