Addressing an envelope
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EmailYou wrote a thank you or letter, now what?
For years we have encouraged youth and adults to send thank you notes as a way to express appreciation or to acknowledge a gift or act of kindness. Michigan State University Extension has a great resource breaking the steps of writing a thank you down into seven steps. But what next? What do you do with the completed thank you note or letter?
Midwestern State University and Luther College share similar information to assist with addressing an envelope.
When addressing an envelope, make sure the envelope is placed in the correct direction so that the flap on the back is up or at the top. The recipient’s address will be written parallel to the longest side of the envelope. In the middle of the envelope, you will write the following:
- Recipient's name
- Business's name (if applicable)
- Street address (with apartment or suite number)
- City, state and zip code (on the same line)
- Country*
*Only for mailing letters or packages going outside the U.S. It is recommended that you contact the United States Postal Service (USPS) for any questions on formatting your envelope for mailing internationally, as well as to obtain the correct postage.
According to the USPS, the address should be clear and legible. The USPS recommends you use all CAPS for clarity, spaces between words and no punctuation. They also recommend you left justify the margin, which means all the information in the recipient’s address starts at the same point on the left (imagine a box around the address).
Next you will complete the return address, which is typically your complete mailing address: name, street address, city, state and zip code. The return address is written in the upper left corner of the envelope and structured similar to the recipient’s address. Some will say a return is optional, however the USPS states, “Always use a return address - if the letter is undeliverable, it can be returned.” It also allows the recipient to know who they are receiving communication from in advance of opening the envelope.
The final step is to place the appropriate amount of postage in the upper right corner of the envelope. Postage amounts may differ depending on the size, shape or weight of your letter. Now you are ready to mail your completed thank you note!
MSU and Michigan 4-H Youth Development helps to prepare young people for successful futures. For more information about resources on career exploration, workforce preparation, youth financial education or youth entrepreneurship, email us at 4-HCareerPrep@anr.msu.edu.
