@@ -41,11 +41,16 @@ Every piece of each is optional:
 
 1. ``Title Given "Nickname" Middle Middle Family Suffix``
 2. ``Family [Suffix], Title Given (Nickname) Middle Middle[,] Suffix [, Suffix or Title]``
-3. ``Title Given Middle Family [Suffix], Suffix [, Suffix or Title]``
+3. ``Title Given Middle Family [Suffix], Suffix or Title [, Suffix or Title]``
+
+A title written with a period (``Prof.``) is also read at the end of a
+name in forms 1 and 3 and at the end of the given name in form 2;
+written bare there (``Prof``), it is a name word, because many title
+words are also surnames.
 
 The last two differ in what the comma is doing. In form 2 it separates
 the family name from the rest, so the family name comes first; in form
-3 it only sets off suffixes, and the name before it is still
+3 it only sets off suffixes and titles, and the name before it is still
 given-then-family:
 
 .. doctest::
@@ -57,11 +62,15 @@ given-then-family:
     >>> parse("John Doe, Jr.").family                    # form 3
     'Doe'
 
-A part after a further comma holds more suffixes, and a word there that
-is a title rather than a suffix is read as the title (since 2.4):
+A part after the comma in form 3, or after a further comma in either
+form, holds suffixes and titles, a word there that is a title rather
+than a suffix being read as the title (after a further comma, since
+2.4):
 
 .. doctest::
 
+    >>> parse("Eric H. Holder, Attorney General").title
+    'Attorney General'
     >>> parse("Eric H. Holder, Jr., Attorney General").title
     'Attorney General'
 
 
@@ -1062,8 +1062,9 @@ def reads_as_a_suffix(m: int, titled: frozenset[int]) -> bool:
                     _set_roles(tokens, pieces[k], Role.TITLE)
             # v1 walk order: the first non-title piece is ALWAYS the
             # given, before any suffix check -- 'Smith, V. Jones' keeps
-            # first='V.'. Two 2.x deviations are the no-name read above
-            # now, so the walk here never meets either: a last piece
+            # first='V.'. Two 2.x deviations are the segment reading
+            # above now (`reading is not None`), so the walk here never
+            # meets either: a last piece
             # that is unambiguously suffix-shaped is a suffix, where v1
             # made it the given ('Andrews, M.D.', 'Smith, Dr. Jr.';
             # classified fix(comma-family)), a segment whose only
@@ -1233,8 +1234,12 @@ def reads_as_a_suffix(m: int, titled: frozenset[int]) -> bool:
         # (`_vocab.surname_unit_facts`), over EVERY token, so a suffix
         # word still stops a particle ('van Jr. Berg, Mr.' is two name
         # words); a unit counts when a non-suffix piece holds a token
-        # of it. One piece is one name word at most, settled in C
-        # before any of that is built ('Smith, Jr.').
+        # of it. One piece is one name word at most, and that is a
+        # DECISION, not only a saving: a connective join makes one piece
+        # of several units ('Vega y Lopez'), which the unit count alone
+        # would read positionally, losing the family to the given name
+        # behind a part a credential opens ('Vega y Lopez, PhD Jones').
+        # Settled in C before any of that is built ('Smith, Jr.').
         positional = False
         if reading is not None and len(fam_pieces) > 1:
             idx = [i for piece in fam_pieces for i in piece]
@@ -1276,9 +1281,10 @@ def reads_as_a_suffix(m: int, titled: frozenset[int]) -> bool:
         tail = 2
     # rules.md#C2: segments past the structure's name segments are
     # consumed as suffixes, except "a word of the title vocabulary there
-    # that is not also suffix vocabulary is a title" (#603) -- the slot
-    # is behind a comma, which is where H5 lets a title be read from
-    # the end of a name ('Eric H. Holder, Jr., Attorney General'). A
+    # that is not also suffix vocabulary is a title" (#603) -- a part
+    # past the second comma holds no name word, so the surnames H5
+    # keeps a bare trailing title word from misreading are not there to
+    # protect ('Eric H. Holder, Jr., Attorney General'). A
     # piece holding a suffix word stays the postnominal the slot makes
     # it, a dual alone as after a family comma (C1) and a dual group's
     # connective join took into a title ('PhD - and MD') alike.
 
@@ -290,7 +290,10 @@ def starts_a_credential_run(piece: Sequence[int], ptags: Set[str],
     'Jones'.
     """
     if "suffix" in ptags:
-        return True
+        # the Ph./D. pair alone: a connective join keeps the tag on the
+        # wider piece ('Ph. D. and Mary'), which starts nothing, as
+        # 'PhD and Mary' does not
+        return len(piece) == 2
     if len(piece) != 1 or not is_suffix_piece(piece, ptags, tokens):
         return False
     tok = tokens[piece[0]]
@@ -560,7 +563,9 @@ class by SHAPE takes the count instead, which is decided at the
     A part OPENED by a credential is the postnominal part however it
     goes on (#603, rules.md#C1): where an unambiguous suffix word that
     starts #602's run (`starts_a_credential_run`) is the first suffix
-    word of the part, with only titles in front of it, every later
+    word of the part, with only titles in front of it (a title/suffix
+    dual among them ends the chance: a credential behind one opens
+    nothing), every later
     word is read as #602's run reads the given part -- a title word as
     a title, anything else as a suffix -- so 'John Smith, PhD Jones'
     and 'Smith, PhD Jones' read suffix 'PhD Jones'. A word of the
 
