Two People
Individuals should be listed separately in the address.
John Smith
Sally Smith
Address
Avoid:
John and Sally Smith
Address
Writing to an Organization
When writing to an individual at an organization, the individualīs name should be listed on the first line.
Kathy Baker
First Union Bank
avoid
First Union Bank
Kathy Baker
Compass Points
James Smith
447 Bleeker Street, NW
Harriet Gibson
303 Canal Avenue South
John Kelly
343 SE 12th Street
fort, mount, point, port, Saint, Sainte
For addresses, spell out the following:
Fort, Mount, Point, Port.
But abbreviate: St. (Saint) and Ste. (Sainte)
President of College or University
(Full name, followed by comma and highest degree)
President, (name of college)
Address
Dear President ...:
Dear Dr. ...:
Dean of College or University
... (Full name, followed by comma and highest degree)
Dean, ... (name of school or division)
... (name of college)
Address
Dear Dr. ...
Dear Dean ...
Professor
Professor ... (full name)
Department of ... (subject)
... (name of college)
Address
Dear Professor (or Dr. or Mr.)
Superintendent of Schools
... (full name)
Superintendent of ... Schools
Address
Dear Mr. (or Dr.) ...:
Teacher
... (Full name)
... (name of school)
Address
Mr. (or Dr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss) ...:
State Representative or Assembly Member
The Honorable ... (full name)
House of Representatives (OR: The State Assembly)
State Capital, State ZIP Code
Dear Mr. ...:
Governor
The Honorable ... (full name)
Governor of ... (state)
State Capital, State ZIP Code
Dear Governor ... :
State Senator
The Honorable ... (full name)
The State Senate
State Capital, State ZIP Code
Dear Senator ... :
Judge of Federal, State, or Local Court
The Honorable ... (full name)
Judge of the ... (name of court)
Address
Dear Judge ... (surname):
Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
The Chief Justice of the United States
Washington, DC 20543
OR:
The Chief Justice
The Supreme Court
Washington, DC 20543
Dear Mr. (or Madam) Chief Justice:
Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
Mr. Justice ... (surname) (Or "Madam")
The Supreme Court
Washington, DC 20543
Dear Mr. (or Madam) Justice:
President of the United States
The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
Former President of the United States
The Honorable ... (full name)
local address
Dear Mr. ....
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
OR:
The Honorable ... (full name)
Vice President of the United States
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Mr. Vice President:
United States Senator
The Honorable ... (full name)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
OR:
The Honorable ...(full name)
United States Senator
Local Address
Dear Senator ... (surname):
Cabinet Member
The Honorable ... (full name)
Secretary of ... (department)
Washington, DC (ZIP code)
Dear Mr. (or Madam) Secretary:
U.S. House of Representatives Member
The Honorable ... (full name)
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
OR:
The Honorable ... (full name)
Representative in Congress
(Local Address)
Dear Representative ... (surname):
Minister Without Doctorate
The Reverend ... (full name)
Address
Reverend Sir:
Reverend Madam:
Dear Mr. ...:
Dear Ms. (Mrs., Miss) ...:
Rabbi With Doctorate
Rabbi ... (full name), D.D.
Address
Dear Rabbi ...:
Dear Dr. ...:
Rabbi Without Doctorate
Rabbi ... (full name)
address
Dear Rabbi ...:
Sister
Sister ... (name, followed by comma and initials of order)
Address
Dear Sister ...:
Dear Sister:
Archbishop and Bishop
The Most Reverend ... (full name)
Archbishop (OR: Bishop) of ... (place)
Address
Your Excellency:
Dear Archbishop (OR: Bishop) ...:
Secretary General of the United Nations
His (or "Her") Excellency ... (Full name)
Secretary General of the United Nations
United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
Excellency:
Dear Mr. Secretary General:
Dear Madam Secretary General:
Episcopal Bishop
The Right Reverend ... (full name)
Bishop of ... (place)
Address
Right Reverend Sir:
OR:
Dear Bishop ...:
Episcopal Dean
The Very Reverend ... (full name)
Dean of ... (place)
Address
Very Reverend Sir:
OR:
Dear Dean ...:
Methodist Bishop
The Reverend ... (full name)
Bishop of .. (place)
Address
Reverend Sir:
OR:
Dear Bishop ...:
Minister With Doctorate
The Reverend Dr. ... (full name)
Address
Or:
The Reverend ... (full name), D.D.
Address
Dear Dr. ...:
General Address Formatting
Addresses for officers and enlisted personnel should include title/rank and full name followed by a comma and the initials USA, USN, USAF, USMC, or USCG.
Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps Officers
Lieutenant General ... (full name), USA (OR: USAF) (OR: USMC)
Address
Sir:
Madam:
Dear General ...: (NOT: Dear Lieutenant General ...:)
Navy and Coast Guard Officers
Rear Admiral ... (full name), USN (OR: USCG)
Address
Sir:
Madam:
Dear Admiral ...:
For officers below the rank of commander, use:
Dear Mr. ...:
Enlisted Personnel
Sergeant ... (full name), USA
Address
Dear Sergeant ...:
Seaman ... (full name), USN
Address
Dear Seaman ...:
Pope
His Holiness the Pope
OR: His Holiness Pope ... (given name)
Vatican City
00187 Rome
ITALY
Your Holiness:
Most Holy Father:
Cardinal
His Eminence ... (given name)
Cardinal of ... (surname)
Archbishop of ... (place)
Address
Your Eminence:
Dear Cardinal:
Monsignor
The Reverend Monsignor ... (full name)
Address
Reverend Monsignor:
Dear Monsignor ...:
Priest
The Reverend ... (full name, followed by comma and initials of order)
Address
Reverend Father:
Dear Father ...:
Dear Father:
Mother Superior
The Reverend Mother Superior
Address
OR:
Reverend Mother:
Dear Reverend Mother:
Dear Mother ...:
Mayor
The Honorable ... (full name)
Mayor of ... (city)
City, State ZIP Code
OR:
The Mayor of the City of ...
City, State ZIP Code
Dear Mr. Mayor:
Dear Madam Mayor:
Dear Mayor ...(last name):