How to Address an Envelope

Lately, I've written a number of posts related to letter writing, but I've neglected to discuss the finished touch, that is, the addressing of the envelope. After you've put all that time and effort into the letter, you want to make sure that it reaches its correct destination. These addressing tips apply equally to parcel posting.

The address on the front of the envelope should sit so that the top line is centred on the space available. Each line to follow should begin below the left point of this first line. There is no need for punctuation marks (other than capital letters).

eg.

Mr Ralph Randolph - recipient's name
44 Rudolph Road
RANDWICK NSW 2031 - suburb/town is in capitals

Some envelopes are preprinted with four boxes - if you have this type of envelope, place the postcode into the designated spaces. Australia Post will LOVE you!

In the case of a post office box, rather than a street address:

Mr Ralph Randolph
PO Box 888
RANDWICK NSW 2031

If your recipient has a position in a business, the address may take four or five lines:

Mr Ralph Randolph
Recruiter
Reliable Rakes Pty Ltd
PO Box 888
RANDWICK NSW 2031

A good rule of thumb is that whatever you have used as the recipient's name and address details on the letter should be replicated on the envelope.

Give the postal service provider another reason to love you by making sure you provide sender information on the reverse side of the envelope, including your name and your postal address. This should appear on the seal flap of the envelope and be set out using the same format as the examples above indicate. This ensures that the letter can be easily returned to you if it is undeliverable. This even worked with a parcel I sent to London last year - yes, it was four months after I'd posted it before it made its way back to me, but, thanks to the return address, it did make it back!

Final tip (and only because I've forgotten to do it myself once or twice!) - remember to put a stamp at the top right on the front of the envelope and then your letter is ready for the red box.

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