Table with Forms of Address

Title	Address Styling	Salutation Styling
This table contains the most common formal ways of address styling and salutation in American English. The wide array of personal, regional, and stylistic preferences makes it unfeasible to provide a complete listing of all the possible variations. When a person holds several titles, his or her highest title is the preferred choice.
CLERICAL AND RELIGIOUS ORDERS
abbot	The Right Reverend John R. Smith, O.S.B. Abbot of ..........	Right Reverend and dear Father Dear Father Abbot Dear Father
archbishop	The Most Reverend Archbishop of or The Most Reverend John R. Smith Archbishop of ..........	Your Excellency
bishop, catholic	The Most Reverend John R. Smith Bishop of ..........	Your Excellency Dear Archbishop Smith
bishop, episcopal	The Right Reverend The Bishop of .......... or The Right Reverend John R. Smith Bishop of ..........	Right Reverend Sir Right Reverend Sir Dear Bishop Smith
bishop, protestant (excluding episcopal)	The Reverend John R. Smith	Right Reverend Sir Dear Bishop Smith
cardinal	His Eminence John Cardinal Smith or His Eminence Cardinal Smith	Your Eminence Dear Cardinal Smith (same)
clergyman, protestant	The Reverend Amelia R. Smith or if having a doctorate The Reverend Dr. Amelia R. Smith	Dear Ms. Smith Dear Dr. Smith
monsignor, domestic prelate	The Right Reverend Monsignor John R. Smith or The Rt. Rev. Msgr. John R. Smith	Right Reverend and dear Monsignor Smith Dear Monsignor Smith
mother superior (of a sisterhood)	The Reverend Mother Superior Convent of .......... or Reverend Mother Mary Angelica, O.S.D. (or other initials of the order) Convent of ..........	Reverend Mother Dear Reverend Mother My dear Reverend Mother Mary Angelica (same)
patriarch (of an eastern orthodox church)	His Beatitude the Patriarch of ..........	Most Reverend Lord
pope	His Holiness the Pope or His Holiness Pope John	Your Holiness Most Holy Father
president, mormon	The President Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints	My dear President Dear President Smith
priest, catholic	The Reverend Father Smith or The Reverend John R. Smith	Dear Father Smith (same)
rabbi	Rabbi John R. Smith or if having a doctorate Rabbi John R. Smith, D.D.	Dear Rabbi Smith Dear Dr. Smith
sisterhood, member of	Sister Mary Angelica, S.C. (or other initials of the order)	Dear Sister Dear Sister Mary Angelica
Title	Address Styling	Salutation Styling
COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY FACULTY AND OFFICIALS
chancellor (of a university)	Dr. Amelia R. Smith Chancellor	Dear Dr. Smith
dean (of a college or university)	Dean Amelia R. Smith or Dr. Amelia R. Smith. Dean	Dear Dr. Smith Dear Dean Smith (same)
president	Dr. Amelia R. Smith President or President Amelia R. Smith	Dear Dr. Smith Dear President Smith
president, priest	The Very Reverend John R. Smith President	Dear Father Smith
professor, assistant (or associate)	Dr. Dale R. Smith Assistant (or Associate) Professor of ..........	Dear Dr. Smith Dear Professor Smith Dear Mr. Smith Dear Ms. Smith
professor, full	Professor John R. Smith or Dr. John R. Smith Professor of ..........	Dear Professor Smith Dear Dr. Smith
Title	Address Styling	Salutation Styling
CONSULAR OFFICERS
consul, american (covers all consular grades such as Consul, Consul General, Vice. Consul, and Consular Agent)	The American Consul (foreign city, country) or if in Latin America or Canada The Consul of the United States of America or if individual name is known Amelia R. Smith, Esq. American Consul or (if in Latin America or Canada) Amelia R. Smith, Esq. Consul of the United States of America	Sir Sir or Madam (same) Madam Dear Ms. Smith (same)
consuls, foreign (covers all consular grades)	The .......... Consul (U.S. city, state, zip code) or The Consul of .......... (U.S. city, state, zip code) or if individual name is known The Honourable John R. Smith .......... Consul	Sir Sir or Madame (same) Sir Dear Mr. Smith
Title	Address Styling	Salutation Styling
DIPLOMATS
