How to Write an Address

How to Write an Address – Introduction

When sending a letter, a postcard, or a parcel, we include an address. We need to make sure it is spelled and structured properly, so the post office workers can deliver the letter to the correct location.

On a letter or a package, the address of a recipient or a person who you are sending the mail to, is written in the middle of the envelope. Your address, known as the return address, is written of the same side of the envelope, in the upper left corner. It is important to include your own address, so if there is a problem with delivery, your mail can be sent back to you.

In this article, we will answer how to write an American address. If you are sending a letter internationally, check online how to address an envelope to the country you want to send your letter to.

How to Write an Address – Formatting

When we write an address on the front of an envelope or a package, we split it into three lines. Have a look at the example below:

The first line of an address includes a full name of a person you want to send a letter to. The second line is a house number and a street name. In the third line we write a town or a city name, a state abbreviation, and a zip code.

A zip code is one of the most important components of the address. It is a unique five-digit number that tells the postal workers which post office in your town to send your mail to. So make sure to double-check it before you send a letter!

To better remember the format of an address, use this graphic organizer:

Pay attention to the punctuation for addresses. We always use a comma between the name of a city and the state.

It is also useful to know how to write an address with an apartment number. If a person you are writing to lives in an apartment, you need to include an apartment number in the second line, like this:

Gary Gamer
55 Recess Rd Apt 44
Boulder, CO 80304

Sometimes you need to write an address inside of a letter. In this case it will include the same information, but have a different format. This is how to write an address on one line inside the letter:

Marion McMusic, 321 Sonata St, Ann Arbor, MI 48106

Pay attention to commas in address examples: when we write an address in one line, we put a comma after every section of the address.

Common Address Abbreviations

You have probably noticed, that we use a lot of abbreviations in addresses. In street names, some parts of the name can be shortened, like avenue to ave. If you are wondering, “How do you abbreviate addresses?”, our list of common street address abbreviations can help you:

State Abbreviations in Addresses

All the U.S. states and territories have specific two-letter abbreviations, where both letters are capitalized. If you are wondering “How do you write a state abbreviation?” or “What are the 50 state abbreviations?”, check out our table with abbreviations for all the 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.

How to Write an Address – Summary

Let’s remember what we have learned about writing an address.

When we write the address on an envelope, we write it like this:

Sarah Smile
123 Giggle Ave
Richmond, VA 22548

If we need to write an address inside the letter, we write in like this:

Sarah Smile, 123 Giggle Ave, Richmond, VA 22548

Now you are ready to send a letter to your pen pal! You know how to write an address correctly and how to use commas and abbreviations in addresses. If you want more practice, check out our video and activities!

Frequently Asked Questions about Writing Addresses