The zero article

not universally acceptable: Can I help you, Miss? Ms /məz/, a recent innovation, is rarely heard in speech, but is common nowadays in the written language to apply to both married and unmarried women. Dr is usually followed by a surname and is abbreviated in writing {This is Dr Brown), but can also be used on its own as a form of address (written in full): It's my liver, Doctor

Some other titles that can be used with surnames or on their own are: Captain, Colonel, Major, Professor.

May I introduce you to Captain/Colonel/Major Rogers?

Yes, Captain/Colonel/Major! Headmaster and Matron are not used with a name after them: Thank you, Headmaster; Yes, Matron

Madam and Sir are often used in BrE as a form of address (e.g. by shop-assistants in Can I help you, Madam/Sir?). Sir is common in AmE when we are speaking to strangers. In formal letter-writing we use Dear Sir and Dear Madam as salutations to address people whose names we do not know.

Given titles (e.g. Sir + first name + surname or Lord + surname) are peculiar to BrE: Lord Mowbray, Queen Elizabeth, Sir (unstressed) John Falstaff {Sir John, but not *Sir Falstaff*). And note also: Chancellor Adenauer, Pope John, President Lincoln, etc.

The only titles applied to relations which can be used with names or on their own as forms of address are uncle and aunt (or auntie):

Here comes Uncle Charlie/Aunt Alice (Note: first names only.)

Thank you, Uncle/Aunt/Auntie

Some other titles that are used on their own as forms of address are: Mother, Mum (BrE), Mom (AmE), Mummy (BrE), Mommy (AmE), Father, Dad (BrE), Pop (AmE), Pa, Daddy, Granddad, Grandpa, Grandma, Baby. Words like cousin, sister, brother are no longer used as forms of address with reference to relations. Mother and Sister can be used for nuns and Brother for monks. Sister can sometimes be used for nurses, like Nurse. Mother + surname occurs as a nickname {Mother ReiJIy) and Father is used as a form of address for Roman Catholic priests {Father O'Brien). People often refer to (but do not usually address) grandparents as Grandpa Jenkins or Grandma Jenkins to distinguish them from another set of grandparents with a different surname.

Adjectives can be used in front of many titles: kind Aunt Lucy, old Mrs Reilly, mad Uncle Bill, in some contexts, the adjective can be capitalized so that it is part of the name: Old Mrs Reilly. No article is required in familiar reference {Good old/Poor old George), but other adjectives need the definite article {the illustrious Dr Schweitzer, the notorious Mr Hyde). The is optional and often omitted when the title is a complement:

Wilson became (the) President of the USA The is omitted when as is used or implied:

Wilson was elected President of the USA.

3 Articles

3.27.3 Zero article for days, months, seasons and holidays [> Apps 24,48] Mondays are always difficult. Monday is always a difficult day June is my favourite month. Spring is a lovely season Christmas is the time for family reunions For next, last [> 3.21.2, 8.12]; for all [> 5.22.2],

3.27.4 Zero article for artists and their work [compare > 3.9.4] The names of artists can represent their work as a whole: e.g. Brahms, Keats, Leonardo, Lorca, Rembrandt: Bach gives me a lot of pleasure (i.e. Bach's music) Chaucer is very entertaining (i.e. Chaucer's writing) Adjectival combinations: early Beethoven, late Schubert, etc.