Title vs. Position — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 9, 2024
Title refers to a formal designation, like "Dr." or "Professor," while Position indicates a job role or place in an organization, like "Manager" or "CEO."
Difference Between Title and Position
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A title is often a formal or honorary designation that reflects a person's professional or social status, academic achievement, or qualification, such as "Dr.," "Professor," or "Sir." It's used to show respect, recognize expertise, or indicate a level of education. Whereas a position refers to a person's specific role or job within an organization, such as "Marketing Manager," "Chief Executive Officer," or "Team Leader," highlighting the responsibilities and place in the organizational hierarchy.
Titles can be associated with a person regardless of their current job or role and often carry across different contexts. For example, someone with a Ph.D. can be referred to as "Dr." in both professional and social settings. On the other hand, a position is tied to a specific organizational context and changes as a person moves or changes jobs within or across organizations.
Titles can also denote honorifics or ranks within certain professions, such as the military or nobility, and are not necessarily tied to one's occupational role. For example, a "Captain" in the military holds a specific rank, which is a title, but their position could be a company commander, staff officer, or other specific roles. In contrast, positions are more about the functional role and day-to-day responsibilities a person has within an organization.
In terms of usage, titles are often used in formal communications, introductions, and official documents to acknowledge a person's achievements or status. Positions are more commonly used in professional settings, organizational charts, job descriptions, and when referring to someone's role or function within a company or team.
Both titles and positions can be important for establishing identity, respect, and understanding in professional and social contexts. However, the value and emphasis on titles versus positions can vary greatly depending on cultural norms, industries, and individual preferences.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Formal or honorary designation
Specific job role within an organization
Context
Professional, academic, social
Professional, organizational
Stability
Can be lifelong or long-term
Changes with job or role transitions
Example
Dr., Professor, Sir
Manager, CEO, Team Leader
Purpose
Acknowledge status, respect, qualifications
Define job responsibilities, hierarchy
Compare with Definitions
Title
An honorary or professional designation.
Dr. Smith received her title after completing her Ph.D.
Position
Defines a role within an organization.
Lisa is the new Marketing Manager at the firm.
Title
Reflects academic achievement or social status.
Professor Johnson is well-regarded in her field.
Position
Can change with career moves.
After the promotion, Chen became the Chief Financial Officer.
Title
Can indicate membership in a profession.
Architect Lee designed the new city hall.
Position
Indicates specific responsibilities.
The CEO leads the company's strategic direction.
Title
May carry across different contexts.
Detective Gomez solved the case with skill.
Position
Tied to a particular job or function.
Team Leader Rogers coordinates the project.
Title
Often used as a form of address.
Sir Arthur was knighted by the Queen.
Position
Reflects place in the organizational hierarchy.
As the head of HR, Kim oversees all personnel matters.
Title
A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification.
Position
A place or location.
Title
The name of a book, composition, or other artistic work
The author and title of the book
Position
The right or appropriate place
The bands are in position for the parade's start.
Title
A name that describes someone's position or job
Leese assumed the title of director general
Position
A strategic area occupied by members of a force
The troops took up positions along the river.
Title
The position of being the champion of a major sports competition
Davis won the world title for the first time in 1981
Position
The way in which something is placed
The position of the clock's hands.
Title
A right or claim to the ownership of property or to a rank or throne
The buyer acquires a good title to the goods
A grocery family had title to the property
Position
The arrangement of body parts; posture
A standing position.
Title
(in church use) a fixed sphere of work and source of income as a condition for ordination.
Position
In ballet, any of the five arrangements of the arms and feet in which the legs are turned out from the pelvis.
Title
Give a name to (a book, composition, or other work)
A report titled The Lost Land
Position
An advantageous place or location
Jockeys maneuvering for position.
Title
An identifying name given to a book, play, film, musical composition, or other work.
Position
A situation as it relates to the surrounding circumstances
In a position to bargain.
Title
A general or descriptive heading, as of a book chapter.
Position
A point of view or attitude on a certain question
The mayor's position on taxes.
Title
A written work that is published or about to be published
The titles in the publisher's fall catalog.
Position
Social standing or status; rank.
Title
A division of a legal code, generally consisting of multiple related statutes.
Position
A post of employment; a job.
Title
Often titles Written material to be read by viewers that is included in a film or television show, typically presenting credits, narration, or dialogue.
Position
(Sports) The area for which a particular player is responsible.
Title
A written piece of translated dialogue superimposed at the bottom of the frame during a film; a subtitle.
Position
The arrangement of the pieces or cards at any particular time in a game such as chess, checkers, or bridge.
Title
A formal appellation attached to the name of a person as a sign of office, rank, profession, or hereditary privilege.
