Hello Everyone, new to the site, glad to be here. Question: Is Det. an acceptable shortened form for the title Detective? I'm at the beginning of a new character relationship, there is a heroine and a side potential romantic interest, a detective. They are not yet in the first name phase. Looking for all and any opinions to get a general feel. Thanks
That depends on the relationship between them. Do they know each other for a long time? Is your heroine a very well known detective? I am making all these questions because you have to think about this. If your MC is a very well known detective, that maybe her future love interest will call the detective. Why? Because of her ranks and his respect, this of course if they don't know each other. However, if they know from a long time, I will suggest calling her det when they are together outside of work. It may be unprofessional calling her in front of her boss det . I hope this helps. Keep on good work and have fun
IMHO: Yes, if you have attached Detective spelled out in front of her name at least once. That is to say Detective Lisa Brown was.... after that it would be fine to say, Det. Brown had her head up her.....
It's not that kind of abbreviation if I read correctly. It's more like "Dr." for Doctor. For example, a detective named Robert Doctor would be called Det. Doctor, which would be short for Detective Doctor.
I agree with @rktho (welcome back, by the way. I was just wondering where you'd popped off to) that it's a fairly common abbreviation. However, @exweedfarmer's suggestion of writing it out the first time might not be a bad idea, or at least otherwise putting it in context for anyone who might not know it, but only the first time. However, absent the family name, it should be written out.
No. no... "Ms. Schmidt, allow me to introduce Det." "Pleased to meet you," she said, and she was pleased because Det was a tall, and a powerfully built det with wavy green hair and sandy blond eyes, exactly her type. "May I persuade you to invite me to dinner, Det?" She giggled like a monkey. 'Sure thing,' said Det. 'Why do they call you Det?' she said from behind her soup spoon. His voice rose an octave, his face gurned and he retrieved spectacles from the shopping bag. 'Metal detecting is my passion,' he said with his teeth shiny in the recollection. 'I told everybody "don't call me det I am the chief assistant warden at the wildlife pound" but the name sticks like glue. Heh heh.' he wiped his mouth with the sleeve. 'You can call me Barnaby, my mother calls me Barnaby, and you look like my mother give or take a couple of pounds if you don't...I prefer a fuller figure.' Leona retrieved her spoon from the bowl...
As @matwoolf so aptly shows, the question is not so much “can you use Det.,” as it is “why would you want to?”
Well... I guess my advice this time wasn't appropriated. Thank you very much for your explanation rktho, and SpineofaNoodle forgive me for not be a good help. This situation will not happen again.
