The Reverend is an honorary prefix to the names of many Christian clergy and ministers. It is correctly called a style rather than a title or term of address. "The Reverend" is sometimes also used by leaders in non-Christian religions such as Buddhism.

It is considered incorrect to drop the word "the" before "Reverend". When used within a sentence, "the" begins with a lower-case letter. The common abbreviations for "the Reverend" are "the Revd.", "the Revd", "the Rev." or sometimes "the Rev'd".

Although there is no distinct plural form, it is not uncommon to find "the Reverends" incorrectly used. (Adjectives cannot generally be pluralized in English.) When a number of clergy must be referred to, they should be styled individually, e.g. "The Reverend John Smith and the Reverend Mary Brown". In a list of clergy, however, there is sometimes the custom of putting "the Revv." before the list of names.

"The Reverend" is traditionally used with Christian names (or initials) and surname, e.g. "The Reverend John Smith" or "The Reverend J. F. Smith". Use of the prefix with the surname alone ("The Reverend Smith") is considered a solecism in traditional circles (although "The Reverend Father Smith" or "The Reverend Mr Smith" are correct though somewhat archaic uses). So also with the use of the prefix as a form of address: traditionally Anglican priests are referred to as either "Father John" (using the Christian name) or "Mr Smith" (using the surname) unless they have another title, such as Canon, in which case they may be called, for example, "Canon John" (Roman Catholic priests are always addressed as "father," whether as "Father John," or "Father Smith"). Clergy are also often addressed by the office they hold, such as "Vicar", "Rector", or "Archdeacon", or as "Father" or "Padre"; in most Protestant circles, this would be most properly "Pastor" (as in "Pastor John" or "Pastor Smith"). Clergy may be addressed "Reverend Sir" but not "Reverend" alone.

Note that in all these examples "reverend" is used as an adjective before someone's name in much the same way that "honorable" (as used for public officials) is. As it is not a noun it is not a synonym for an ordained person. Thus, in traditional usage it is incorrect to say that someone is "a reverend" by using the word as the name of a job or role.

In the United States in the 20th and 21st centuries, despite the protests of the traditional, it is very common to find clergy referred to as "Reverend John Smith" (without "the") and/or addressed as "Reverend Smith". Some contend that these are now acceptable due to common use. Others continue to maintain that they are both incorrect.

Specific cases

Anglican usage is for priests and deacons to be styled "the Reverend" or "the Reverend Fr.", deans "the Very Reverend" ("the Very Revd"), abbots and bishops "the Right Reverend" ("the Rt Revd"), and archbishops and primates "the Most Reverend" ("the Most Revd"). Archdeacons, on the other hand, have the prefix "the Venerable". When using the title "Venerable" one does not use the title "Reverend".

In Roman Catholic usage a transitional deacon is "the Reverend Mr." (permanent deacons are not so called), a priest is "the Reverend Fr.", priests with various grades of jurisdiction above pastor (vicars general, provincials of religious orders of priests, priors of monasteries, for instance) are "Very Reverend," abbots of monasteries are "Right Reverend" and the various monsignors are "the Reverend Monsignor". Bishops and archbishops are styled "the Most Reverend" in the United States and some other countries and are styled "the Right Reverend" and archbishops "the Most Reverend" in the United Kingdom and some other places. However, none of these are ever addressed as "reverend" or "the reverend" alone. Instead, deacons are addressed as "Deacon," priests are addressed as "Father", prelates as "Monsignor", and bishops and archbishops as "Your Excellency" (or "Your Grace" for archbishops in the United Kingdom and some other countries).

In American Lutheran usage, clergy persons are most typically addressed as "Pastor" (such as "Pastor Smith" in more formal address or "Pastor John" in less formal) rather than employing "reverend"; however, "the Reverend" is also commonly used, particularly in written communication. In other Protestant traditions, "Pastor" and "Reverend" are variously used, with much regional and denominational variation.

In Eastern Orthodox usage, a deacon is referred to as "the Reverend Deacon", or whatever his position is (eg Hierodeacon, Archdeacon, Protodeacon); a married priest is "the Reverend Father", a monastic priest is "the Reverend Hieromonk"; a protopresbyter is "the Very Reverend Father"; and an archimandrite is either "the Very Reverend Father" (Greek practice) or "the Right Reverend Father" (Slavic practice). Abbots and abbesses are styled "the Very Reverend Abbot/Abbess". A bishop is referred to as "the Right Reverend Bishop"; an archbishop or metropolitan as "the Most Reverend Archbishop/Metropolitan"; heads of churches are styled differently.

The Moderators of the Protestant Church of Scotland and United Church of Canada, when ordained clergy, are styled "the Right Reverend" during service and "the Very Reverend" after retirement. Church ministers are styled "the Reverend".

The Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University is formally known as "The Reverend the Vice-Chancellor" even if he is not a clergyman.

Some Christians reject using the term "reverend" for human beings, maintaining that it should be reserved for God alone. (See Psalm 111:9 and Matthew 23:5–10.)

Christian group structuring | Christian leaders | Clergy | Disputes in English grammar

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