ambassador, american	The Honourable Dale R. Smith American Ambassador or if in Latin America or Canada The Honourable Dale R. Smith Ambassador of the United States of America	Sir (or Madam) Dear Mr. (or Madam) Ambassador (same)
ambassador, foreign	His Excellency John R. Smith Ambassador of .......... or Her Excellency Amelia R. Smith Ambassador of ..........	Excellency Dear Mr. Ambassador Excellency Dear Madame Ambassador
charg‚ d'affaires, american	Dale R. Smith, Esq. American Charg‚ d'Affaires or if in Latin America or Canada Dale R. Smith, Esq. United States Charg‚ d'Affaires	Sir (or Madam) Dear Mr. (or Ms.) Smith (same)
charg‚ d'affaires, foreign	Mr. John R. Smith Charg‚ d'Affaires of .......... or Ms. Amelia R. Smith Charg‚ d'Affaires of ..........	Sir Dear Mr. Smith Madame Dear Ms. Smith
minister, american	The Honourable Dale R. Smith American Minister or if in Latin America or Canada The Honourable Dale R. Smith Minister of the United States of America	Sir (or Madam) Dear Mr. Minister Dear Madam Minister (same)
minister, foreign	The Honourable Dale R. Smith Minister of .........	Sir (or Madame) Dear Mr. Minister Dear Madame Minister
Title	Address Styling	Salutation Styling
FOREIGN HEADS OF STATE: A BRIEF SAMPLING
premier	His Excellency John R. Smith Premier of .......... or Her Excellency Amelia R. Smith Premier of ..........	Excellency Dear Mr. Premier Excellency Dear Madame Premier
president of a republic	Her Excellency Amelia R. Smith President of .......... or His Excellency John R. Smith President of ..........	Excellency Dear Madame President Excellency Dear Mr. President
prime minister	His Excellency John R. Smith or Her Excellency Amelia R. Smith	Excellency Dear Mr. Prime Minister Excellency Dear Madame Prime Minister
Title	Address Styling	Salutation Styling
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS-FEDERAL
attorney general	The Honourable Amelia R. Smith The Attorney General	Dear Madam Attorney General
cabinet officer (other than attorney general)	The Honourable Dale R. Smith Secretary of .......... or The Secretary of ..........	Sir (or Madam) Dear Mr. (or Madam) Secretary (Same)
chairman of a (sub) committee, u.s. congress (Stylings shown apply to House of Representatives & Senate)	The Honourable Dale R. Smith Chairman Committee on .......... United States Senate	Dear Mr. (or Madam) Chairman Dear Senator Smith
chief justice	see SUPREME COURT, FEDERAL; STATE
commissioner	The Honourable Amelia R. Smith Commissioner	Dear Mr. (or Madam) Commissioner Dear Mr. (or Ms.) Smith
congressman	see REPRESENTATIVE, U.S. CONGRESS
director (as of an independent federal agency)	The Honourable John R. Smith Director .......... Agency	Dear Mr. Smith
district attorney	The Honourable Amelia R. Smith District Attorney	Dear Ms. Smith
federal judge	The Honourable John R. Smith Judge of the United States District Court of the .......... District of ..........	Sir My dear Judge Smith Dear Judge Smith
justice	see SUPREME COURT, FEDERAL; STATE
librarian of congress	The Honourable Amelia R. Smith Librarian of Congress	Madam Dear Ms. Smith
postmaster general	The Honourable John R. Smith The Postmaster General	Sir Dear Mr. Postmaster General
president of the united states	The President The White House or The Honourable Amelia R. Smith President of the United States The White House	Mr. President My dear Mr. President Dear Mr. President Madam President My dear Madam President Dear Madam President
representative united states congress	The Honourable Amelia R. Smith United States House of Representatives or for local address The Honourable Amelia R. Smith Representative in Congress	Madam Dear Representative Smith Dear Ms. Smith
senator, united states senate	The Honourable Amelia R. Smith United States Senate	Madam Dear Senator Smith
speaker, united states souse of representatives	The Honourable The Speaker of the House of Representatives or The Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives or The Honourable Dale R. Smith Speaker of the House of Representatives	Sir (or Madam) (same) Sir (or Madam) Dear Mr. (or Madam) Speaker Dear Aft. (or Ms.) Smith
