How to Address Formal Envelopes if Not Married

When formally addressing an envelope, you write the information by hand.

When addressing a formal envelope, the trickiest part can be determining the recipient's title. If someone goes by a professional title, such as "Dr." or "Rev.," that is what you use. "Miss" is for girls younger than 18 and "Ms." is for single ladies older than 18 and divorced women, even if they keep their married name. Unless a man has a professional title, he is addressed as "Mr."

Things You'll Need

• Envelope
• Blue or black pen
• Stamp

Instructions

Single Individuals

1. Determine the person's proper title.

2. Write their title and full name in the center of the envelope.

3. Write their complete street address below their name.

4. Write the town, state and ZIP code beneath the street address.

5. Write your title and full name in the upper left-hand corner of the envelope. Write your complete street address beneath your name, and write your city, state and ZIP code beneath the street address.

6. Place a stamp in the envelope's right corner.

Unmarried Couples Who Co-habitate

1. Write the title and full name of whoever has the closest relationship to the sender on the envelope first.

2. Write the title and full name of the other half of the couple beneath the other person's name. If you prefer, you can instead write "and" and that person's name next to the other. (For example, "Ms. Kelly Green and Mr. James White.")

3. Write the complete street address below the recipients' names.

4. Write the town, state and ZIP code beneath the street address.

5. Write your title and full name in the envelope's upper left-hand corner. Write your entire street address under your name, and write your city, state and ZIP code under the street address.

6. Affix a stamp in the envelope's upper right-hand corner.

Tips & Warnings

• A widow can be addressed by her married title (Mrs. James Shaw), by her first name and her married name (Ms. Karen Shaw) or by her maiden and married names (Ms. Davis Shaw). If you can't determine which title she prefers, use her married name.

References

• Artistic Addressing: Etiquette
• United States Postal Service: Addressing Tips & Tools