1) It is best to refrain from using too many honorary titles when writing to an individual person; this practice borders on sycophancy by the one who writes such titles, and it borders on conceit by the one to whom they are written.

2) Some authorities take exception to the practice of certain rabbis who append [“who dwells here, in the holy community of ...”] and the like to their signatures, for this borders on conceit. Others find excuse for this practice, based on the verse in Parshas Yisro, “…that [Moshe] was dwelling there, at the mountain of G‑d.”

3) If one’s father bears the title Rabbeinu, he should not sign his name “I, ... ben Rabbeinu HaKadosh (or HaChassid),” for it is written, “Let others praise you, not your own mouth. Some say that this applies only if he signs his name thus for his own glory. But if he signs thus for his father’s honor, there is no objection.

4) Some say that the entire practice of calling oneself by the title HaRav would be improper, were it not for the fact that refraining from using the title might denigrate the honor of the rabbinate in general.

5) Some are careful to add the title HaKadosh [“the holy”] when mentioning the name of certain great Jewish figures; others are not particular about it.

6) Some do not add the words [“his soul is in Gan Eden”] or [“may the tzaddik’s memory be a blessing”] when mentioning the name of a departed tzaddik. The reason is that a memorial can apply only to something that is liable to be forgotten. But if one feels that the tzaddik remains continuously with him, then there is no possibility of forgetting.