Style and punctuation of addresses
Both the addresses may be 'blocked' (i.e. each line is vertically aligned with the one above):
Bredgade51,
DK 1260,
Copenhagen K,
DENMARK
There are no rules stating that one style or the other must be used, though blocking, at least in addresses, is more common. In any case you must be consistent, i.e. do not block the sender's address and then indent the inside address.
If punctuation is used, each line of the address is followed by a comma, except the last line. But the majority of firms now use open punctuation, i.e. without any commas.
These examples show the most widely used methods of writing addresses.
| British style | American style |
| Inside address (company) | |
| Messrs Black & Sons, 159 Knightsbridge, London SWL 87C ************************** The International Trading Company 24 Churchill Avenue Maidstone, Kent ZH8 92B | International Trading Company Sabas Building 507 A. Flores Street Manila Philippines **************************** The American Magazine 119 Sixth Avenue New York, NY 11011 |
| Addressing an individual on company business | |
| The Manager The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Main Office Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Dear Sir, *************************** Messrs Mahmoud & Son 329 Coast Road Karachi, Pakistan For the attention of Mr. Singh | Mr. C.C. Pan Far East Jewellery Co. 68 Queen’s Road East Hong Kong Dear Sir: ************************** The Standard Oil Company Midland Building Cleveland, Ohio 44115 Attention: Mr. E.G. Glass, Jr. |
| British style | American style |
| Addressing an individual on private business | |
| T. Hardy, Esq., c/o Waltons Ltd., 230 Snow Street, Birmingham, England. Dear Tom, ************************** Miss Claire Waterson c/o Miller & Sons Pty. Ltd. Box 309 Sydney NSW 2000 Australia Dear Miss Waterson, | Mr. C. Manzi Credito Milano Via Cavour 86 Milan Italy Dear Mr Manzi, **************************** Continental Supply Company 312 Surawongse Bangkok Thailand Attention: Mr. P. Wilson, Jr. Dear Peter, |
'For the attention of’
An alternative to including the recipient's name or position in the address is to use an 'attention line' as here:
