General Stationery Etiquette

• No abbreviations with the exception of non-professional titles (Mr., Mrs., Jr., etc.) should be used. Professional titles such as Doctor should be spelled out:
  
  Correct: Doctor Tara Tanaka
  Incorrect: Dr. Tara Tanaka
  
  
• When titles are used, the husband's title always comes first.
  
  Examples:
  Doctor and Mrs. William Joseph Alvarado
  Judgeand Mrs. David Howard Merriwether
  
  
• Middle names should be spelled out completely.
  

  Correct: Michael David Green
  Incorrect: Michael D. Green

• Avoid using Ms. in social stationery. It is typically more appropriate for business.

Children

• Children who are over 18 years old should receive their own invitation or announcement.

Abbreviations

• In general, avoid using abbreviations. Always spell out commonly abbreviated words such as street, months and days of the week. Also, be sure to spell out all contractions (e.g., "do not" instead of "don't".) You do not want your recipients to think you were in a rush when writing your announcement or invitation.

Gifts Wording

• It is considered tacky to mention the names of stores where you are registered on the invitation or announcement. Allow your friends to ask you if you are registered. As a rule of thumb, if you do not specifically ask your recipients not to bring a gift, your recipients will generally assume a gift will be accepted.
  
  
• It is acceptable to explicitly decline gifts on an invitation or announcement.Wording for declining presents should be printed at the bottom of your card in discreet print.
  
  Suggestions:
  No gifts please
  May your good wishes be your only gift to us
  May the presence of your company be your only gift to us

Addressing Envelopes

Ink:

• Envelopes should be addressed with black or dark blue ink.

Name:

• No abbreviations with the exception of non-professional titles (Mr., Mrs., Jr., etc.) should be used when addressing.
• Professional titles such as Doctor should be spelled out.
  
• Avoid using symbols for "and".
  

Address:

• All house numbers are written in numeral form except for "one," which is spelled out.
  
• Apartment, suite, and zip codes are written in numeral form.
  
• Avoid using state abbreviations.
  
• Avoid abbreviating the common words like "Street," "Boulevard," "Avenue."

Return Address:

• Print the return address on the back flap of the envelope.
• Center the address and use the same ink color and font that you are using for the invitation or announcement.
• Exclude your name from the return address.

Stuffing:

• The printed side of the announcement or invitation should be the first side the recipient sees when he or she opens the envelope.