Q. I have a female cousin who is a doctor
(Dr). Her husband is a solicitor (Mr). Could you advise me on what is the correct form of addressing them on an envelope?
V.H., Bingham, Nottingham A. Joint forms of address are always very tricky, but let us imagine your female cousin is Mary Smith and her husband is John Smith. One correct way of addressing the envelope would be Mr John and Dr Mary Smith. Yet, unless your cousin is a very assertive feminist, and if the letter concerns purely social matters, there is no reason not to address it to Mr and Mrs John Smith. While we are on the subject, another reader has asked me to confirm whether it is correct that the eldest daughter in an untitled family of consequence should be addressed on an envelope as simply Miss Smith. This is correct. Her sisters would be Miss Jane Smith, Miss Sarah Smith, etc. If the eldest girl gets married, the next eldest then becomes Miss Smith (on envelopes).
Previous page
