The name, title, and complete mailing address make up the part of the letter described as the inside address. Some people might argue why there should be an inside address since it already appears on the envelop. The rationale for the existence of inside address lies partly in the long-established tradition, partly in the fact that the recipient frequently throws away the envelop once it is torn open. therefore, the letter itself must indicate clearly to whom it is addressed.
Courtesy Title When writing to a specific individual, make sure you use the proper courtesy title which includes Mr. , Mrs. , and Miss. If you are not sure of a woman’s marital status, simply use Ms. Why make a distinction between married and unmarried women, the feminists argue, when we do not distinguish between married and single men? As you will notice, Ms. appears throughout the text, referring to the female recipient as a whole.
When writing to a person whose name sounds neutral in terms of gender, you can be assured to use the abbreviated title M. For example, M. Leslie R. Higgins.
One common mistake frequently found among Chinese students in addressing is that they use courtesy title along with the recipient’s first name.
Examples: Mr. David ( wrong) Mr. David White ( right ) Mr. White ( right )
Organizational Title If the addressee has an organizational title, indicate it (a) immediately after the person’s name, (b) partially on the first line with the rest on the second line, and (c) completely on the second line -- whichever arrangement is most attractive and balance-keeping.
Examples: (a ) Mr. Paul Smith, Manager Smith and Sons, Inc. 3107 Western Avenue New London, Connecticut 06320
( b ) Ms. Linda Cook, Assistant Direct of Public Relations 3117 Avenue E Seattle, Washington 20103
( c ) Dr. Robert Dixon, Associate Dean of Student Activities District of Columbia Polytechnic 900 Avenue E. NY Washington, DC 20025
( d ) Ms. Gillian Johnson Export Sales Manager Block and Brown PLC 55 Horizons Drive Bough BN5 9KL