A Form of Address

Addressing letters and envelopes properly is never an easy task.  There are Bishops, and Senators, and Secretaries, oh my!  Not to mention judges and married spouses who both hold titles, and the list goes on and on!

One important tip to remember is that for married couples, a woman with a title (i.e. Senator Jane Doe) is ALWAYS listed first, regardless of whether her husband is titled as well.  But notice in this case, the husband's full name is listed.  In the event that the husband is the only person titled, his full name is listed first with his title, followed by his wife's last name.  For instance:

The Honorable John Doe and Mrs. Doe
The Reverend Jane Doe and The Honorable John Doe
The Honorable Jane Doe and Mr. John Doe
Doctor Jane Doe and Doctor John Doe
Doctor John Doe and Mrs. Doe

The rules are slightly different if the woman goes by her maiden name.  Her full name is listed instead of just her last name.  Keep in mind that ladies who use their maiden name are ALWAYS referred to as "Ms.", even if they're married.   For instance:

The Honorable John Doe and Ms. Jane Jones
Doctor Jane Jones and Mr. John Doe

The rules surrounding proper titles can get very specific (who knew that Archbishops in the Catholic Church are referred to differently as Bishops in the Methodist Church - another post about that or we could be here all day)!  However, the most important rule to remember are terms such as "the Honorable" and "the Reverend" are adjectives to be used ONLY when addressing an envelope, and should thus not be used in a salutation. These terms describe the nature of one's position, not the position itself.  For instance:

Envelope:     The Honorable John Doe and Mrs. Doe
Salutation:    Dear Senator John Doe and Mrs. Doe,

It is also acceptable to use first names in a salutation if you are well familiarized with the individuals.  But, if using first names in a salutation, the woman's name ALWAYS goes first.  The idea is to never separate the man's first name from his last name when addressing both informally.  For instance:

Envelope:     The Honorable John Doe and Mrs. Doe
Salutation:    Dear Jane and Joe,

Here are a few famous couples who are examples of the above guidelines:

The Honorable Hilary Clinton and The Honorable Bill Clinton

Salutation: Senator Hilary Clinton and President Bill Clinton

The Honorable Elaine Chao and The Honorable Mitch McConnell

(former Secretary of Labor and current Senate Minority Leader from Kentucky)

Salutation: Secretary Elaine Chao and Senator Mitch McConnell

Hope you find this helpful and have a happy Wednesday!