esq

Everyday

1. Short for «Esquire»: a polite title written after a man's name, mostly in letters, in old-fashioned British style: «John Smith, Esq.». tree →
2. (USA) Used after the name of a lawyer (man or woman). tree →

In the lessons

In The Wind in the Willows Toad is a gentleman, and letters would be addressed to «Toad, Esq., Toad Hall». In history, an esquire was a young man who served a knight (a squire), then a gentleman just below a knight. You write «Esq.» instead of «Mr», never both.

Examples

• The letter was addressed to «Mr Toad, Esq.» – which is wrong, because you don't use both! tree →
• Write «James Brown, Esq.» on an old-style letter. tree →
• In the USA, «Esq.» after a name often means the person is a lawyer. tree →
• An esquire once carried a knight's shield. tree →
• The invitation said «Henry Wood, Esq.» tree →
• Old envelopes often show «Esq.» after a man's name. tree →

Note

It is an abbreviation, not a word you say; written with a capital E and often a full stop: «Esq.». Rule: «Mr John Smith» or «John Smith, Esq.», not both.