28 June, 2005

Congratulations! Take a seat

It always amuses me when senior academics are promoted to full professorships with the announcement that '[Name] has been awarded a Personal Chair', as if he/she has previously had to stand or share.

Note to N.Americans: A European (or British, anyway) academic doesn't become 'Professor' on attaining a PhD – someone with a PhD is addressed as 'Doctor', and has a long way to go to become 'Professor'.