There are general rules for formatting an address in English, no matter where you are in the world.
Use the following format on envelopes to ensure your letter reaches the required destination.
Recipients’ Name
Flat or Floor Number/Letter and Name of Building
Street Number and Street Name
Town/City
County/State
Postcode/ZIP code
For example:
Mr Smith
1A Jones Tower
14 Cook Street
Bedford
Bedfordshire
BD1 1AA
If the recipient owns a house, there will be no flat number or building name so you can leave this part out. For example:
Mr Smith
14 Cook Street
Bedford
Bedfordshire
BD1 1AA
If you are sending a letter to somebody in a company, then you will require some additional information. You should add the person’s job title and name of the company to the address to ensure it successfully reaches the right person. For example:
Mr Smith
Head of Sales
British Communications Ltd
14 Cook Street
Bedford
Bedfordshire
BD1 1AA
Sometimes you may need to send a letter to a P.O. Box – that’s a Post Office Box. Some people and companies rent a lockable letterbox within a post office where their post is stored until it can be collected. If you are sending a letter to a P.O. Box, format the address like this:
Mr Smith
Head of Sales
British Communications Ltd
P.O. Box 2114
London
W1 1BB
Addresses in Formal and Informal
Letters If you want to write a letter in English, you need to understand the rules for formatting that letter. On some letters, you will need to include an address, and it is important that this is done correctly.
Firstly, it is important that you understand that difference between formal and informal language and structures in the English language, as this affects both how you say things and how you write things.
As a quick reminder:
Formal language is used when you are talking with or writing to people that you don’t know very well or to whom you are showing respect. This style of language is most often used in job applications and interviews, when talking to clients or managers at work and when meeting people who are older or of a ‘higher status’.
Informal language, on the other hand, is used with people you are familiar with or at ease with. This is the sort of language you will use when talking with family or friends, or writing a brief note to someone. The language is described as being more colloquial, or casual.
If you are writing an informal letter and are sending it to someone, you will need to format an address correctly on the envelope, but there is no need to include an address on the letter itself. However, addresses should be included on formal letters, and you must ensure you format this correctly. Read on to find out more.
Addresses in Formal Letters
Formal letters are often sent to authorities and governments. Although much communication is done by email these days, such professional organisations often require letters so that hard copies of the communication can be kept on record.
When writing a formal letter, you should include both your own address (the sender’s address) and the address of where the letter is being sent (the recipient’s address).
The sender’s address should go on the top right of the page followed by a one-line space and then the date. After the date leaves another one-line space and then write the recipient’s address on the left side of the page.
Here is a sample:
