The Correct Use of “Esquire”
“Esquire” is a professional designation in the legal arena—not a social title. When you correspond with a lawyer, you have two choices:
- Write the person using a standard courtesy title (“Mr. Robert Jones” or “Ms. Cynthia Adams”)
- Skip the courtesy title and put “Esquire” after the name, using its abbreviated form, “Esq.” (“Robert Jones, Esq.” or “Cynthia Adams, Esq.”)
Key Considerations
- You would never use both the courtesy title (Mr. or Ms.) and the professional designation “Esq.”
- When writing to a lawyer and his or her spouse, do not use “Esq.” Instead, address the couple using the social form they prefer: “Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jones,”Mr. Robert Jones and Ms. Sarah Stone.”