Q&A for How to Address an Envelope in Care of Someone Else

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If I need to address a letter to a celebrity in c/o their manager, would I put recipient first, then c/o person, followed by corporate headquarters address?

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wikiHow Staff Editor

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Exactly! It'd look something like this: Lady Gaga c/o [Lady Gaga's Manager] [Street address of manager's office]

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Do I address someone with their title when addressing an envelope?

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It's not strictly necessary, but it may help the letter get delivered to the most accurate residence, and it can't hurt!

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How do I address a letter to a friend's employer if she works there?

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wikiHow Staff Editor

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In that case, address the letter like this: [Friend's Name] c/o [Friend's Employer] [Address of friend's employer]

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How do I address envelope to an unmarried couple?

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wikiHow Staff Editor

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In this case, you can address the letter to one of them, and place the other in the "c/o" line. Or, you can simply address it to "John and Mary Smith," substituting "Smith" for the last name of whoever's name you wrote first.

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Can you only put a Name or a business, are there any other acceptable entries? Eg. Filling a form online and being required to enter a C/O. Would "Canada Post" work if you didn't have a C/O?

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wikiHow Staff Editor

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Writing "c/o Canada Post" might be a bit redundant, since Canada Post is already handling the letter. Instead, you might simply write the person's name again in the "c/o" field.

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Can the "in care of" person named, open the mail?

Community Answer

Reading or opening someone else's mail is called "mail theft," and is punishable for up to five years in prison. It's a federal crime, at least in the US. Tampering or stealing someone's personal belongings (e.g. mail) would be a crime anywhere. The "care of" doesn't give that person any special mail opening privileges, it simply means they are responsible for getting the mail to the specific person because it's not their normal address.

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Question

Can you use a % sign for "Care Of"?

Donagan

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That may work, but it's better to write "c/o."

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Question

How do I address in c/o with a title of the person? Is it Jane Smith, c/o ABC Co., Director of Fun, address?

Community Answer

When addressing a person in a business it is not a c/o. It would be Jane Smith: Director of Fun, ABC Co., address.

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Is c/o used in other countries when addressing an envelope?

Community Answer

Not necessarily; it is used also in Germany, for example, but not in France (replaced by "chez"). While different countries have different methods of addressing envelopes in care of someone else, though, the format is similar enough that your intent will likely be understood.

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Can I add a title to the C/O? For example: C/O Mr. John Doe.

Community Answer

Yes, c/o precedes someone's name as it would be written if the letter were being sent to them. The title is optional and depends the context of addressing them.

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Question

What does c/o mean in an address?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

C/o, or CO, means "care of" and it's used on a letter to indicate that the envelope is being delivered to someone at an address where they don't normally receive their mail.

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Question

Where does c/o go on an address?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

Write c/o to indicate "care of" on the second line of the address, after the name of the person the letter is addressed to.

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Question

Where do you put your address on an envelope?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

Write your return address at the top left corner of the envelope so the post office can return it to you if they're unable to deliver it.

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Question

Is "c/o" upper or lower case?

Community Answer

Lower case! In the 1950's this is what we were taught but we also used carbon paper and fountain pens.

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