I am told that we should address our state attorney general as “General”. However, I think the derivation of the term “attorney general” is that this office is the attorney for the general populace/constituency rather than an attorney for a specific group or person, and that the rank of the office is not a “general” in the military sense.
— GB in Salt Lake
Dear AS:
The person who told you that doesn’t know what’s correct! Addressing an attorney general as “General (Name)” is just wacky.
Mister/Madam Attorney General …. yes
Mr./Ms. (surname) …. yes
You might hear an attorney general referred to as Attorney General (Name) in the media, but that’s a phrase to identify him in a news story, not a direct form of address.
– Robert Hickey www.formsofaddress.info
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