Reader Question:
If you are writing a business letter going to Jane Doe in care of John Doe, would you use Dear John or Dear Jane for your salutation?
Answer:
“In care of” indicates the person to whom you are sending the letter (in this case, Jane Doe) does not live at this address, but is receiving mail there. Jane has designated someone at that address to receive and care for her mail (in this case, John Doe.)
“In care of” helps the post office deliver mail correctly, with no confusion about addressee or address, and enables someone traveling or moving or residing temporarily to receive mail at a designated permanent address.
Since John Doe is simply holding the mail for Jane, the recipient of the letter is Jane. Therefore, the correct salutation is Dear Jane:
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
“In care of Jane Doe” means that Jane doe is the one recieving the letter and holding the letter for the intended recipient, John Doe. You have it all backwards. The letter should be addressed to John Doe.
The examples are actually correct, but I suspect your confusion is about the similarity in the names Jane/John more than in care of. I should have used less similar names to illustrate.
Jane is the letter recipient. Therefore, the salutation should be “Dear Jane.” John is just receiving and holding the letter. He is not the recipient.