Royal Mail says envelopes should follow a certain style to increase the chances of moving smoothly through the delivery system. Ignoring this advice could hold up the arrival of a card or letter at its destination.
When writing an address on an envelope, Royal Mail recommends following a specific 'rule' to ensure the quickest delivery. On its 'top tips' page, which provides online guidance for customers, Royal Mail said: "Write the name of the town in capital letters. You don't need to include a county name, as your letters and parcels will still reach the right place."
Why capital letters matter
The postal service processes millions of letters and envelopes daily, and this is made faster and simpler if people write in clear block capitals for the town/city and postcode. The technology does not need to scan the recipient's name and street address; it can concentrate on the town and postcode when organising mail.
The automated machines only need to read the final two lines (the postcode and the town) to sort the letter and dispatch it to the appropriate local delivery office, the Express reports. It is then up to local staff to sort the parcels and post by street for delivery.
What happens if you don't use capitals
It's easy to overlook things when you're pressed for time or have many items to send at once. Fortunately, provided the postcode is accurate, not using capital letters won't result in the letter being rejected.
However, this might result in a brief delay in getting the letter or card to its destination. If the computer decides your 'normal' handwriting is difficult to read, the item will be redirected for manual sorting. Any delay depends largely on current staffing numbers and service demand. During busy times, such as Christmas, manual sorting of backlogs could take several days to work through.
Royal Mail's full envelope guidelines
Royal Mail asks that people posting letters or cards must "write the address clearly on the front following [their] guidelines".
- The name and address go in the bottom-left corner of the front of the envelope or parcel
- Use clear and easy-to-read handwriting (or font if you are printing the address)
- Use a pen or ink that is clear against the colour of the envelope or parcel
- Left-align the text (no centred or 'stepped' lines)
- No commas or full stops
- Leave a generous margin around the address
- Place the correct postage on the top right
Aside from the capital letter 'rule', there are a number of things people need to consider with the post. One rule is specifically useful to remember ahead of the Christmas card season, when items may be sent in coloured envelopes. While there is no requirement to use a particular pen colour, pale or faint writing can be harder to read. Customers using dark, brightly coloured or patterned envelopes can use a plain white label to make the address easier to see.
