When the United States Postal Service (USPS) started using optical character reading (OCR) machines to process mail faster using automatation, they instituted a standardized abbreviation for each state and a format for addressing mail that was easier for the OCR equipment to read.

The address should be entirely in capital letters, with no punctuation. The return address is always in the upper left portion on the front of the envelope.

Following are some examples of appropriately addressed mail for the USPS:

JOHN SMITH MD
PREMIERE ORTHOPAEDICS
1155 S MARKET ST #106
SAN FRANCISCO CA 00000-0000

JOHN SMITH
12345 NW FOURTH ST
PORTLAND OR 00000-0000

Obviously, a printed address is more desirable than a handwritten one. However, you can use the format for hand-addressed mail. Many people prefer to use a more informal handwritten address for personal mail, such as holiday and birthday cards and invitations. While hand addressing makes a mail more personal, it can slow down delivery - or result in nondelivery if the USPS cannot read the address.

Return address

A return address is important, in case a letter cannot be delivered for some reason. It allows the USPS to return the letter to the sender. Mail that does not include a return address and cannot be delivered to the address is called "dead mail." Without a return address, you may never know that the mail you sent was never delivered to the intended recipient.

The return address should always belocated on the front of the envelope. In the past, many people preferred the back flap, especially for cards and invitations. However, the USPS requests that all return addresses be located on the front of the envelope.

State Abbreviations

Be aware that state abbreviations are not always the first two letters of the state name! There are instances where such an abbreviation would cause confusion between states that start with the same two letters. Check the following list of state abbreviations and make certain you have the correct one for the state where your mail is to be delivered.

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