Why You Should Remove Titles from Online Forms
When designing online forms, every field you include has a cost. Each additional input increases cognitive load, slows users down, and raises the chance they’ll abandon the process. One field that deserves special attention is the title or salutation field, the drop-down where users are asked to select Mr, Mrs, Ms, Dr, or other forms of address. While it may seem harmless, collecting titles is often unnecessary and can hurt both usability and inclusivity.
The Case for Skipping Titles
The Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g), a leading authority on UX (user interface) research, encourages designers to ask: “Do we really need this field?” If the answer is no, it should be removed. For most organisations, titles add little value. You rarely need to know whether someone is a Mr or Ms to email them or award a grant.
Moreover, titles can make forms worse. NN/g notes that each additional question increases mental effort as users must interpret what is being asked, decide which option fits them, and confirm they selected the right one. That friction may seem small, but in aggregate, it slows people down and reduces completion rates.
Inclusivity Matters
Titles are inherently gendered and often reflect outdated conventions, such as differentiating women based on marital status (Mrs vs. Ms). By forcing users to choose a title, you may be asking them to pick an option that doesn’t reflect their identity. Modern, inclusive design should avoid placing users in that position unless it is legally required. If personalisation is needed, first names are usually sufficient.
By eliminating unnecessary fields like salutations, you streamline your forms, respect user identities, and ultimately improve application/response rates.
To remove titles from your online forms, email support@isimo.co.uk