etiquette

[sev]

The vast quantity of (mostly consistent) etiquette information on the 'net has all sorts of information about how to address an envelope to people with all sorts of different titles...doctors, judges, officers, etc. But nothing I've found explains how I should deal with finding a "Special Agent" in the list of names my sweetheart has helped me compile.

So I'm addressing this envelope to
Dr. {X} and Special Agent {Y}

...and I really hope this isn't another case of my sweetie's particularly twisted brand of, um, "humor".

Comments

[mhw.livejournal.com]

If that's their official title, then referring to them as "Special Agent Y" on first reference, and subsequently as "Agent Y" is perfectly correct. They may, of course, ask you to adress them as "Ms Foster", or "Nancy", in which case you should obviously comply, though you should continue to use the formal form on envelopes and so forth.

wow!

[sev]

I wasn't trolling for data, and especially not a bare four minutes after my post. Thank you!

This stack of envelopes facing me doesn't actually merit as much formality as I'm putting into the addresses, but it really tickles my fancy to be that formal when I'm writing with sparkly pen. :)

Re: wow!

[mhw.livejournal.com]

Heh. You ask the Friendslist of Vast Trivia, and you're bound to get an answer to such an interesting question.

BTW, I should point out that my answer above is correct according to British protocol (don't ask me how I know the correct form of address for people like British government agents, because I'm not allowed to tell you :>) but matters may be different Over There.

Re: wow!

[sev]

[ You ask the Friendslist of Vast Trivia, and you're bound to get an answer to such an interesting question. ]

question? I didn't even need to use any question marks! :)

[ BTW, I should point out that my answer above is correct according to British protocol (don't ask me how I know the correct form of address for people like British government agents, because I'm not allowed to tell you :>) but matters may be different Over There. ]

Close 'nuff for the level of formality I'm engaging in, really. I'm not using inner-envelopes, so contrary to all etiquette kids names are showing up on the mailing envelope, and [whisper]sometimes when it's addressed to a heterosexual couple, I put the woman's name first![/whisper]

Re: wow!

[mhw.livejournal.com]

Golly! how daringly avant-garde of you! :)

Re: wow!

[adrian-turtle.livejournal.com]

I thought the woman's name was *always* supposed to go first, when formally addressing something to a heterosexual couple. That is, if you're naming both people, rather than doing the "Mr. and Mrs. So-and-So," which gives me hives.

Dr. Jane Smith
Dr. Richard Smith
123 Street
Town, State Country ZIP

Dear Dick and Jane,

Look! Look!

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure Special Agent is a title like Doctor or General. I mean (and I could be wrong here), that would be like sending something to us addressed to "Grocery Clerk Y and Administrative Secretary X" as opposed to "Mr. Y and Ms. X" (or, if and only if you're any of my husband's elderly relatives, "Mr. and Mrs. Y").

But, as I said, I could be wrong.

[sev]

My first thought was that that wasn't that kind of title, as well. It's exactly my sweetie's sense of humor to apply the title to {Y} because he's reeling that his grade-school friend is now "Dr."

[sev]

...and, as it turns out, it *is* someone's sense of humor -- that of Dr. {X}. When asked how one should address zir significant other, zie responded that since the SO did not have a doctorate, addressing zir as Dr. as well would just be mean, so how about Special Agent?

It's no surprise Dr. {X} and my sweetie have been friends for decades...