Editing Sir (section)

===Commonwealth of Nations===
[[File:Sir Thomas Troubridge, 1st Baronet.jpg|thumb|upright|Sir [[Thomas Troubridge, 1st Baronet]], whose entitlement to use 'Sir' derived from his position as baronet]]
The prefix is used with the holder's given name or full name, but never with the surname alone. For example, whilst Sir Alexander and Sir [[Alexander Fleming]] would be correct, Sir Fleming would not.<ref name="Debrett's: Knight">{{cite web|url=http://www.debretts.com/forms-address/titles/knight|title=Knight|access-date=2 February 2015|publisher=Debrett's|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205112936/http://www.debretts.com/forms-address/titles/knight|archive-date=5 February 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Emperor Taisho the Order of the Garter.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Emperor Taishō]], a Stranger Knight of the [[Order of the Garter]], who, as a foreign national, was not entitled to use the prefix 'Sir' (which as a sovereign monarch he would not have used in any case) but was permitted to post-nominally use {{smallcaps|KG}}]]
Today, in the UK and in certain [[Commonwealth realms]], a number of men are entitled to the prefix of 'Sir', including [[knights bachelor]], knights of the [[orders of chivalry]] and [[baronets]]; although foreign nationals can be awarded honorary knighthoods. Honorary knights do not bear the prefix "Sir" nor do they receive an [[accolade]]; instead they use the associated [[post-nominal letters]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.debretts.com/expertise/essential-guide-to-the-peerage/the-knightage/|title=The Knightage |publisher=Debrett's|access-date=10 October 2017|archive-date=19 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019025739/http://www.debretts.com/expertise/essential-guide-to-the-peerage/the-knightage/|url-status=dead }}</ref>

Only citizens of [[Commonwealth realm|Commonwealth realms]] may receive substantive knighthoods and have the privilege of the accompanying style. In general, only knighthoods in dynastic orders – those orders in the personal gift of the Sovereign and Head of the Commonwealth (the Order of the Garter, the Order of the Thistle and the knighthoods in the Royal Victorian Order) – are recognised across the Commonwealth realms, along with their accompanying styles.

British knighthoods (in the Orders of the Bath, St. Michael and St. George, and in the Order of the British Empire, along with Knights Bachelor) were known as ''imperial honours'' during the existence of the [[British Empire]]. Those honours continued to be conferred as substantive, not honorary, awards by most Commonwealth realms into the 1990s. Since then, though former imperial honours are still awarded by certain Commonwealth realms, many of them have discontinued grants of British honours as they have developed their own honours systems, some of which include knighthoods. Today, British honours are only substantive for British nationals so recognised, including dual nationals,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=61598 |supp=|page=12364|date=1 June 2016}}</ref> and for nationals of those realms which have retained them as part of their honours systems.

[[Multiple citizenship|Dual national]] recipients of British knighthoods who hold British citizenship, such as academic and immunologist Sir [[John Bell (physician)|John Bell]], are entitled to the style of ''Sir'' as their knighthoods are substantive. This may not necessarily be the case for dual nationals who are not British citizens and who instead hold citizenship of another Commonwealth realm. In 1974, [[Lynden Pindling]], the [[Prime Minister of the Bahamas]], recommended dual Bahamian-American citizen [[Sidney Poitier]] for an honorary knighthood as an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE), an imperial honour, as the Bahamas did not have its own honours system at the time. Although Poitier, as a Bahamian citizen by descent, was eligible for a substantive ('ordinary') award of the KBE, the Bahamian government preferred the knighthood to be honorary as Poitier was permanently residing in the United States.<ref>{{cite report |date=1974 |title=Award of Honorary Knight Commander of the British Empire (KBE) to Sidney Poitier, actor and joint United States and Bahamian citizen |url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11245449 |url-access=registration |publisher=UK National Archives |page= |access-date=7 January 2022 |archive-date=5 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205011124/https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11245449 |url-status=live }}</ref> Knighthoods in the gift of the government of a Commonwealth realm only permit the bearer to use his style within that country or as its official representative, provided he is a national of that country; knighthoods granted by other realms may be considered foreign honours.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2016-04-13/33931/| title = Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament}}</ref> For instance, [[Anthony Bailey (PR advisor)|Anthony Bailey]] was reprimanded by Buckingham Palace and the British government in 2016 for asserting that an honorary Antiguan knighthood (which was revoked in 2017) allowed him the style of 'Sir' in the UK.<ref>"Something of the Knight...", ''[[Private Eye (magazine)|Private Eye]]'', no, 1420, 10 June 2016</ref>

