USA or United States?

[dfreely]

I'm sure it'd get to it's destination either way, but I was wondering if it's better practice to use "USA" or "United States" as part of the address.

[lizane]

Hi dfreely!

It's an interesting question, since I live in South Africa, I always send overseas. I don't know why (it's weird!), but to the UK, I write "United Kingdom", but to the United States, I write "USA". Of course, both work! {thumb2} You can honestly write it either way, as I've gotten many feedback from both the USA and UK. The post office will know the abbreviations, and obviously if it's written out (United States of America or United Kingdom).

Good luck!

[isia_144]

Hello dfreely,

I think there is no difference, both will definitely work I always write "USA"


Jagoda.

[honey]

I don't know why (it's weird!), but to the UK, I write "United Kingdom", but to the United States, I write "USA".

Me too ;)
I think that both will work

Good luck

[BossC]

I agree with the others: both should work. I usually write U.S.A. on my international SASEs and they seem to get to me fine.

BossC

[dfreely]

Yeah, I already know both works, I was just wondering which one was more "well-formed".

I used to write my address as "100st". It worked perfectly fine, but I eventually switched to the more proper form of "100th street". I was just wondering if there was a similar different between "USA" and "United States".

[lizane]

Yeah, I already know both works, I was just wondering which one was more "well-formed".

I used to write my address as "100st". It worked perfectly fine, but I eventually switched to the more proper form of "100th street". I was just wondering if there was a similar different between "USA" and "United States".

We already answered that - it does not matter, that's why there isn't one that is more "well-formed". The post office can read and understand both, so we cannot tell you one way is better to use. :neutral: It's the same for "Boulevard" and "Blvd.", "st." and "street" - it's the same thing so there isn't a better one.

[dfreely]

I ended up researching it myself, it seems to be a country-by-country thing. USPS has nothing on it since you don't write it on domestic mail.

Interestingly enough, the following are USPS recommendations for a properly formed address:

Everything should be uppercase
Street types are abbreviated
No commas or periods

I have noticed that's the format many people (friends and relatives) use when they send me mail from other countries.. here I thought they were just being weird.

[lizane]

Ok, we were just trying to help as it's not like your first post was very clear...

I didn't even know about those recommendations and I got the majority of my requests back regardles. :neutral:

[dfreely]

I do apologize for that, I occasionally build weird/unclear sentences due to a GAD+dyslexia combination.

Yeah, those are the government recommendations, but I'm pretty sure some 99.9% of people don't follow them. I know I don't.