jwp (03/14/83)
In the US Navy, Marine Corps and, I believe, Coast Guard, it is correct to
address an officer of the rank of "Lieutenant"* or below as, e.g., "Mister
Roberts". I believe it is also correct in the British naval service. It is
somewhat less formal than use of the actual rank (and is often less clumsy,
since below "Lieutenant" you have such things as "Lieutenant, Junior Grade"
and "Chief Warrant Officer"). I had essentially no experience around female
officers, but I would presume that "Miss" was (at least then - 15 years ago)
used instead. Since most science fiction assumes the "Space Service" to be
derived from the terrestial naval (rather than air) forces, I presume the
Startrek writers simply used the naval term for addressing a junior officer.
I do not know (with any certainty) the origin of the usage. I do know that
it is incorrect in the US Army and Air Force.
John Pierce, Chemistry, UC San Diego
{ucbvax, philabs}!sdcsvax!sdchema!jwp
*In the Marine Corps, this would be "First Lieutenant" as Marine Corps titles
are not the same as Navy titles for equivalent ranks. Also note that the
usage follows the *title*, not the actual rank (a Marine "Captain" and a
Navy "Lieutenant" hold the same rank).