Proper/improper use of CFA designation

CFA Level II
#1

Can someone explain the differences between these, the two improper ones seems similar to the proper one:

  • Proper:

o “He is a Chartered Financial Analyst/one of two CFA charterholders”.

  • Improper:

o “John Smith is a Chartered Financial Analyst.”

o “Today’s speaker is a Chartered Financial Analyst”.

#2

It has to be used as an adjective and not a noun to describe someone.

#3

Yeah, and what about us who are not so good in English grammar?

#4

Completely agree here that it must be used as an adjective and not a noun. However, in the example he provided which shows the proper use, it reads “He is a Chartered Financial Analyst/one of two CFA charterholders”.

In this example, isn’t the reference being used as a noun? Unless I need to go back to elementary school grammar which could easily be the case…

#5

Completely wrong.

Who said that this is proper?

#6

I do not really remember where I picked this up. Either from an exercise, a blog, etc. But why is that sentence wrong and this correct and the one below ok?

Proper

  • John Smith is a CFA® charterholder.

Is not the CFA used as an adjective in both sentences?

#7

Can you say he is chartered financial analytic. This is an adjective.

#8

The CFA designation should not be used as a noun, only as an adjective or as a title behind your name.

  • Proper:

o “One of two CFA charterholders.” (adjective)

  • Improper:

o “He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.” (noun)

#9

Ok, but is not this also used as a noun? The example below is from the CFA website:

  • John Smith is a CFA® charterholder.
#10

Hi Jones473,

In your second example CFA® is used as an adjective, whereas charterholder is a noun.

This is proper usage as well.

Hope this helps.

Regards,