Position
The act or process of positing.
Title
A descriptive name; an epithet
The dubious title of the worst bowler in the league.
Position
A principle or proposition posited.
Title
A right or claim, or the basis of a right or claim
"The weight of a fish is commonly its only title to fame" (Henry David Thoreau).
Position
A commitment to buy or sell a given amount of securities or commodities.
Title
A form of ownership free of valid claims by other parties.
Position
The amount of securities or commodities held by a person, firm, or institution.
Title
The aggregate evidence that gives rise to a legal right of possession or control.
Position
The ownership status of a person's or institution's investments.
Title
The instrument, such as a deed, that constitutes this evidence.
Position
To put in place or position.
Title
Sports & Games A championship
Which boxer won the heavyweight title?.
Position
To determine the position of; locate.
Title
A source of income or area of work required of a candidate for ordination in the Church of England.
Position
A place or location.
Title
A Roman Catholic church in or near Rome having a cardinal for its nominal head.
Position
A post of employment; a job.
Title
To give a name or title to.
Position
A status or rank.
Chief of Staff is the second-highest position in the army.
Title
An appellation given to a person or family to signify either veneration, official position, social rank, the possession of assets or properties, or a professional or academic qualification. See also :Category:Titles
Position
An opinion, stand, or stance.
My position on this issue is unchanged.
Title
(property law) Legal right to ownership of a property; a deed or other certificate proving this.
A good title to an estate, or an imperfect title
Position
A posture.
Stand in this position, with your arms at your side.
Title
In canon law, that by which a beneficiary holds a benefice.
Position
(figurative) A situation suitable to perform some action.
The school is not in a position to provide day-care after 4:00 pm.
Title
A church to which a priest was ordained, and where he was to reside.
Position
(team sports) A place on the playing field, together with a set of duties, assigned to a player.
Stop running all over the field and play your position!
Title
The name of a book, film, musical piece, painting, or other work of art.
I know the singer's name, but not the title of the song.
Position
(finance) An amount of securities, commodities, or other financial instruments held by a person, firm, or institution.
Long position
Naked position
Title
A publication.
The retailer carries thousands of titles.
Buyers of the new video game console can choose from three bundled titles.
Position
(finance) A commitment, or a group of commitments, such as options or futures, to buy or sell a given amount of financial instruments, such as securities, currencies or commodities, for a given price.
Title
A section or division of a subject, as of a law or a book.
Position
(arithmetic) A method of solving a problem by one or two suppositions; also called the rule of trial and error.
Title
A written title, credit, or caption shown with a film, video, or performance.
The titles scrolled by too quickly to read.
Position
(chess) The full state of a chess game at any given turn.
Title
(bookbinding) The panel for the name, between the bands of the back of a book.
Position
(poker) The order in which players are seated around the table.
Title
The subject of a writing; a short phrase that summarizes the entire topic.
Position
To put into place.
Title
A division of an act of law
Title II of the USA PATRIOT Act
Position
The state of being posited, or placed; the manner in which anything is placed; attitude; condition; as, a firm, an inclined, or an upright position.
We have different prospects of the same thing, according to our different positions to it.
Title
(sports) The recognition given to the winner of a championship in sports.
Position
The spot where a person or thing is placed or takes a place; site; place; station; situation; as, the position of man in creation; the fleet changed its position.
Title
A long title.
Position
Hence: The ground which any one takes in an argument or controversy; the point of view from which any one proceeds to a discussion; also, a principle laid down as the basis of reasoning; a proposition; a thesis; as, to define one's position; to appear in a false position.
Let not the proof of any position depend on the positions that follow, but always on those which go before.
Title
A short title.
Position
Relative place or standing; social or official rank; as, a person of position; hence, office; post; as, to lose one's position.
Title
(transitive) To assign a title to; to entitle.
Position
A method of solving a problem by one or two suppositions; - called also the rule of trial and error.
Title
An inscription put over or upon anything as a name by which it is known.
Position
To indicate the position of; to place.
Title
The inscription in the beginning of a book, usually containing the subject of the work, the author's and publisher's names, the date, etc.
Position
The particular portion of space occupied by a physical object;
He put the lamp back in its place
Title
The panel for the name, between the bands of the back of a book.
Position
A point occupied by troops for tactical reasons
Title
A section or division of a subject, as of a law, a book, specif. (Roman & Canon Laws), a chapter or division of a law book.
Position
A way of regarding situations or topics etc.;
Consider what follows from the positivist view
Title
An appellation of dignity, distinction, or preëminence (hereditary or acquired), given to persons, as duke marquis, honorable, esquire, etc.
With his former title greet Macbeth.
Position
Position or arrangement of the body and its limbs;
He assumed an attitude of surrender
Title
A name; an appellation; a designation.