supreme court, associate justice	Mr. (or Ms.) Justice Smith The Supreme Court of the United States	Sir (or Madam) Mr. (or Madam) Justice MY dear Mr. (or Madam) Justice Dear Mr. (or Madam) Justice Smith
supreme court, chief Justice	The Chief Justice of the United States The Supreme Court of the United States or The Chief Justice The Supreme Court	Sir (or Madam) My dear Mr. (or Madam) Chief Justice Dear Mr. (or Madam) Chief Justice Sir (or Madam) My dear Mr. (or Madam) Chief Justice Dear Mr. (or Madam) Chief Justice
vice president of the united states	The Vice President of the United States United States Senate or The Honourable Dale R. Smith Vice President of the United States Washington, DC (zip code)	Sir (or Madam) My dear Mr. (or Madam) Vice President Dear Mr. (or Madam) Vice President (same)
Title	Address Styling	Salutation Styling
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS-LOCAL
alderman (or councilman or selectman)	The Honourable Dale R. Smith or Alderman Dale R. Smith	Dear Mr. (or Ms.) Smith Dear Alderman Smith (same)
city attorney (includes city counsel, corporation counsel)	The Honourable Amelia R. Smith	Dear Ms. Smith
councilman - see ALDERMAN
county clerk	The Honourable John R. Smith Clerk of ......... County	Dear Mr. Smith
county treasurer - see COUNTY CLERK
judge	The Honourable Amelia R. Smith Judge of the ........ Court of ........	Dear Judge Smith
mayor	The Honourable Dale R. Smith Mayor of ............	Sir (or Madam) Dear Mayor Smith
selectman - see ALDERMAN
Title	Address Styling	Salutation Styling
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS-STATE
assemblyman - see REPRESENTATIVE, STATE
attorney (as commonwealth's attorney, state's attorney)	The Honourable Amelia R. Smith (title)	Dear Ms. Smith
attorney general	The Honourable John R. Smith Attorney General of the State of ..........	Sir Dear Mr. Attorney General
clerk of a court	Amelia R. Smith, Esq. Clerk of the Court of .......	Dear Ms. Smith
delegate - see REPRESENTATIVE, STATE
governor	The Honourable Dale R. Smith Governor of ........ or in some states His Excellency, the Governor of .......... Her Excellency, the Governor of ..........	Sir (or Madam) Dear Governor Smith (same)
judge, state court	The Honourable John R. Smith Judge of the ........ Court	Dear Judge Smith
judge/Justice, state supreme court - see SUPREME COURT, STATE
lieutenant governor	The Honourable Lieutenant Governor of ........ or The Honourable Amelia R. Smith Lieutenant Governor of ..........	Madam Madam Dear Ms. Smith
representative, state (includes assemblyman, delegate)	The Honourable John R. Smith House of Representatives (or The State Assembly or The House of Delegates)	Sir Dear Mr. Smith
secretary of state	The Honourable Secretary of State of ........ or The Honourable Dale R. Smith Secretary of State of ........	Sir (or Madam) Sir (or Madam) Dear Mr. (or Madam) Secretary
senate, state, president of	The Honourable John R. Smith President of the Senate of the State (or the Commonwealth) of ........	Sir Dear Mr. Smith Senator
senator, state	The Honourable Amelia R. Smith The Senate of .........	Madam Dear Senator Smith
speaker, state assembly, house of delegates, or house of representatives	The Honourable John R. Smith Speaker of .........	Sir Dear Mr. Smith
supreme court, mate, associate justice	The Honourable Amelia R. Smith Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of .........	Madam Dear Justice Smith
supreme court, state, chief justice	The Honourable Dale R. Smith Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of ........	Sir (or Madam) Dear Mr. (or Madam) Chief Justice
Title	Address Styling	Salutation Styling
MILITARY RANKS
for any rank	full rank +full name + comma + abbreviation of the branch of service or abbreviation of rank +full name + comma + abbreviation of branch of service	Dear +full rank + surname (same)
(A small sampling of address formats for military ranks is shown here. Abbreviations for each rank and the branches of service using them are shown at individual entries.)
