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 programmes 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 chose 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.
