attn

[Mr. X]

Hello,

How do we write attn when addressing someone?

Attn: Smith,

Thank you for your letter (etc. etc.).

Do we need a comma or any punctuation mark after the person's name. Is colon after attn okay?

Thanks,
Mr. X

[emsr2d2]

Hello,

How do we write attn when addressing someone?

Attn: Smith,

Thank you for your letter (etc. etc.).

Do we need a comma or any punctuation mark after the person's name. Is colon after attn okay?

Thanks,
Mr. X

A colon after Attn is sufficient, but you need to use Mr before Smith.

As far as a comma after Smith is concerned, recently this appears to have become a matter of personal choice. Some people will write:

Dear Mr Smith,

---

Yours faithfully,

Mr X

(commas after Smith and faithfully).

Others will write:

Dear Mr Smith

......

Yours faithfully

Mr X

(no comma after Smith or faithfully).

[Mr. X]

A colon after Attn is sufficient, but you need to use Mr before Smith.

As far as a comma after Smith is concerned, recently this appears to have become a matter of personal choice. Some people will write:

Dear Mr Smith,

---

Yours faithfully,

Mr X

(commas after Smith and faithfully).

Others will write:

Dear Mr Smith

......

Yours faithfully

Mr X

(no comma after Smith or faithfully).

So are both okay, then?

Attn: Mr. Smith and Attn: Mr. Smith,

Which is more formal and acceptable?

Mr. X

[Ouisch]

Business letter styles may differ by country, but in the U.S. the "attention" line is usually typed in all capital letters thusly (with a colon after the "ATTN"):

ATTN: MR. WALTER FEEGUS

You should not address a letter as ATTN: SMITH unless your recipient is generally known by only one name (like Cher or Bono). It is acceptable to address it ATTN: MR. SMITH or ATTN: JOHN SMITH, but not by surname alone.