admiral [coast guard, navy (ADM)]	Admiral Amelia R. Smith, USCG (etc) or ADM Amelia R. Smith, USCG (etc)	Dear Admiral Smith (same)
a similar pattern is used for rear admiral (RADM) and vice admiral (VADM) with the full rank given in the salutation line.
airman [air force (AMN)]	Airman John R. Smith, USAF or AMN John R. Smith, USAF	Dear Airman Smith (same)
a similar pattern is used for airman basic (AB) and airman first class (A1C) with the full rank given in the salutation line.
captain [air force, army (CPT); coast guard, navy (CAPT); marine corps (Capt.)]	Captain John R. Smith, USAF (etc) or CPT John R. Smith, USAF (etc)	Dear Captain Smith (same)
chief petty officer [coast guard, navy (CPO)]	Chief Petty Officer Dale R. Smith, USN (etc) or CPO Dale R. Smith, USN (etc)	Dear Chief Smith (same)
chief warrant officer [army, navy, marine corps] (covers all grades of chief warrant officers, CWO2-CWO4)	Chief Warrant Officer Dale R. Smith, USA (etc) or CWO4 Dale R. Smith, USA (etc)	Dear Mr. Smith Dear Ms. Smith Dear Chief Warrant Officer Smith (same)
colonel [air force, army (COL); marine corps (Col.)]	Colonel Amelia R. Smith, USMC (etc) or Col. Amelia R. Smith, USMC (etc)	Dear Colonel Smith (same)
commander [coast guard, navy (CDR)]	Commander John R. Smith, USN (etc) or CDR John R. Smith, USCG (etc)	Dear Commander Smith (same)
corporal [army (CPL); marine corps (Cpl.)]	Corporal Amelia R. Smith, USA (etc) or CPL Amelia R. Smith, USA (etc)	Dear Corporal Smith (same)
a similar pattern is used for lance corporal [marine corps (L/Cpl.)] with the full rank given in the salutation line.
ensign [coast guard, navy (ENS)]	Ensign Dale R. Smith, USN (etc) or ENS Dale R. Smith, USN (etc)	Dear Ensign Smith Dear Mr. Smith Dear Ms. Smith (same)
first lieutenant [air force, army (1 LT); marine corps (1st Lt.)]	First Lieutenant Amelia R. Smith, USMC (etc) or 1 st Lt. Amelia R. Smith, USMC (etc)	Dear Lieutenant Smith (same)
general [air force, army (GEN); marine corps (Gen.)]	General Amelia R. Smith, USAF (etc) or GEN Amelia R. Smith, USAF (etc)	Dear General Smith (same)
a similar pattern is used for brigadier general [airforce, army (BG); marine corps (Brig. Gen.)], major general [airforce, army (MG); marine corps (Maj. Gen.)], and lieutenant general [airforce, army (L TG); marine corps (Lt. Gen)] with the full rank given in the salutation line.
lieutenant [coast guard, navy (LT)] LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE - see also FIRST LIEUTENANT, SECOND LIEUTENANT;	Lieutenant Dale R. Smith, USN (etc) or LT Dale R. Smith, USN (etc)	Dear Lieutenant Smith Dear Mr. Smith Dear Ms. Smith (same)
lieutenant junior grade [coast guard, navy (LTJG)] - see also LIEUTENANT	Lieutenant (j.g.) Dale R. Smith, USCG (etc) or LTJG Dale R. Smith, USCG (etc)	Dear Lieutenant Smith Dear Mr. Smith Dear Ms. Smith (same)
major [air force, army (MAJ); marine corps (Maj.)]	Major John R. Smith, USAF (etc) or MAJ John R. Smith, USAF (etc)	Dear Major Smith (same)
master chief petty officer [coast guard, navy (MCPO)]	Master Chief Petty Officer Amelia R. Smith, USN (etc) or MCP0 Amelia R. Smith, USN (etc)	Dear Master Chief Smith (same)
petty officer first class [coast guard, navy (PO 1)]	Petty Officer First Class John R. Smith, USN (etc) or PO 1 John R. Smith, USN (etc)	Dear Petty Officer Smith (same)
a similar pattern is used for petty officer second class (P02) and petty officer third class (P03).