The equivalent for a female who holds a knighthood or baronetcy in her own right is '[[Dame (title)|Dame]]', and follows the same usage customs as 'Sir'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.debretts.com/forms-address/titles/baronet/baronetess|title=Baronetess|publisher=[[Debrett's]]|access-date=2 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204031739/http://www.debretts.com/forms-address/titles/baronet/baronetess|archive-date=4 February 2014}}</ref> Although this form was previously also used for the wives of knights and baronets, it is now customary to refer to them as 'Lady', followed by their surname; they are never addressed using their full names. For example, while Lady Fiennes is correct, Lady Virginia and Lady Virginia Fiennes are not.<ref>{{cite web|title=Family of a Baronet|publisher=Debrett's|url=http://www.debretts.com/forms-address/titles/baronet/family-baronet|access-date=2 February 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315235601/http://www.debretts.com/forms-address/titles/baronet/family-baronet|archive-date=15 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="Debrett's: Wife of a Knight">{{cite web|title=Wife of a Knight|url=http://www.debretts.com/forms-address/titles/knight/wife-knight|publisher=Debrett's|access-date=2 February 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221194925/http://www.debretts.com/forms-address/titles/knight/wife-knight|archive-date=21 February 2015}}</ref> The widows of knights retain the style of wives of knights,<ref name="Debrett's: Wife of a Knight"/> however widows of baronets are either referred to as 'dowager', or use their forename before their courtesy style. For example, the widow of Sir [[Troubridge baronets|Thomas Herbert Cochrane Troubridge, 4th Baronet]], would either be known as ''Dowager Lady Troubridge'' or ''Laura, Lady Troubridge''.<ref name="Debrett's: Wife of a Baronet">{{cite web|publisher=Debrett's|title=Wife of a Baronet|url=http://www.debretts.com/forms-address/titles/baronet/widow-and-former-wife-baronet|access-date=2 February 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316013044/http://www.debretts.com/forms-address/titles/baronet/widow-and-former-wife-baronet|archive-date=16 March 2015}}</ref>

====Barbados====
Prior to [[Republicanism in Barbados|becoming a republic]] in November 2021, Barbados awarded the title [[Knight or Dame of St. Andrew (Barbados)|Knight or Dame of St. Andrew]] within the [[Order of Barbados]]. This practice has now been discontinued, though individuals who received a knighthood or damehood when the country was still a [[Commonwealth realm]] may continue to use the titles "Sir" and "Dame" within their lifetimes. 

====Commonwealth realms====
* Knight Commander or Knight Grand Cross of the [[Royal Victorian Order]] (KCVO/GCVO)<ref name="Debrett's: Knight"/><ref name=RVOBP>{{Cite web| url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Honours/RoyalVictorianOrder.aspx| last=Royal Household| title=The Queen and the UK > Queen and Honours > Royal Victorian Order| publisher=Queen's Printer| access-date=17 February 2019| archive-date=19 July 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719073143/http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Honours/RoyalVictorianOrder.aspx| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="personal" group="note">In the personal gift of the Sovereign and Head of the Commonwealth.</ref>

