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ATN and ATTN are the abbreviations for “Attention to” on the recipient label of an envelope that contains documents or formal communications to be sent by the postal service or some private parcel company.
Correct addressing of the envelope can make the difference between documents delivered on time or a package lost or returned due to lack of information or an incorrect address.
Although the vast majority of written communications have migrated to the digital environment and data is sent and received via email, it is still very common to send documents and formal communications in print through the postal service.
Let’s spend a few lines explaining the correct way to address an envelope, as well as the location of the recipient’s label, its elements, and the abbreviation ATN on the recipient’s data label.
How to address an envelope
When sending an envelope or package through the postal service, certain guidelines must be followed to correctly specify the delivery address and the recipient’s details, as well as the sender’s details. Obviously, special attention is paid to the recipient, since the delivery of the order is the essential purpose of the shipment.
There are two labels that must go on an envelope, the first one in the upper left corner corresponds to the sender’s data. They are specified in the event of a possible return, if this occurs for any reason, the mailroom will be able to route it properly.
The sender’s label includes: name of the company or individual that requires the shipment. In the case of people, the full name is included. Return address. City and state, finally the zip code. All this information is specified separated by lines.
The second corresponds to the recipient’s label, it is located in the lower part of the center or to the right, basically the same information is required as the sender’s label, except that the abbreviation ATN or ATTN is located in front.
The Parsley Postal Pals project at Walter L. Pasdley School in Wilmington North Carolina recommends the following information for constructing the recipient label:
- Abbreviation ATN or ATTN to indicate “to the attention of”
- Name of the recipient’s company or affiliation unit (if applicable)
- Recipient’s full name
- Street address, apartment or residence number.
- City, State, and Zip Code.
Postal abbreviations can be used to indicate the name of the state, which are two letters both in capital letters suggested by the postal service.
The postal service, among the ATN rules in an address, also recommends that the addresses be written in full on a single line, if they are too long, two lines can be used as long as the first one contains the number of residence, building and / or apartment.
The abbreviation ATN on the recipient’s label
Knowing where to put the ATN line, short for ATTN or Attention, on a label with the recipient’s details can make the difference between efficient correspondence and unnecessary delays in communication.
If the sender’s data is used for proper routing in the event of a return, all the more so, correctly placing the items on a recipient’s address label directs the mail to the appropriate person or department.
People include the ATN, ATTN or Attention line on an envelope label in two cases: when the sender wants to send a message to a specific person ( ATN. John Smith) or when the recipient is not known within an organization large ( ATTN. Marketing Department).
The ATN or Attention line on the recipient’s label is located above the company name; in fact, it is the first line in the sender’s address space.
According to the “Addresses” of the United States Postal Service, if the recipient corresponds to a specific area of a company, they must include the following on separate lines: company name, number and street, city, state and zip code.
Type the Attention line ( ATTN ) in capital letters. The Postal Service’s “Address Tips and Tools” emphasize the importance of making all labels and envelopes clear and legible with the address of the recipient and sender on the front. Be sure to use the Postal Service’s standard spelling and abbreviation rules.