Personal honours and decorations are not normally given in stories, with the exception of the VC. When it is relevant, the correct order is: decorations, degrees, other distinctions, eg. Sir John Smith, KBE, DSO, D.Litt, FSA. This could become important in a human interest story about someone rejected from a job at McDonald's because they are overqualified, or if their credentials are being called into question.
In honours lists, stories do not say people got or received the OBE, etc. They are created, appointed or made an OBE. The full titles must always be given in honours lists. Subsequent references may be abbreviated, as in this table:
|
Full title |
Abbreviation |
|
Victoria Cross |
VC |
|
George Cross |
GC |
|
Knight of the Order of the Garter |
KG |
|
Knight of the Order of the Thistle |
KT |
|
Knight of the Order of St Patrick |
KP |
|
Privy Councillor |
PC |
|
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath |
CGB |
|
Order of Merit |
OM |
|
Knight Grand Commander of the Star of India |
GCSI |
|
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George |
GCMG |
|
Knight Grand Commander of the Indian Empire |
GCIE |
|
Royal Order of Victoria and Albert |
VA |
|
Imperial Order of the Crown of India |
CI |
|
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order |
GCVO |
|
Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire |
GBE |
|
Companion of Honour |
CH |
|
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath |
KCB |
|
Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India |
KCSI |
|
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George |
KCMG |
|
Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire |
KCIE |
|
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order |
KCVO |
|
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
KBE |
|
Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
DBE |
|
Companion of the Order of the Bath |
CB |
|
Companion of the Order of the Star of India |
CSI |
|
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George |
CMG |
|
Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire |
CIE |
|
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order |
CVO |
|
Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
CBE |
|
Distinguished Service Order |
DSO |
|
Member of the Royal Victorian Order |
MVO |
|
Officer of the Order of the British Empire |
OBE |
|
Companion of the Imperial Service Order |
ISO |
|
Member of the Order of the British Empire |
MBE |
|
Member of the Royal Red Cross |
RRC |
|
Distinguished Service Cross |
DSC |
|
Military Cross |
MC |
|
Distinguished Flying Cross |
DFC |
|
Air Force Cross |
AFC |
|
Albert Medal |
AM |
|
Distinguished Conduct Medal |
DCM |
|
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal |
CGM |
|
George Medal |
GM |
|
Distinguished Service Medal |
DSM |
|
Military Medal |
MM |
|
Distinguished Flying Medal |
DFM |
|
Air Force Medal |
AFM |
|
British Empire Medal |
BEM |
|
Sea Gallantry Medal |
SGM |
|
Volunteer Officers Decoration |
VD |
|
Territorial Decoration |
TD |