private [army (PVT); marine corps (Pvt.)]	Private John R. Smith, USMC (etc) or Pvt. John R. Smith, USCM (etc)	Dear Private Smith (same)
a similar pattern is used for private first class [army (PFC)].
seaman (coast guard, navy (SMN)]	Seaman Amelia R. Smith, USCG (etc) or SMN Amelia R. Smith, USCG (etc)	Dear Seaman Smith (same)
a similar pattern is used for seaman apprentice and seaman recruit [coastguard, navy].
second lieutenant [air force, army (2LT); marine corps (2nd Lt.)]	Second Lieutenant John R. Smith, USA (etc) or 2LT John R. Smith, USA (etc)	Dear Lieutenant Smith (same)
senior chief petty officer [coast guard, navy (SCPO)]	Senior Chief Petty Officer John R. Smith, USCG (etc) or SCPO John R. Smith, USCG, (etc)	Dear Senior Chief Smith (same)
sergeant [air force, army (SGT)]	Sergeant Amelia R. Smith, USAF (etc) or SGT Amelia R. Smith, USAF (etc)	Dear Sergeant Smith (same)
a similar pattern is used for other sergeant ranks, including first sergeant [army (ISG); marine corps (1st Sgt)]; gunnery sergeant [marine corps (Gy. Sgt)]; master sergeant [airforce (MSGT); army (MSG)1; sergeant first class [army (SFC)]; staff sergeant [airforce (SSGT); army (SSG); marine corps (SSgt.)]; and technical sergeant [airforce (TSGT)] with the full rank given in the salutation line.
sergeant major [army (SGM); marine corps(Sgt. Maj.)]	Sergeant Major Amelia R. Smith, USMC (etc) or Sgt. Maj. Amelia R. Smith, USSIC (etc)	Dear Sergeant Major Smith (same)
warrant officer. [army, coast guard, navy(WO 1)] - see also CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER	Warrant Officer Dale R. Smith, USA (etc) or WO I Dale R. Smith, USA (etc)	Dear Warrant Officer Smith Dear Mr. Smith Dear Ms. Smith (same)
Title	Address Styling	Salutation Styling
UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS
representative, american (with ambassadorial rank)	The Honourable Dale R. Smith United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations	Sir (or Madam) Dear Mr. (or Madam) Ambassador
representative, foreign (with ambassadorial rank)	His Excellency John R. Smith Representative of ........ to the United Nations or Her Excellency Amelia R. Smith Representative of ........ to the United Nations	Excellency My dear Mr. Ambassador Dear Mr. Ambassador Excellency My dear Madam Ambassador Dear Madam Ambassador
secretary-general	Her Excellency Amelia R. Smith Secretary-General of the United Nations or His Excellency John R. Smith Secretary-General of the United Nations	Excellency My dear Madam (or Madame) Secretary-General Dear Madam (or Madame) Secretary-General Excellency My dear Mr. Secretary General Dear Mr. Secretary-General
undersecretary	The Honourable John R. Smith Undersecretary of the United Nations	Sir Dear Mr. Smith

HOW TO ADDRESS MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS

Beginning of Letter	End of Letter	Envelope

Duke
Dear Duke of .............	Yours sincerely	His Grace the Duke of ...............................
Marquess
Dear Lord ..................	Yours sincerely	The Most Hon. the Marquess of .................
Earl
Dear Lord ..................	Yours sincerely	The (Rt. Hon. the) Earl (of) ........................
Countess
Dear Lady ..................	Yours sincerely	The Countess (of) ......................................
Viscount
Dear Lord ..................	Yours sincerely	The (Rt. Hon. the) Viscount .......................
Baron
Dear Lord ..................	Yours sincerely	The (Rt. Hon. the) Lord .............................
Baroness
Dear Lady ..................	Yours sincerely	The (Rt. Hon. the) Baroness .......................
Lady
Dear Lady ..................	Yours sincerely	The (Rt. Hon. the) Lady .............................
Archbishop
Dear Archbishop	Yours sincerely	The Most Rev. and the Rt Hon the Archbishop of ............................................
Bishops
Dear Lord Bishop	Yours sincerely	The Rt Rev. the Lord Bishop of ..................

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© Copyright 2001-2007 HMD
(last update 08.09.2007)