How to Put Addresses on Envelopes
When you put addresses on envelopes correctly, the mail gets to its correct destination fast. The rules are the same whether you address the envelope by hand, run the envelope through a printer, or apply an address label. The United States Post Office website not only gives specific details about addressing envelopes but it also provides illustrated explanations about how to address packages and other specialty mailings.
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Things You'll Need
- Envelope
- Permanent black ink (pen or printer)
- Correct address
- Correct zip code
Instructions
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Print or type addresses on envelopes using black permanent ink. This will make it easy to read even if it gets wet. The size of your letters should be clear if the envelope is held 3 feet away.
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Hold the envelope so that the longest side is on top. The delivery address starts about 1 inch to the left of the center of the envelope and two-thirds of the width of the envelope down from the top side on the front.
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Write the name of the person to whom you are sending the envelope on the top line of the delivery address. Use the person's correct title: Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., Rev., or any other honorary title followed by the first and last name. Do not use any commas or periods on the envelope. In the second line of the delivery address put the street address. The next line is for the city followed by the two-letter abbreviation of the state followed by the zip code. If you do not know the correct zip code, you can find it easily using the United States Post Office website's zip code search wizard.
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Place the return address at the top left hand corner on the front of the envelope using the same format as in the delivery address: your name, your street address, your city, your two-digit state abbreviation, followed by the zip code. It used to be proper to put the return address at the center of the top of the back side of the envelope but this is no longer considered correct.
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