But the key here is "most people", most people don't know that distinguished engineer is a title at MS and would just assume that he was a well respected engineer at MS. It isn't fair to compare two dictionary definitions of a word, to what is a fairly little known outside the company title structure at MS. There were three descriptors of the word "engineer" senior, database and distinguished. Turns out Mr. Shamgunov's title was Senior Engineer, I didn't read it as his literal title but more like a description of what he did at MS. Database wasn't in his official title either but it still applies. Seems kinda weird that people are so touchy about titles, seems so unSV.