Royal Mail is urging households to write two words on the back of envelopes and parcels to help prevent letters and packages from getting lost. The advice applies to anyone sending post from Scotland to family, friends or businesses elsewhere in the UK.
Two words that help mail find its way home
The two words are 'Return Address', followed by your own name and address. This clearly identifies the sender’s details and helps distinguish them from the destination address on the front of the item.
Royal Mail’s advice for posting cards says a return address can be written on the back if you want undelivered mail returned to you. Its guidance for sending parcels also recommends adding the details to the back in case there are delivery problems.
How to write the return address correctly
For a normal letter, write 'Return Address' on the back of the envelope, then put your name and full address underneath, including the postcode. Keep it separate from the recipient’s details on the front and make sure both addresses are clear and legible.
If you prefer to put the return address on the front, it should be clearly distinguished from the main delivery address and positioned so the two cannot be confused. Royal Mail’s technical guidance gives specific placement rules for certain types of mail, so businesses sending large volumes should check the relevant requirements for their mailing format.
Other ways to help post reach its destination
Royal Mail also recommends writing the recipient’s name and address clearly, putting each part on its own line and including the postcode wherever possible, as this helps its sorting machines process mail efficiently.
Adding a return address takes little time, but it could be particularly helpful if you are sending something valuable or important. Before your next trip to the post-box, check that the destination is correct and consider adding those two words on the back.
