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Components
A full address is built from small, specific pieces, and each one has a right place to sit on the envelope. These pages cover the pieces on their own, one at a time.
- 01How to write ATTN on an envelopeWhere the attention line actually goes, why it sits above the company name, and how ATTN is different from c/o.6 min
- 02How to address an envelope using c/oThe c/o format for a private home, a hotel, a dorm, an estate, and a minor, plus how c/o is different from ATTN.7 min
- 03How to address an envelope to an apartmentWhere the apartment number goes on an envelope, why the third line trips up the USPS scanner, and the format that gets it delivered.7 min
- 04Where does the return address go on an envelopeThe exact placement USPS scanning equipment expects, why the formal back-flap style carries a real risk, and what happens with no return address at all.6 min
Questions people ask
Does the return address ever affect delivery?
No. The return address only matters if the letter cannot be delivered. The delivery address is the only thing the sorting machine reads to route your mail.