Official Forms of Address for Letter Writing
(letter address; letter greeting; formal introduction)
Ambassador: The Honorable ~; Dear M~. Ambassador; The American Ambassador
Associate Justice: M~.; Justice ~; M~. Justice ~
baron/baroness: The Right Honorable Lord/Lady ~; My Lord/Madam or Dear Lord/Lady ~; Lord/Lady ~
baronet: Sir ~, Bt.; Dear Sir or Dear Sir ~; Sir ~
bishop/archbishop: The Most Reverend ~, Bishop/Archbishop of ~; Your Excellency or Dear Bishop/Archbishop ~; His Excellency or Bishop/Archbishop ~
Brother: Brother ~; Dear Brother ~ or Dear Brother; Brother ~
cabinet members: The Honorable ~ or The Secretary of ~; Dear M~. Secretary; The Secretary of ~
cardinal: His Eminence, ~, Archbishop of ~; Your Eminence or Dear Cardinal ~; His Eminence, Cardinal ~
Chief Justice: The Chief Justice; Dear Mr. Justice or Dear Mr. Chief Justice; The Chief Justice
Consul-General: The Honorable ~; Dear M~. ~; M~. ~
countess: The Right Honorable the Countess of ~; Madam or Dear Lady ~; Lady ~
duke/duchess: His/Her Grace, the D~ of ~; My Lord Duke/Madam or Dear D~ of; His/Her Grace, the D~ of ~
earl: The Right Honorable the Earl of ~; My Lord or Dear Lord ~; Lord ~
Episcopal bishop: The Right Reverend ~; Dear Bishop ~; The Right Reverend ~, Bishop of ~
foreign ambassador: His/Her Excellency ~; Excellency or Dear M~. Ambassador; The Ambassador of ~
former President: The Honorable ~; Dear Mr. ~; The Honorable ~
governor: The Honorable ~; Dear M~. ~; M~. ~
judge: The Honorable ~; Dear Judge ~; The Honorable ~ or M~. Justice ~ or Judge ~
king or queen: His/Her Majesty King/Queen ~
knight: Sir ~; Dear Sir or Dear Sir ~; Sir ~
marquess/marchioness: The Most Honorable the M~ of ~; My Lord/Madam or Dear Lord/Lady ~; Lord/Lady ~
mayor: The Honorable ~; Dear Mayor ~; Mayor ~ or The Mayor
military personnel: 'full title'; Dear Admiral / Chief / Colonel / Commander / General / Lieutenant / Private / Sailor / Sergeant / Soldier ~; 'full title'
monsignor: The Right Reverend Monsignor ~; Right Reverend Monsignor or Dear Monsignor ~; Monsignor ~
Pope: His Holiness, the Pope or His Holiness, Pope ~; Your Holiness or Most Holy Father; His Holiness or the Holy Father or the Pope or the Pontiff
President of the United States: The President; Dear Mr. President; The President or The President of the United States
priest: The Reverend ~; Reverend Father or Dear Father ~; Father ~
protestant minister: The Reverend ~; Dear Dr./M~. ~; The Reverend/Dr. ~
rabbi: Rabbi ~; Dear Rabbi/Dr. ~; Rabbi/Dr. ~
royalty in general: His/Her Royal Highness, the ~/~ of ~; Your Royal Highness; His/Her Royal Highness, the ~/~ of ~
Secretary-General of the United Nations: His/Her Excellency ~; Dear M~. Secretary-General; The Secretary-General of the United Nations
Sister: Sister ~; Dear Sister ~ or Dear Sister; Sister ~
Speaker of the House: The Honorable ~; Dear M~. Speaker; The Speaker of the House of Representatives
state legislator: The Honorable ~; Dear M~. ~; M~. ~
United Nations representative: The Honorable ~; Dear M~. Ambassador; The United States Representative to the United Nations
United States Representative: The Honorable ~; Dear M~. ~; Representative ~ of ~
United States Senator: The Honorable ~; Dear Senator ~; Senator ~ from ~
Vice President: The Vice President; Dear Mr. Vice President; The Vice President or the Vice President of the United States
viscount/viscountess: The Right Honorable the V~ ~; My Lord/Lady or Dear Lord/Lady ~; Lord/Lady ~
wife of baronet: Lady ~; Dear Madam or Dear Lady ~; Lady ~
wife of knight: Lady ~; Dear Madam or Dear Lady ~; Lady ~
