Addressing a baronet or addressing a knight is very similar and
very simple but few people seem to be able to get it right. This is
possibly the fault of those who design computer programs who only
allow sufficient spaces for Mr, Mrs, Ms, Rev and Dr followed by
initials and surnames.
A baronet is entitled to the prefix "Sir" and the word "Baronet"
after his name and this precedes any other post-nominal letters to
which he might be entitled. The word "Baronet" is usually shortened
to "Bt" or "Bart", the latter being slightly old fashioned and not
often used nowadays.
In writing, a baronet should be addressed as "Sir John Jones Bt"
and NEVER as "Sir Jones", "Sir J Jones" or "Sir Bart". If the
baronet is entitled to post nominal letters the correct address
would be "Sir John Jones Bt CBE". If the baronet has a military or
clerical title this would come first and the correct address would
be "Colonel Sir John Jones Bt CBE or "The Rev Sir John Jones Bt
CBE". Titles emanating from sources other than the Sovereign, such
as "Professor", " Doctor" or "Alderman", are not normally used in
conjunction with the style of a baronet or knight. Verbally a
baronet or knight should be addressed by, or referred to, by his
first name as "Sir John" and NEVER as "Sir Jones".
Certain Scottish baronets combine their names with a territorial
designation such as Sir Ronald Lindsay of Dowhill Bt and should be
addressed as such in writing. Verbally this baronet should be
addressed as "Sir Ronald" in the same way as other baronets.
The wife of a baronet or a knight has the style of "Lady" before
her surname. Unless she is the daughter of an Earl or higher in the
Peerage she would be styled "Lady Jones" and not "Lady Belinda
Jones". However to avoid confusion with others with the same surname
she may, in correspondence, be styled "Lady (Belinda) Jones" or
"Belinda, Lady Jones".
Upon her husband's death the widow of a baronet retains her title
as "Lady Jones" unless the new baronet is married when she must
choose to become either "Belinda, Lady Jones" or the "Dowager Lady
Jones", the former style being the more usual. Should she remarry,
she takes her style from her husband. A divorced wife of a baronet
takes the style "Belinda, Lady Jones" until such time as she
remarries.