@@ -224,8 +224,9 @@ def titles_and_suffixes(seg: tuple[int, ...]) -> bool:
         # rules.md#C2: "a word of the title vocabulary there that is not
         # also suffix vocabulary is a title" -- at least one title
         # word, and every other word a suffix word
-        # period_joined_vocab for 'Lt.Gov.', whose chunks group tags a
-        # title and assign then reads as one
+        # period_joined_vocab for 'Lt.Gov.', one token that classify
+        # (not yet run) tags a title by this same call, and that assign
+        # then reads as one
         titles = state.lexicon.titles
         rest = tuple(i for i in seg
                      if _normalize(t := state.tokens[i].text) not in titles
@@ -567,8 +568,9 @@ def titles_and_suffixes(seg: tuple[int, ...]) -> bool:
     # rules.md#C2: "a non-empty extra part that is not entirely suffix
     # words is flagged as a structural ambiguity rather than rejected"
     # -- parts[2:] are consumed as suffixes either way, their title
-    # words as titles (#603), so a tail segment that is neither gets
-    # the COMMA_STRUCTURE flag, not a structure veto. The lean reaches this reading too:
+    # words as titles (#603), so a tail segment that is neither all
+    # suffix words nor title words beside suffix words gets the
+    # COMMA_STRUCTURE flag, not a structure veto. The lean reaches this reading too:
     # a tail of leaning credentials is a credential run, which is the
     # one place this design quiets a report rather than adding one.
     for seg in groups[2:]:
 
@@ -6167,6 +6167,47 @@ def _check_cjk_shape_purity(self) -> None:
                "and this read middle 'Jones', suffix 'Ph. D.' (2.3.0 "
                "too). Found by #603, whose opened part asks the same "
                "predicate (AGENTS.md's spelling sweep)"),
+    Case("a_split_credential_joined_to_a_name_opens_nothing",
+         "John Smith, Ph. D. and Mary Jones",
+         {"given": "Ph. D. and Mary", "middle": "Jones",
+          "family": "John Smith"},
+         notes="the two spellings agree (rules.md#C1, #603): group's "
+               "connective join keeps the merged credential's 'suffix' "
+               "piece tag on the wider piece, and starts_a_credential_run "
+               "accepted any piece so tagged, so this read suffix "
+               "'Ph. D. and Mary Jones' with 'Mary' taken in silently "
+               "while 'John Smith, PhD and Mary Jones' reads as here; the "
+               "PR review found it, and only the bare Ph./D. pair starts "
+               "a run now"),
+    Case("a_one_piece_name_before_an_opened_part_is_the_family",
+         "Vega y Lopez, PhD Jones",
+         {"family": "Vega y Lopez", "suffix": "PhD Jones"},
+         ambiguities=("suffix-or-name",),
+         classification="fix(#603)",
+         notes="one piece before the comma is one name word, even where "
+               "a connective joined three units into it; without "
+               "assign's len(fam_pieces) > 1 exit the unit count reads "
+               "it positionally, given 'Vega y Lopez' and no family. "
+               "2.3.0 read given 'PhD', middle 'Jones'"),
+    Case("only_the_first_suffix_word_can_open_the_comma_part",
+         "Smith, MA PhD Jones",
+         {"given": "MA", "family": "Smith", "suffix": "PhD Jones"},
+         ambiguities=("suffix-or-name", "suffix-or-name"),
+         notes="#603's opener is the part's FIRST suffix word with only "
+               "titles in front of it (rules.md#C1): 'MA', a member of "
+               "the ambiguous class, opens nothing and ends the leading "
+               "run, so the 'PhD' behind it opens nothing either and the "
+               "part is the walk's. Letting a later credential open it "
+               "reads suffix 'MA PhD Jones'"),
+    Case("a_misplaced_generation_opens_the_comma_part", "Smith, Jr. John",
+         {"family": "Smith", "suffix": "Jr. John"},
+         ambiguities=("suffix-or-name",),
+         classification="fix(#603)",
+         notes="decisions.md#C1's accepted cost: a generational word "
+               "starts S2's run, so it opens the part and 'John' is "
+               "absorbed, one word before the comma reading the whole "
+               "part as suffixes (Derek). 2.3.0 read title 'Jr.', given "
+               "'John'"),
     Case("a_part_of_titles_behind_a_credential_was_already_postnominal",
          "Eric H. Holder, Jr. Attorney General",
          {"title": "Attorney General", "given": "Eric", "middle": "H.",
@@ -8767,8 +8808,8 @@ def _check_cjk_shape_purity(self) -> None:
                "credential 'PSM' OPENS, which reads as #602's run reads "
                "whatever stands behind it (rules.md#C1) -- title 'Dr.', "
                "suffix 'PSM I' -- so the reset no longer decides it. A "
-               "dual behind one name word opens nothing, and the reset "
-               "is what is left deciding this spelling. 1.4.0 read the "
+               "dual opens nothing, and the reset is what is left "
+               "deciding this spelling. 1.4.0 read the "
                "old spelling suffix 'Dr., I'"),
     Case("family_comma_run_numeral_after_a_split_credential",
          "Smith, Ph. D. I",
 
