What does “℅” mean?
“Care of” means “via” or “by way of.” Also written as “℅” on mailed items, this addition means that the envelope, postcard, or package will be delivered to a caretaker, who will then deliver it to the intended recipient. This is opposed to the mail being delivered directly to the final recipient, as usual. “℅” also lets the caretaker know that the mail isn’t for them, even if it has their address on it, and they shouldn’t open it themselves.
Sending Mail with “℅”
Write the intended final recipient near the center of the envelope. This is the person who will ultimately open and receive your letter. Write in clear, legible handwriting so that it can be read by your local postal service. If you want to be sure the address is legible, type and print it onto a printable address label.
Write “℅” and the person that will care for the letter under the recipient. This is the caretaker, or the person who will receive the mail first, but then will ensure it gets to its final recipient. It might be an individual person, a business place, a hotel, or any other organization. For example: John Smith ℅ wikiHow In the above example, John Smith is the intended recipient, and wikiHow is the caretaker. This means the letter will come to the wikiHow office first, where John works, and someone at the office will then deliver the letter to John.
Write the address of the caretaker under their name. Now, continue to address the mail like you would any other letter, with the street address and apartment or unit beneath the caretaker’s name. Then, write the city and state abbreviation beneath the street address followed by a comma. Finally, write the zip code after the comma. Your envelope now looks something like this: John Smith ℅ wikiHow 123 Technology Way Los Angeles, CA 90001
Write your return address in the top left corner. The return address is the place the mail will be returned to if it cannot be delivered for any reason. This address follows the typical format, with your name on the top line, your street address beneath it, and finally your city, state, and zip code beneath that.
Add the appropriate postage to the top right corner and mail the letter. Visit a post office or go to the USPS website to purchase stamps. Affix the stamp to the envelope and place it in your mailbox or a post office box to mail it out. In the United States, thin envelopes of up to 8.5 by 11 inches (220 mm × 280 mm) can be mailed for $0.60, or with a single Forever Stamp.
When to Use “℅”
Use “℅” when you don’t know the recipient’s exact address. In these cases, address the mail to the most specific address you can think of, like their business place, apartment complex, dormitory, or other general location, with the recipient’s name in the first line and “℅ [caretaker]” in the second line. You can also use “℅” to send mail to someone through their nursing home or the hospital where they’re staying. Maya Robinson ℅ Rose Hospital 495 Wellness Way Frankfort, KY 40003
Use “℅” to send mail to a friend by way of someone else. Say you have a wedding invite you need to send, but it’s been a while since you spoke to the recipient and you’re not sure where they live anymore. But you do know someone else who has that information. In this case, send the letter to the person you’d like to invite, but address it in care of the person who does know the recipient’s address. It’s polite to also invite the caretaker of the letter, so that they don’t feel left out or overlooked. [Friend’s Name] ℅ [Person who knows friend’s address] 7703 Acquaintance Road Augusta, ME 04538
Use “℅” to send mail to someone’s hotel. If your intended recipient is traveling and you don’t know their room number, write “℅ [Hotel Name]” on the envelope beneath the recipient’s name. The letter will be delivered to the hotel, and the hotel staff will deliver the mail to the appropriate room. If the recipient is no longer at the hotel, the letter will be returned to the return address. Finn O'Lear ℅ Sunnyside Inn 8056 Magnolia St. Helena, MT 45678
Use “℅” to receive sensitive documents. These might be things like paperwork that concerns only yourself and your attorney or your doctor; or just anything that should only be read by its intended recipient. In these cases, when prompted to provide your own address, you can instead provide your name and “℅ [Your Attorney].” Then, your attorney will receive your mail and deliver it to you the next time you meet. [Your Name] ℅ [Your Attorney’s Name] 901 Evergreen Lane Salt Lake City, UT 84044
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