Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Using a surname
• Method 2 of 3: Using the names of specific family members
• Method 3 of 3: Using an inner and outer envelope
• Tips

Signing an envelope to one person is an extremely simple task. All you need is her / his name and titles and you are ready to do everything. Envelope signature for all familieshowever, this is a completely different matter. There are several different ways to sign an envelope for a family, each with its own "tricks" for analysis. While neither process is terribly difficult, understanding when (and how) to use each can be helpful in terms of etiquette. See Step 1 below to get started!

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Using a surname

1. 1 Write "The (Surname) Family" at the top of the address. When looking for a solution to how to address an envelope to the whole family, rather than one person, you have two options: you can use the last name to represent the entire family, or you can specifically address the envelope to some (or all) family members. Let's deal with the first option first. The easiest way to address an envelope to the whole family is to simply write "The (Last Name of the Family) Family" as the first line of your address. This method is a good choice for general communication (like friendly letters), but it can be unwise for signing envelopes where it is important to know who the letter is specifically for (like wedding invitations).
   • For example, if we write a letter to Tim and Janet Jones and their children Emma and Peter, we would sign the envelope: The jones family.
2. 2 Use the plural form for the last name. Alternatively to the above, it is also acceptable to use the simple plural for the family name as the first line of the address on the envelope. In this case, the plural surname is always preceded by the word "The", so the end result is "The Smiths", "The Garcias", and so on.
   • Don't fall into the apostrophe trap here. Apostrophes are used to express ownership, not to make a word plural, so you should not use them in the plural form of a family surname. Most last names just need an ending -s at the end to form a plural (eg, Thompsons, Lincolns). However, surnames that end in the sound "s", "sh", or "x" "usually need to be added -es at the end (e.g. Rosses, Foxes, Welshes).
   • Following our previous example, if we are writing a letter to the Jones family, in addition to using "The Jones Family" as the first line of our address, we can also simply use The joneses.
3. 3 Fill in the address for the rest of the envelope as usual. Regardless of the method used for the first line of the envelope address, the rest of the address is written as it would for any other letter. Under the first line containing the last name, write the street number or PO box, then on the next line write the city, state / province, zip code, and so on. If signing the envelope at the place level, write the name of the country below on a separate fourth line. Write your return address using the same form in the upper left corner of the envelope. For more information, see How to Write an Address on an Envelope.
   • For example, in our example with the Jones family, our final address might look something like this:

     • The jones family (or "The Joneses")

       21 jump street

       Anytown, CA, 98765

   • Typically, whenever you address an envelope to a family, the first line of the address is what you will change - the actual street address must remain intact. In the following methods, described below, you should assume that the portion of the address that follows the "name" line should be written as usual.

Method 2 of 3: Using the names of specific family members

1. 1 Start with parent names and titles. When addressing an envelope to an entire family, in addition to using the last name to refer to all family members, you can also name some or all of them individually. This method is useful for letters, such as wedding invitations, where it is important to communicate who the letter is for. First, write the parents' names on the first line of your address. In most cases, you will need to use their respective titles (Mr. and Mrs are always reliable, while titles such as "Dr.", "Judge", and so on are usually optional except in formal or professional contexts) ...
   • For example, if we are inviting the Jones family to a housewarming party, we would start by writing the parents' names on the first line: Mr. and Mrs. Jones.
   • It is also acceptable to use the traditional form of describing married couples in which the husband's full name is appropriate for both partners: Mr. and Mrs. Tim jones... However, this method is not necessary.
   • Finally, you can also write the full name of each partner, without titles: Tim and Janet Jones... This is usually done in familiar, informal contexts, as using someone's name rather than his / her title can be considered rude if you don't know him or her well.
2. 2 Please include any baby names. On the next line, list the names of children under the age of 18 who are dependent on their parents. You can provide the last name once at the end of the list of children's names (for example, David, Chelsea and Gabriela Richardson), or you can leave them in full (for example, David, Chelsea, and Gabriela). If you know the ages of the children, list them from oldest to youngest.
   • For example, in our example about inviting to a party, we would write the names of the children in the family below the names of the parents like this: Emma and peterThis means that the first two lines of our address will look something like this:

     • Mr. and Mrs. Jones

       Emma and peter

3. 3 Also, write the parents' names after "and Family ". In situations where you do not know the names of any or all of the children in the family, it is acceptable to address the children together. In this case, on the second line, where children are usually named, write "and Family". You can also use "and Children" to make your intent more specific.
   • In our example, we could replace the names Emma and Peter with "and Family" or "and Children" if you forgot their names. In this case, the first two lines of our address will look like this:

     • Mr. and Mrs. Jones

       and Children

4. 4 Omit children's names if the letter is not meant for them. The examples above assume that the letter is intended for both parents and children in the family. If not, list the appropriate recipients on the first line, then go straight to the mailing address without using the second line to list additional family members.
   • If, for example, we would like to invite only the parents of the Jones family to our party, then we would use the standard address Mr. and Mrs. Joneswithout naming their children.
5. 5 Send separate letters to children over the age of 18. If the household has children over 18 (or the traditional age of majority in the recipient's home), send these children your own, separate letter in addition to the one you send to their parents. Receiving your personal letter is a sign of adulthood. Although very minor, it can be perceived as offensive, such as being invited to a party through a letter addressed to your parents.

Method 3 of 3: Using an inner and outer envelope

1. 1 Address the outer envelope only to parents. Some types of letters emphasize the request for a response from the recipient. In situations such as this, a small, usually pre-addressed reply envelope is often included inside an outer envelope. If you're sending a letter like this, it's worth noting that outer and inner envelopes are usually addressed slightly differently when the recipient is the entire family. First, address the outer envelope (the one that contains the contents of the letter and the second envelope) only with the names of the parents or the heads of the family.
   • For the outer envelope, write the parents' names as described in the previous section. For example, if you were inviting the entire Jones family to your wedding, for the outer envelope you would only write the parents' names: Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Tim jones, or Tim and Janet Jones.
2. 2 Address the inner envelope to all recipients. For the inner envelope, the rules are slightly different. If you are asking for a response from every family member (for example, if you are inviting the entire family to your wedding), write the parents' names on the first line of the address and the names of the children below it on the second line. If, however, you are only asking for an answer from the parents, you would only write their names in the first line of the address, then go to the mailing address, and so on.
   • Please note that the addresses of the inner envelope refer to its return address... Obviously, the main address that tells where the envelope is going will be your own (or the relevant agency, business, PO Box, etc.). This way, their response will be sent to the right place.
   • In our example of a wedding invitation, if we were inviting the whole family, the return address of the inner envelope would have the parents' names on the first line followed by the children's names on the second line. The first two lines from the return address of the inner envelope would look something like this:

     • Mr. and Mrs. Jones

       Emma and peter

3. 3 Include a stamp on the reverse envelope. Regardless of who you ask the answer from, there is always a courtesy stamp on the back of your letter. Stamps are relatively cheap, so including a stamp on an envelope is more respect and concern than a real financial expense.However, it is generally best to avoid minor tactlessness by taking the time to stamp the return envelope.
   • As stated above, you must send separate letters to children who are over 18 years of age (or are considered independent adults by some other criteria). In situations where you send letters with reply envelopes included, this means that you need to address and stamp each such envelope with the name of a child over 18 in the return address as well.

Tips

• Make sure this envelope is for the right family.