Address an Envelope in Care of Someone Else

If you are trying to send a letter to someone at their job or someplace other than their own home--maybe a birthday card to your grandmother who is in a nursing home, or your friend who is staying with a relative--you want to be sure it doesn't get lost in the shuffle. This article will teach you the proper way to address your envelope to make sure it ends up in the right hands.

Steps

Sample Envelope

Doc:Envelope in Care of Someone Else

Gathering the Necessary Information

  1. Write the address on the front of the envelope in clear, all capital letters and using a pen or permanent marker.[1] Don't write the address in pencil, crayon, or something else that could smudge or rub off.[2]
    • If the address includes and apartment number, box, or other unit, do not use a number or pound sign (#) to indicate the unit number. Instead, write "Apt. 6," "Room 52," or "Box 230."
    • If you don't know what the number stands for, you may use the number sign, but make sure you leave a clear space between the symbol and the actual number. Instead of #6, write # 6.[3]
    • Capital letters are preferred, but your letter will still be delivered if you write in upper and lowercase letters. Just make sure it is legible and no one line is longer than 40 characters, or the scanner will not be able to read the address.[3]

Formatting the Envelope

  1. Follow the example below (but with the appropriate information) to send your mail to someone at a business. For this example, a letter for John Smith is being sent to his workplace, wikiHow. Because wikiHow is responsible for passing the letter on to John, it is in their care. The c/o goes before "wikiHow," and not John's name, as follows:
    • John Smith
    • C/O wikiHow
    • 250 EMERSON ST.
    • PALO ALTO, CA 94301
  2. Follow the example below to send a letter to someone who is staying at another residence. If John Smith is staying with his cousin Jane Doe, then it is her responsibility to make sure the mail gets to him. The care of symbol (c/o) will go before her name.
    • John Smith
    • C/O Jane Doe
    • 543 MAIN ST
    • APT. 12
    • CHICAGO, IL 60601
  3. Attach the appropriate amount of postage. Postcards, letters, and packages all require different stamps, and the cost of international mail can vary. If you are unsure how much it will cost to send your letter or package, bring it to the post office and they will make sure you get the right stamps.
    • A standard letter is under 13 oz. in the United States and requires one $.49 stamp.[4]
  4. Place your return address in the upper left-hand corner or on the back for the envelope. If, for some reason, the letter is undeliverable, it will be sent to the return address listed.
  5. Drop your properly addressed mail in the post box and you're all done!



Tips

  • You can also address it To the Attention of someone who works at a large company. In the example above, you might write "ATTN: John Smith," then "wikiHow" on the next line and the rest of the address as normal.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ https://www.usps.com/ship/preparing-domestic-shipments.htm
  2. ↑ http://blog.cardsdirect.com/greetingcards/how-to-use-c-o-in-an-address/
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.businesswritingblog.com/business_writing/2007/03/how_to_address_.html#sthash.LeBQmslk.dpuf
  4. ↑ https://www.usps.com/business/prices.htm
Retrieved from "https://kipkis.com/index.php?title=Address_an_Envelope_in_Care_of_Someone_Else&oldid=349930"