Position
The relative position or standing of things or especially persons in a society;
He had the status of a minor
The novel attained the status of a classic
Atheists do not enjoy a favorable position in American life
Title
That which constitutes a just cause of exclusive possession; that which is the foundation of ownership of property, real or personal; a right; as, a good title to an estate, or an imperfect title.
Position
A job in an organization;
He occupied a post in the treasury
Title
A church to which a priest was ordained, and where he was to reside.
Position
The spatial property of a place where or way in which something is situated;
The position of the hands on the clock
He specified the spatial relations of every piece of furniture on the stage
Title
To call by a title; to name; to entitle.
Hadrian, having quieted the island, took it for honor to be titled on his coin, "The Restorer of Britain."
Position
The appropriate or customary location;
The cars were in position
Title
A heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with;
Title 8 provided federal help for schools
Position
(in team sports) the role assigned to an individual player;
What position does he play?
Title
The name of a work of art or literary composition etc.;
He looked for books with the word `jazz' in the title
He refused to give titles to his paintings
I can never remember movie titles
Position
The act of putting something in a certain place or location
Title
A general or descriptive heading for a section of a written work;
The novel had chapter titles
Position
A condition or position in which you find yourself;
The unpleasant situation (or position) of having to choose between two evils
Found herself in a very fortunate situation
Title
The status of being a champion;
He held the title for two years
Position
An item on a list or in a sequence;
In the second place
Moved from third to fifth position
Title
A legal document signed and sealed and delivered to effect a transfer of property and to show the legal right to possess it;
He signed the deed
He kept the title to his car in the glove compartment
Position
A rationalized mental attitude
Title
An identifying appellation signifying status or function: e.g. Mr. or General;
The professor didn't like his friends to use his formal title
Position
An opinion that is held in opposition to another in an argument or dispute;
There are two sides to every question
Title
An established or recognized right;
A strong legal claim to the property
He had no documents confirming his title to his father's estate
He staked his claim
Position
The function or position properly or customarily occupied or served by another;
Can you go in my stead?
Took his place
In lieu of
Title
(usually plural) written material introduced into a movie or TV show to give credits or represent dialogue or explain an action;
The titles go by faster than I can read
Position
The act of positing; an assumption taken as a postulate or axiom
Title
An appellation signifying nobility;
`your majesty' is the appropriate title to use in addressing a king
Position
Cause to be in an appropriate place, state, or relation
Title
An informal right to something;
His claim on her attentions
His title to fame
Position
Put into a certain place or abstract location;
Put your things here
Set the tray down
Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children
Place emphasis on a certain point
Title
Give a title to
Title
Designate by an identifying term;
They styled their nation `The Confederate States'
Common Curiosities
Does every job come with a title?
Most jobs have associated titles, but they may not always be used or emphasized in every context.
Can someone have multiple titles or positions?
Yes, individuals can hold multiple titles and positions, especially if they have diverse roles or qualifications.
How do titles and positions affect workplace dynamics?
They can influence perceptions of authority, expertise, and the organizational structure, impacting interactions and decision-making processes.
Can a title also be a position?
Sometimes, especially in specific professions or organizations, a title can coincide with a position, but they usually serve different purposes.
Are titles always formal?
Titles can range from formal academic or professional distinctions to more informal or honorific labels.
Can a position change without a change in title?
Yes, one's specific duties and role (position) can evolve over time, even if the title remains the same.
Is a title more important than a position?
Importance varies by context; in academic or formal settings, titles might be emphasized, while in organizational contexts, positions are often more relevant.
How do I know whether to use someone's title or position when addressing them?
It depends on the context and formality of the situation; when in doubt, using both can be respectful and clear.
Is it necessary to earn a title?
Many titles, especially professional and academic ones, require specific achievements or qualifications.
How do cultural differences impact the use of titles and positions?
Cultural norms can significantly influence the importance, recognition, and use of titles and positions in social and professional interactions.
What happens to titles and positions upon retirement?
Positions typically end with retirement, but titles, especially those based on lifetime achievements or qualifications, may still be used.
How are titles and positions decided in an organization?
They are usually determined by organizational structure, job requirements, and individual qualifications or achievements.
Can someone lose their title or position?
Positions can change with job transitions, while titles, especially those based on qualifications, are usually retained, though some honorific titles may be revoked in exceptional circumstances.
How do titles and positions contribute to professional identity?
They help define an individual's role, expertise, and place within a professional or social hierarchy, contributing to their professional identity and how they are perceived by others.
Do titles and positions influence salary?
Positions often directly influence salary and compensation structures, while titles may indirectly impact salary through associated roles and responsibilities.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
