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doctor

English translation: PhD candidate

15:54 Nov 25, 2009
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Science - Education / Pedagogy
English term or phrase: doctor
These are the signatures of a scientific paper written by a University professor and a PhD student.

Mario Rossi Professor
Giorgio Bianchi Doctor

Is this right in American English? Or should it say 'PhD'?
Lietta Warren-Granato
Italy
Local time: 16:01
Selected answer:PhD candidate
Explanation:
I would just put "Giorgio Bianchi, PhD candidate"
It's the safest thing to do, since you know that's what he is, and it's not uncommon in a scientific paper.
Selected response from:

John Detre
Canada
Grading comment
Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
3 +3incorrect
Yasutomo Kanazawa
5 +1NO
Maria Fokin
5 +1Professor=PhD; student= PhD candidate
Lirka
4 +1PhD candidate
John Detre
5doctor
Charlesp
5PhD Candidate
humbird


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
incorrect


Explanation:
I assume Mr. Giorgio Bianchi is the PhD student, and if he has already acquired a Doctorate Degree, he should sign PhD after his name, not Doctor.

Yasutomo Kanazawa
Japan
Local time: 23:01
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jack Doughty: Or M.D.if he is a doctor of medicine.
1 hr
  -> Yes, of course, depending on the what that person majored in. Thank you Jack, for your comments.
agree  Rolf Keiser: with Jack
2 hrs
  -> Thank you Goldcoaster
agree  Robert Forstag: In the American system, Rossi's title would depend on his specific title (e.g., Professor, Associate Professor, Adjunt Professor). I assume that there is a similar differentiation in Italy, so it might make sense for Lietta to consult the client (or Web).
2 hrs
  -> Thank you Robert
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4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
NO


Explanation:
in italy dottore refers to someone who has a degree, not a PhD

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Note added at 5 mins (2009-11-25 15:59:43 GMT)
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you get the degree of dottore in italy when you finish your Master

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Note added at 6 mins (2009-11-25 16:00:58 GMT)
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use M.Sc.

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Note added at 10 mins (2009-11-25 16:04:29 GMT)
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scratch... the master degree comment of mine. apparently, according to my postdoc of a fiancee, it can refer to someone with either a Bachelor or Master. It's a very general term. But seeing how you are talking about a PhD student, he most definitely does not have a PhD yet.

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Note added at 12 mins (2009-11-25 16:07:12 GMT)
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saying doctor, by the way, is also incorrect because in English this is the same as PhD

Maria Fokin
Italy
Local time: 16:01
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in RussianRussian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jeanette Phillips
30 mins
  -> thank you
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52 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
PhD candidate


Explanation:
I would just put "Giorgio Bianchi, PhD candidate"
It's the safest thing to do, since you know that's what he is, and it's not uncommon in a scientific paper.

John Detre
Canada
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tina Vonhof (X)
1 day 9 hrs
  -> Thanks Tina
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
doctor


Explanation:
doctor, if the person has a medical degree.

But if the are a graduate student, and dont have a medical degree or doctor's licence, then a "PhD student." or graduate student, or candidate for a PhD degree. Do not say doctor, and do not say PhD if they are dont have one!


Charlesp
Sweden
Local time: 16:01
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Professor=PhD; student= PhD candidate


Explanation:
It seems to me that this joint paper is written, as usual, by the professor who holds a PhD[at least let's hope so] and the graduate student, who is currently a PhD candidate.



Lirka
Austria
Local time: 16:01
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tina Vonhof (X): But keep in mind that in some cultures the term 'professor' carries more prestige than Dr. or Ph.D.
1 day 6 hrs
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
PhD Candidate


Explanation:
Your question confused me. Who is the PhD student you are talking about? Mario or Giorgio?
I assume Mario having a title of professor, he is likely already has the title of either PhD, MD, EdD, or similar terminal degree.
Even so, in standard American English, the word "Professor" shold be follwed by their specific discipline, such as " Sociology", "Medicine", etc., so it appears as "Professor of Sociology" for instance.

In case of Giorgio, being PhD student means he is a graduate school student pursing a Doctoral degree of some kind. Such person is not allowed to claim he is a "doctor" of something. He must declare himself as a "PhD (for instance) candidate.

Hope this helps.

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Note added at 2 hrs (2009-11-25 18:28:48 GMT)
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I just noticed John already answered this. My answer should be understood as to add some furhter detail.

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Note added at 3 hrs (2009-11-25 19:29:29 GMT)
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One more thought ----- When Mario's title is "professor", he may or may not have PhD. In many instances (not so often nowadays though), a person only holds Master's degree can be teaching in higher institution, and he/she often called "professor". Nonetheless, what I said earlier still holds some validity (e.g. Professor of Medicine, etc. but again not with a person of Master's) ------- Have I confused you enough?

humbird
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese, Native in EnglishEnglish
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