All Topics  
Return address

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Return address
 
 
  Topics Return address Topic Home

In postal mail
Mail

Mail, or post, is a method for transmitting information and tangible objects, wherein written documents, typically enclosed in envelopes, and also small packages, are delivered to destinations around the world....
, a return address is an explicit inclusion of the address of the person sending the message. It provides the recipient (and sometimes authorized intermediaries) with a means to determine how to respond to the sender of the message if needed.

The return address need not include a sender's name, but should include address
Address (geography)

An address is a code and abstract concept expressing the fixed location of a home, business or other building on the earth's surface....
 or P.O. box
Post Office box

A post office box is a uniquely-addressable lockable box located on the premises of a post office station.In many countries, particularly in Africa, and the Middle East there is no 'door to door' delivery of mail....
 details in the same way as the delivery address should.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Return address'
Start a new discussion about 'Return address'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


In postal mail
Mail

Mail, or post, is a method for transmitting information and tangible objects, wherein written documents, typically enclosed in envelopes, and also small packages, are delivered to destinations around the world....
, a return address is an explicit inclusion of the address of the person sending the message. It provides the recipient (and sometimes authorized intermediaries) with a means to determine how to respond to the sender of the message if needed.

The return address need not include a sender's name, but should include address
Address (geography)

An address is a code and abstract concept expressing the fixed location of a home, business or other building on the earth's surface....
 or P.O. box
Post Office box

A post office box is a uniquely-addressable lockable box located on the premises of a post office station.In many countries, particularly in Africa, and the Middle East there is no 'door to door' delivery of mail....
 details in the same way as the delivery address should. In some countries, the return address is conventionally located in the upper left hand corner of the envelope
Envelope

An envelope is a packaging product, usually made of flat material such as paper or cardboard, and designed to contain a flat object, which in a postal-service context is usually a letter , card or bills....
, card, or label. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
, the return address is usually placed on the reverse of the envelope, near the top.

Businesses often use envelopes preprinted with a return address. Many private individuals have sheets of adhesive labels preprinted with their home address to affix to their correspondence. Charities sometimes include such sheets in mailshots.

The return address is not required on postal mail. However, lack of a return address prevents the postal service from being able to return the item if it proves undeliverable; such as from damage, postage due
Postage due

Postage due is the term used for mail sent with insufficient postage. While the problem of what to do about letters not paying the full correct fee had existed since the creation of regular postal systems, it was greatly heightened by the advent of postage stamps, since customers were now making their own decisions about the right amount to...
, or invalid destination. Such mail may thus become dead letter mail
Dead letter mail

Dead letter mail or undeliverable mail is mail that cannot be delivered to the addressee or returned to the sender. This is usually due to lack of compliance with postal regulations, an incomplete address and return address, or the inability to mail forwarding when both correspondents move before the letter can be delivered....
.