=====United Kingdom=====
* [[Baronet]] (Bt.)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.debretts.com/forms-address/titles/baronet|title=Baronet|access-date=3 February 2015|publisher=Debrett's|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219082319/http://www.debretts.com/forms-address/titles/baronet|archive-date=19 February 2015}}</ref>
* Knight of the [[Order of the Garter]] (KG)<ref name="Debrett's: Knight"/><ref name="personal" group="note">In the personal gift of the Sovereign and Head of the Commonwealth.</ref>
* Knight of the [[Order of the Thistle]] (KT)<ref name="Debrett's: Knight"/><ref name="personal" group="note">In the personal gift of the Sovereign and Head of the Commonwealth.</ref>
* Knight Commander or Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Bath]] (KCB/GCB)<ref name="Debrett's: Knight"/>
* Knight Commander or Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of St Michael and St George]] (KCMG/GCMG)<ref name="Debrett's: Knight"/>
* Knight Commander or Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of the British Empire]] (KBE/GBE)<ref name="Debrett's: Knight"/>
* [[Knight Bachelor]]<ref name="Debrett's: Knight"/>

=====Antigua and Barbuda=====
* Knight of the [[Order of the National Hero (Antigua and Barbuda)|Order of the National Hero]] (KNH)
* Knight Commander, Knight Grand Cross, or Knight Grand Collar of the [[Order of the Nation (Antigua and Barbuda)|Order of the Nation]] (KCN/KGCN/KGN)

=====Australia=====
* Knight of the [[Order of Australia]] (AK; discontinued 1986–2014, reintroduced briefly in 2014, again discontinued in 2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/medals/knight_dame_order_of_australia.cfm|publisher=[[Australian Government]]|access-date=3 February 2014|title=Knight /Dame of the Order of Australia|archive-date=17 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717182706/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/medals/knight_dame_order_of_australia.cfm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-34695549|publisher=BBC|date=1 November 2015|access-date=1 November 2015|title=Australia PM Malcolm Turnbull drops knights and dames from honours system|archive-date=2 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102173101/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-34695549|url-status=live}}</ref>

=====Grenada=====
* Knight Commander, Knight Grand Cross, or Knight Grand Collar of the [[Order of the Nation (Grenada)|Order of the Nation]] within in the [[Order of Grenada]] (KCNG/GCNG/KN)

=====New Zealand=====
* Knight Companion or Knight Grand Companion of the [[New Zealand Order of Merit]] (KNZM/GNZM)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/category/b/b4.html|title=New Zealand State Honours - The New Zealand Order of Merit|publisher=[[New Zealand Defence Force]]|access-date=3 February 2015|archive-date=14 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114045528/http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/category/b/b4.html|url-status=dead }}</ref>

=====Saint Lucia=====
* Knight Commander of the [[Order of Saint Lucia]] (KCSL)

====India====
[[Image:King Of Travancore sct.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma]] was the last surviving Knight Grand Commander of the [[Order of the Star of India]].]]

As part of the consolidation of the [[British Raj|crown colony of India]], the [[Order of the Star of India]] was established in 1861 to reward prominent British and Indian civil servants, military officers and prominent Indians associated with the Indian Empire. The [[Order of the Indian Empire]] was established in 1878 as a junior-level order to accompany the Order of the Star of India, and to recognise long service.

From 1861 to 1866, the Order of the Star of India had a single class of Knights (KSI), who were entitled to the style of 'Sir'. In 1866, the order was reclassified into three divisions: Knights Grand Commander (GCSI), Knights Commander (KCSI) and Companions (CSI); holders of the upper two degrees could use the title 'Sir'. From its creation in 1878 until 1887, the Order of the Indian Empire had a single class, Companion (CIE), which did not entitle the recipient to a style of knighthood.

In 1887, two higher divisions, Knight Grand Commander (GCIE) and Knight Commander (KCIE) were created, which entitled holders of those ranks to the style of 'Sir'. The last creations of knights of either order were made on 15 August 1947 upon Indian independence. All British honours and their accompanying styles were officially made obsolete in India when the [[Dominion of India]] became a modern [[republic in the Commonwealth of Nations]] in 1950, followed by [[Islamic Republic of Pakistan]] in 1956.

The Order of the Star of India became dormant in the Commonwealth realms from February 2009, and the Order of the Indian Empire after August 2010, when the last knights of the orders died.

==== Nigeria ====
In [[Nigeria]], holders of religious [[Order (distinction)|honours]] like the [[Knighthood of St. Gregory]] make use of the word as a pre-nominal honorific in much the same way as it is used for secular purposes in Britain and the Philippines. Wives of such individuals also typically assume the title of Lady.