@@ -130,8 +130,7 @@ def test_strict_ends_the_run_at_the_initial_shaped_numeral() -> None:
     Lenient continues the credential run through a one-character
     suffix word; strict vetoes initial-shaped words, so the run is no
     run at all and the segment falls to the walk. Asked behind a
-    title/suffix dual, which opens no part when nothing says the name
-    before the comma is whole (#603). Behind a credential that does
+    title/suffix dual, which opens no part (#603). Behind a credential that does
     open it ('PSM'), strict refuses the numeral the suffix reading but
     the opened part takes it in all the same, and hands it to the
     caller to report.
 
@@ -3388,8 +3388,9 @@ def test_a_one_letter_particle_with_its_period_reads_as_any_initial() -> None:
 #: The recorded negative control: how many grid texts disagree with the
 #: veto removed from ONE site, measured 2026-10-04 (classify 412 and
 #: the facade 121 until #603 the same day, whose opened comma part
-#: reads nine 'DO Ó., ...'-shaped texts the same with the veto off or
-#: on, the credential opening the part either way). Every site moves
+#: reads some texts the same with the veto off or on, the credential
+#: opening the part either way: nine of classify's, 'DO Ó., ...'
+#: shapes, and one of the facade's). Every site moves
 #: some, so none is decoration. _render's is measured without the
 #: particle case masks, as for a caller's one-letter particle that has
 #: none: with the shipped 'ó' mask the repair takes the mask before
 
@@ -828,7 +828,8 @@ opened part's (rules.md#C1, #603), not that rule's.
 # suffix vocabulary is a title" (#603, 2026-10-04): a part past the
 # second comma reads its title words as titles, and a part of title and
 # suffix words is recognized rather than flagged ('Eric H. Holder, Jr.,
-# Attorney General'). 1.4.0 read these titles as titles too.
+# Attorney General'). 1.4.0, like 2.0 through 2.3, read them as
+# suffixes.
 issue = "fix(#603) a title word in a part past the second comma is a title"
 name_regex = "^(?:1 & 2, 3 4 5, Mr\\.|Andrew Perkins, Jr\\., Col\\. \\x28Ret\\x29|Eric H\\. Holder, Jr\\., Attorney General|Eric H\\. Holder, Jr\\., Secretary of State|John Smith, Jr\\., Lt\\.Gov\\.|John, Smith, Dr\\.|Smith, John, Prof\\.)$"
 fields = ["suffix", "title"]
 
@@ -3994,7 +3994,8 @@ fields = ["_ambiguities", "family", "given", "middle", "suffix", "title"]
 # suffix vocabulary is a title" (#603, 2026-10-04): a part past the
 # second comma reads its title words as titles, and a part of title and
 # suffix words is recognized rather than flagged ('Eric H. Holder, Jr.,
-# Attorney General'). 1.4.0 read these titles as titles too.
+# Attorney General'). 1.4.0, like 2.0 through 2.3, read them as
+# suffixes.
 issue = "fix(#603) a title word in a part past the second comma is a title"
 name_regex = "^(?:1 & 2, 3 4 5, Mr\\.|Andrew Perkins, Jr\\., Col\\. \\x28Ret\\x29|Eric H\\. Holder, Jr\\., Attorney General|Eric H\\. Holder, Jr\\., Secretary of State|John Smith, Jr\\., Lt\\.Gov\\.|Smith, John, Prof\\.)$"
 fields = ["_ambiguities", "suffix", "title"]
@@ -3939,7 +3939,8 @@ fields = ["_ambiguities", "family", "given", "middle", "suffix", "title"]
 # suffix vocabulary is a title" (#603, 2026-10-04): a part past the
 # second comma reads its title words as titles, and a part of title and
 # suffix words is recognized rather than flagged ('Eric H. Holder, Jr.,
-# Attorney General'). 1.4.0 read these titles as titles too.
+# Attorney General'). 1.4.0, like 2.0 through 2.3, read them as
+# suffixes.
 issue = "fix(#603) a title word in a part past the second comma is a title"
 name_regex = "^(?:1 & 2, 3 4 5, Mr\\.|Andrew Perkins, Jr\\., Col\\. \\x28Ret\\x29|Eric H\\. Holder, Jr\\., Attorney General|Eric H\\. Holder, Jr\\., Secretary of State|John Smith, Jr\\., Lt\\.Gov\\.|Smith, John, Prof\\.)$"
 fields = ["_ambiguities", "suffix", "title"]