A question about writing attention to someone on an envelope.

Gehanna · Jan 26, 2009

I am going back to college to earn an additional degree or two. The academic advisor asked me to send her some information and to address the envelope with attention to her name. My question is...

Do I write it as:

ATTN: Her Name or Attn: Her Name?

How can someone who doesn't know how to address an envelope go to college? :tongue

PS - I only need an answer to the first question.

Sincerely,
Gehanna

James81 · Jan 26, 2009

I've always done mine in all caps.

Not saying that's the official way to do it, because i'm not really sure about that.

But that's the way I've always done mine.

Gehanna · Jan 26, 2009

Hello James81 :hi:

I appreciate your response. My initial thought was to use all caps but, I thought I should ask someone first. How I managed to get through life, this long, without having had to write attention (to someone) on an envelope is beyond me. How I managed to get soo many prepositional phrases into one sentence is also beyond me. lol

Sincerely,
Gehanna

The Rav · Jan 26, 2009

I really doubt it matters. It'll get there either way. I'd go with all caps, though.

RJK · Jan 26, 2009

I've seen two recommended methods:
Eliminate the word attention and place the persons name on the first line of the address, his department on the second line and the rest of the address on the following lines

The second method is to write out attention like this:

Attention Professor John Smith
.............Department of good writing

Very Expensive University
1234 College Place
Anytown, AK, 96968

The right margin is supposed to line up with the "attention" hanging out.

semilargeintestine · Jan 26, 2009

I avoid using Attn: unless they specifically say it in their contact information. When I have to use it, I usually put something like:

Very Expensive University
Attn: Prof. John Advisor
1234 College Place
Anytown, AK 96968-1781

I don't know if that's incorrect, but I've never had a problem getting it somewhere. The people I've talked to who work for USPS say that the addressee line is for the recipient, not the mail carriers. All they care about is the address and zip code. If there are no guidelines on his website or note, then it doesn't matter.

PS, this is why your kids can write Mom-Mom on the envelope and still have it delivered to the right person.

James81 · Jan 26, 2009

semilargeintestine said:
I avoid using Attn: unless they specifically say it in their contact information. When I have to use it, I usually put something like:

Very Expensive University
Attn: Prof. John Advisor
1234 College Place
Anytown, AK 96968-1781

I don't know if that's incorrect, but I've never had a problem getting it somewhere. The people I've talked to who work for USPS say that the addressee line is for the recipient, not the mail carriers. All they care about is the address and zip code. If there are no guidelines on his website or note, then it doesn't matter.

PS, this is why your kids can write Mom-Mom on the envelope and still have it delivered to the right person.

Well, it's not really a matter of whether it will get to someone. It's a matter of the standard and how professionally it's presented.

Yours, however is backwards. It should be like this:

Attn: Prof. John Advisor
Very Expensive University
1234 College Place
Anytown, AK 96968-1781

And I don't know if it's changed or not, but you used to put "c/o" in front of the "Very Expensive University."

That's probably changed by now, though.

semilargeintestine · Jan 26, 2009

I've always written it that way, and no one has every commented negatively on it, nor has it ever caused me to not get into a university, so I hardly think it is that important.

Rereading the OP, I realize that I thought he was referring to the envelope, hence the comment about it being delivered. Funny enough, when I write a formal letter, I put the name above the company or university; however, I do not put Attn:. I'm not sure why I reverse it for the envelope, but I always have.

Gehanna · Jan 26, 2009

ATTN: All Active Forum Posters and Reclusive Lurkers,

I've decided to go with caps. Something like this:

Very Expensive University Fees Offset by Employer Tuition Reimbursement Provided I Make Good Grades and Conditionally Sell My Soul To The Hospital For X Number of Years
ATTN: Shew Weee
0123 What A Long Title That One Be
Oddity, ME 45678

Well, not exactly like that but, I'm giving out free credits to those who understand what I mean.

Thanks for all the replies!
Gehanna

semilargeintestine · Jan 26, 2009

Sounds good to me.

Also, I was wondering why your name was Gehenna, but then I realized it is also the name of a band.

A. Hamilton · Jan 26, 2009

I remembered this from when I worked at my Dad's office, but I looked it up to be sure, before offering it here; the attention line should be first. see this, item #1. also an interesting little quiz, if you're inclined.

semilargeintestine · Jan 26, 2009

Okay, but it took me 5 seconds to find examples online of the complete opposite of what you just posted. But, there are a lot more that say to put it on top. I just don't think it really matters that much. You aren't going to get rejected from college based on that, and if you are, you don't want to go there anyway.

Gehanna · Jan 26, 2009

My name comes from Hell. To make a long story short, I will provide an allegorical explanation. I was betrothed to Molech and the name befell me.

Sincerely,
Gehanna

semilargeintestine · Jan 26, 2009

Oh, you used the name because of its actual meaning (which isn't Hell, by the way). I was modern orthodox for quite a while, so I know what it means. I just didn't know why you picked the name, so I googled it to see if it was also the name of a movie or something, and--Behold! a band named Gehenna.

Just as a note, while Hebrew-to-English transliterations can vary (see: Hannukah/Chanukah), the accepted spelling by most is Gehenna. See this for example.

nevada · Jan 26, 2009

huh, when i went to secretarial school, we were taught to put ATTN: Persons Name on the same line as the place it was going but left alligned on the envelope.

ATTN: Great Professor (White Space) Very Fancy College

However, it was a long time ago and they change these stupid rules all the time, but that's still how i do it.

abctriplets · Jan 26, 2009

nevada said:
huh, when i went to secretarial school, we were taught to put ATTN: Persons Name on the same line as the place it was going but left alligned on the envelope.

ATTN: Great Professor (White Space) Very Fancy College

However, it was a long time ago and they change these stupid rules all the time, but that's still how i do it.

How long ago are we talking?
- Early Computer Era
- Typewriter Era
- Quill Pen and Ink Era
- Clay Tablet and Stylus Era

I'm just asking, because I don't think you address envelopes the same way you address clay tablets...

nevada · Jan 26, 2009

lets put it this way, computers ran on DOS, Wordperfect was the only word processing program around and I had to learn the F keys.

So just after the clay tablet period ended although some old stuck-in-the-past people still insisted on using them.

ETA the definitive website of envelope addressing etc.

http://www.businesswritingblog.com/business_writing/2007/03/how_to_address_.html

A question about writing attention to someone on an envelope.

Gehanna

Introvert

James81

Great Scott Member

Gehanna

Introvert

The Rav

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

semilargeintestine

BassGirl 5000

James81

Great Scott Member

semilargeintestine

BassGirl 5000

Gehanna

Introvert

semilargeintestine

BassGirl 5000

A. Hamilton

here for a minute...catch me?

semilargeintestine

BassGirl 5000

Gehanna

Introvert

semilargeintestine

BassGirl 5000

nevada

abctriplets

nevada