Anyone who needs to send post in the UK is advised to follow the advice when addressing their mail
Post Office customers might not realise they are addressing their post incorrectly by including common punctuation. Sharing advice for customers online, the retailer’s website highlights the best way to address a parcel or letter being sent in the UK.
According to the guide, customers should not use full stops, commas, or centred lines. The Post Office explained: “Don’t use full stops or commas. Start each line on the left (don’t centre the lines). You don’t need to write the name of the county if you’ve included the town and postcode.”
The advice says the first line should show the name, and the second line is for the house number and street name. The third line is for the locality name, if needed, and the fourth line is the town name. Finally, the fifth line is the full postcode. Both the town and postcode should be printed in capitals.
Customers should also consider adding a return address. “If you want to make sure your post can get back to you, don’t forget to include your UK return address on each item. Items that cannot be delivered will be returned to you.”
There’s a separate guide for anyone sending post internationally. While the advice varies between countries, the Post Office said the list generally includes name, house number and street name, city or town, province, state or department and postal code, and country. It’s advised to use the English name for the country you are sending the post to.
The tips section adds: “Include the right international postcode. If your item’s going to Europe, put the postcode to the left of the town – eg 11780 ATHENS.
“Always write the town and country in capital letters, with the full country name appearing last in the address (no abbreviations). Don’t forget the Air Mail sticker – unless you’re using International Economy. Remember to include your return address.”
For international post, the Post Office says the return address must be in the UK. “If you want to make sure your post can get back to you if undelivered, don’t forget to include your UK return address on each item.
“Just remember that your return address needs to be in the UK. If you include a return address that’s in the destination country, it won’t be accepted,” the advice said. For packages being sent outside the UK, a customs label is needed.
Customers can see examples online that show how the post should be addressed. The advice echoes Royal Mail guidance. The postal service says the name and address go in the bottom-left corner of the envelope. It adds that commas and full stops should not be used.
