When sending mail to someone at an address where they don’t usually receive correspondence, it’s important to use the phrase “c/o” or “in care of” to ensure that it reaches the right recipient. Whether you’re sending mail to someone’s workplace, a hotel, a friend’s address, or even to someone you trust with important documents, using “in care of” lets both the postal service and the recipient know that the correspondence is intended for someone else. By following a few simple steps, such as obtaining the correct information, formatting the address correctly, including your return address, and attaching the right amount of postage, you can effectively use “in care of” to address your letters and packages.
What does ‘in care of’ mean?
The label “in care of” simply means you are sending the letter or package to an addressee that is accepting the correspondence for the intended recipient. People often use the abbreviation “c/o” to send mail to someone they don’t have an address for or to send mail to themselves at someone else’s residence. Using “c/o” ensures the correspondence reaches the right recipient rather than getting returned to the sender. Addressing a letter as such also lets the other party know that the letter isn’t intended for them, but that they’re entrusted to give it to the right individual.
When to use ‘c/o’
You should address correspondence with “c/o” when you don’t know the recipient’s primary address. In other words, use the phrase when you need to send something to an address where the recipient doesn’t usually receive correspondence. For example, if you need to get in touch with someone but you don’t know their home address, you can use “in care of” to send the mail to their business address.
Using “in care of” calls attention to the recipient. When the post office receives an envelope that uses “c/o”, it lets them know the envelope’s recipient isn’t the typical recipient for the street address being used. Here are some more examples of when to use “in care of”:
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Sending mail to someone’s workplace: If you don’t know someone’s home address, you can send correspondence to their workplace using “in care of” before the company’s name.
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Sending mail to someone’s hotel: If you need to send correspondence to someone at a hotel, but you don’t know their room number, use “in care of” before the name of the hotel so they can deliver the letter or package to them.
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Sending mail to a friend: When you want to invite someone to an event but you don’t know their address, you can send an invite intended for them to their friend’s primary address. Include “in care of” before their friend’s name and make sure you also invite their friend out of courtesy.
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Sending private information: If you have important documents you don’t want to risk getting lost, you can use “in care of” to send it to someone you trust. For example, you can send important documents to your attorney in the “in care of” their name.
How to use ‘in care of’
To address your correspondence with “in care of,” follow these steps:
Obtain the right information
If you don’t have the recipient’s home address or the address where they typically receive correspondence, obtain a secondary address. For example, you can send them correspondence to their place of business. Make sure to obtain the right name of the business and its street address, city, state, and zip code.
Format their information on the correspondence
Once you have the address, start formatting it on the envelope or package. Include “in care of” before the entity that’s responsible for delivering the correspondence to the recipient. For example, if you’re sending correspondence to someone’s place of business, include “in care of” or “c/o” before the name of the business since it’s the company’s responsibility to deliver the correspondence to the recipient. If you’re sending a letter to someone staying at someone else’s residence, include “in care of” before the name of the person who actually lives there and who can deliver the letter to the right recipient.
Include your return address
After you include the address for the recipient, write your own on the left-hand corner or the back of the envelope or other type of correspondence. If the post office can’t deliver your correspondence to the recipient, they can use your return address to send it back to you.
Attach postage
After you’ve included all the necessary information, attach the right amount of postage depending on the type of correspondence you’re sending. For example, since a letter, postcard, and package tend to weigh differently, the amount of postage you need tends to fluctuate. If you need help determining the right amount of postage to use, bring your correspondence to your local post office where someone can make sure you use the right amount of stamps.
Review the information and send
Before you send it, review the information you provided on the correspondence. Make sure you included the correct name for the recipient and the correct address. Be sure to also check that you used the right return address. Then, send it in the mail.
Examples of how to use ‘c/o’
Here are a couple of examples to further illustrate how to use “c/o” correctly:
Example 1: Sending correspondence to someone’s place of business
When you send a letter to someone at work, include “in care of” or “c/o” before the name of the business. Here’s how to address an envelope meant for someone at their workplace:
Maddie Roberts c/o Laguna Real Estate 555 Jefferson Ave. Laguna Creek, CA 55555
Example 2: Sending correspondence to someone staying with someone else
Let’s say you want to send correspondence to someone staying at someone else’s residence. For example, if John Doe currently resides with his sister, Jane Smith, you need to include “in care of” before Jane’s name because it’s her responsibility to deliver the correspondence to John. Here’s an example of using this scenario:
John Doe c/o Jane Smith 123 Riverside Dr. Orange Hills, CA 55555
By following these examples, you can ensure that your correspondence reaches the intended recipient when using “in care of.”
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Remember, using “in care of” or “c/o” correctly is an effective way to ensure your mail reaches the right recipient. Whether you’re sending correspondence to someone’s workplace, hotel, or a friend, using this method can help you navigate mail delivery successfully. Make sure to obtain the correct information, format the address correctly, include your return address and appropriate postage, and review everything before sending. With these steps in mind, you can confidently use “in care of” to send your mail with ease.
