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I just attended to a study project in abroad and I don't know if I'm correct at calling people and professors.

Is it possible to call a professor just only "professor"?

I mean, is it possible to not use any first name or last name. For example, when I see one of my professor, I say him " Hello professor" and don't greet him as " Hello professor Thompson".

Is this appropriate and normal?

Thanks

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It is acceptable and common to address people who have a title, position, or rank with a title, by their title alone, e.g. "Hello, nurse/doctor/professor/judge/mayor/captain/Prime Minister (etc)".

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  • 2
    Might mention that this is intentionally impersonal. It maintains professional distance and respect. – James K yesterday
  • @Michael Harvey and James K thank you both for your answer ;-) – yaodao vang yesterday
  • My reaction (for which I don't have any evidence to hand) is that this only applies when using a title, not just a position; if someone's called ‘Professor Jones’, then it's common to call them ‘Professor’, but you wouldn't address e.g. a bus driver in that way. If so, I think this answer might be clearer if ‘Nurse/Doctor/…’ were capitalised. – gidds 18 hours ago
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    @gidds Positions are often used when you need to directly address someone but don't know their name. One example I hear often is "Back door please, Driver!" called out from the back of a bus when they've closed the door too early. – thsutton 17 hours ago
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    In Britain, it is common, when passing the driver to leave a bus, to thank him or her, and where I live (Bristol) many people say "Thank you, driver!" – Michael Harvey 9 hours ago

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