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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.
- 01Address line 1 vs line 2What belongs in Address Line 1 versus Address Line 2 on a form, when to leave Line 2 blank, and how the two map back onto a real envelope.5 min
- 02How to write ATTN on an envelopeWhere ATTN goes on an envelope (above the company name, not below), how to format it for a person vs. a department, and when to use c/o instead.6 min
- 03How 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
- 04How 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
- 05Where 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.