Return address on envelope, if written incorrectly will definitely slow down the process of getting letter or card back to the mailer. An incorrect label could lead to prohibition of the mail from getting to the desired destination.
Follow these easy steps to know how to properly label an envelope and ensure a prompt delivery thereof, of the outgoing mail.
Parts of Labeling an Envelope
- Writing the Return Address on Envelope
- Writing the Mailing Address on Envelope
- Taking Care of Postage on Envelope
Part 1 : Writing the Return Address on Envelope
Position the envelope. Place the envelope on a flat surface so that the envelope flap faces down, towards the surface of the table, with the front of the envelope faces up, looking towards you. The envelope should be oriented long ways left to right, not top to bottom to ensure that return address on envelope is correctly written, too.
Print title and name for the return address. The return address is essential in the event the mail is un-deliverable or remains un-delivered due to some reason. If the mail is unable to reach the desired destination, the postal service will return it back to the original mailer at the location written as the return address.
The return address is always written in the upper-left or lower-left corner of the envelope and should have three lines of address text.
The first line will be obviously the mailer’s title and name. Try to write the complete legal name.
Write the street address. The second line of address text in the upper-left or lower-left corner should have street address as it is mentioned to you by the local post office.
Remember to write the house number.
Write P O box number if you receive mails through it, on the second line.
Write the city, state, and zip code.
Don’t forget to write city, state, and zip code. If this information is a lengthier one, still don’t forget to write the zip code on the fourth line.
Part 2 : Writing the Mailing Address on Envelope
Write recipient title and name. The mailing address informs letter’s destination. But the first line is always reserved for the person for whom the letter has been written. So the title and name of the person to whom letter will be delivered must be written on the first line with proper title.
You may write “attention” with an line abbreviation, “ATTN: ”, all capital letters. This ensure that the letter will go into the correct person’s hands instead of getting lost in the mail-room. Place: DO NOT OPEN IN MAIL ROOM on the envelope face, or EXCLUSIVE FOR: to make it more personal.
Knowing to use the abbreviation “c/o”. You may use the designation “c/o” standing for “in care of” instead of “Attn:”. Use this convention know that the letter will be handled or delivered by an intermediate person although intended for another person or business.
When you have address of someone else but you surely believe he/she will forward the letter to the desired person as you are sending a letter to a person whose address you do not have.
Write street number/lane number of the recipient. After the name of the recipient, you must write the street address on the letter to be delivered correctly.
Write it immediately below the name.
Always ensure to include every detail in the complete address, be it an apartment or suite numbers, or floor numbers.
Also ensure to include directions, if any. as some do have multiple streets with the same name and are differentiated by directions.
Write the city, state, and zip code or postal code of the recipient. Never miss writing the city, state, and zip/postal code in the last line of the address which appears just below the street address.
If mail is going international, you must include the destination country for the letter to be delivered. This may be excluded in case of a domestic mail.
Be prepared with more information for military addresses. If you are mailing a letter to a military address, ensure to include all relevant information.
This means, you must write the full name of the recipient including either the middle name or middle initial, the Force number, Unit number, or Ship or Battalion name or number.
Include APO (Air/Army Post Office), FPO (Fleet Post Office), or DPO (Diplomatic Post Office), instead of writing the city name.
The state should be replaced with AA, AE, or AP.
In the end, the zip code should definitely have full ZIP+4.
Part 3 : Taking Care of Postage on Envelope
Check for the correct postage. Postage is needed to send any mail through the postal services in every country. While using a standard business envelope, you are required to just paste one stamp to mail the letter.
Currently, stamps are $0.49 each in US. One stamp is sufficient for a mail if it is not heavy and does not exceed one ounce in weight.
If the letter weighs more than one ounce, you will either require to affix an additional stamp, or you should better take it to a local post office to be weighed and pay the exact postage required.
You can even calculate the needed postage by checking in the Postal Service website of the country.
Beware of different postage rates. Postage rates do change frequently. If you haven’t posted a mail in a while, the old stamps may be insufficient.
A good way to handle this situation is to go to the local post office for the information and mailing the post, thereof.
Paste a stamp on envelope. The stamp is always pasted at the upper-right corner of the envelope.
Make sure that you must not paste the stamp at any other part of the mail. The mailing address should be centered lower on the envelope to avoid any kind of problem.
Ensure you must not write over the postage stamp.
If you do not have any stamps at home or office, do not panic. Just take the addressed envelope with the post to the nearest post office and they will handle it for you from there.
Double-check that all of the essential and correct information has been included. You’re ready to post the well addressed mail!