How to Address a US Ambassador



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HONOR & RESPECT

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Alderman         
Archbishop, Catholic        
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Architect
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   from a foreign country      
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Honorable, The          
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   Writing &  
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   1. Formula For
       How to Address     
   2. Q&A / Blog On
       Use of Rank by
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   3. Q&A / Blog on
       How to Address
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     I, II, III, etc.         
Senior Judge 
      
Sergeant       
Sergeant at Arms
          
Sheriff       
Sister, Catholic       
Solicitor General      
Speaker of the U.S.
   House of
   Representatives.           
Specialist       
Spouse of the
    President of the U.S.       
Spouse of the
    Vice President
    of the U.S.           
Spouse of an
    Elected Official            
Surgeon General          

Texas Ranger        
Town Manager       
The Honorable     
Tribal Officials     
Two Titles,
    Person With

US Attorney        
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US Municipal Officials

Venerable, The        
Veteran (not Retired)         
Veterinarian
           
Very Reverend, The           
Vice Mayor       
Vice President
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Spouse of the
    Vice President
   
of the U.S.
Vice President-elect
    of the U.S.      
 
Viscount and/or
   Viscountess        

Warrant Officer       
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White House Staff    
Woman, business        
Woman, social        


   

How to Address an Ambassador
Of the United States of America

If you are looking for foreign ambassador to the US, here's that form .

      These are the correct forms for a US citizen to address a US Ambassador.
      Outside the USA it is also correct for foreign residents to address a US Ambassador with these styles, but is also correct for foreign national to use the international diplomatic form for addressing current accredited ambassadors.

     There are a number of ways to address a US ambassador to a foreign nation depending the situation:
     United States Ambassador at Post outside the Western Hemisphere
    
United States Ambassador at Post in the Western Hemisphere
     United States Ambassador away from his or her Post

How to Address a United States Ambassador at Post
Except in the Western Hemisphere

Envelope, official:    
    The Honorable
        (Full name)
            American Ambassador
                (Address)

Letter salutation:
    Dear Mr./Madam Ambassador:

How to Address a United States Ambassador at Post
In the Western Hemisphere

Envelope, official:    
    The Honorable
        (Full name)
            Ambassador of the United States of America
                (Address)


Letter salutation:
    Dear Mr./Madam Ambassador:

How to Address a United States Ambassador
Away from Post

Note: Use Ambassador of the United States of America in the Western Hemisphere. Use American Ambassador elsewhere.

Envelope, official:    
    The Honorable
        (Full name)
            American Ambassador to (country)    * See NOTE Above
                (Address)


Letter salutation:
    Dear Mr./Madam Ambassador:

All about The Honorable
Link to Q&A just on officials in the U.S. addressed as The Honorable


FYI, here is what's come in to the Blog that relates to this office/rank.
   For recent questions sent in, check out Robert Hickey's Blog.

   For specific offices/ranks, check out Robert Hickey's On-Line Guide.


How to Address Ambassadors
At-Post and Back Home?

      We are doing an overview of usage of the title Your Excellency to the Ambassadors (of the State and accredited to the country) when accompanying their Heads of State or Government abroad.  I would like to know -
       1) Would you address your  Ambassador (USA ambassador accredited in UK)  with "Your Excellency" when taking part of the official visit by the President of the USA  to UK?
       2) Would you address UK Ambassador accredited in USA with "Your Excellency" when taking part of the official visit by the President of the USA  to UK?
               -- Tina

Dear Tina,
       FYI, your questions are answered in my book in the chapter on Diplomats and International Officials.
 
       1) Foreign ambassadors at-post
       In the US we follow the standard international practice of addressing accredited current ambassadors ... from one head of state to another head of state ... as "His Excellency John Jones,"  "Her Excellency Mary Jones,"  "Your Excellency" or "Ambassador Jones" the last being the least formal.
       2) Foreign ambassadors when back home in their own country
       In the US, US citizens follow our standard practice of using "The Honorable" for everyone appointed by The President. So we address US ambassadors as "The Honorable Henry Smith" or "Mr. Ambassador" or "Ambassador Smith" ... the last being the least formal.
    Your questions:
    Would you address your Ambassador (USA ambassador accredited in UK)  with Your Excellency when taking part of the official visit by the President of the USA to UK?
    I would as a US citizen address a US Ambassador would "The Honorable Henry Smith" or "Mr. Ambassador" or "Ambassador Smith"  I would not use the British spelling of  "Honourable" just because we were in the UK ... since the nicest way to write a name is the way one sees it at home ... which would be "Honorable"
    Would you address UK Ambassador accredited in USA with Your Excellency when taking part of the official visit by the President of the USA to UK?
    I would as a US citizen always address a UK ambassador as "His Excellency John Jones"  "Your Excellency" or "Ambassador Jones" the last being the least formal.

               -- Robert Hickey

How to Address an Ambassador:
Your Excellency or The Honorable?

I see ambassador's names written as "The Honorable (full name)" and as "His Excellency (full name)". Which is correct?  The ambassador who is coming is the French Ambassador. How should I write his name?
        ~ The Diva of Diplomats

Dear Diva:
    An ambassador of the United States is addressed by US citizens as:
          The Honorable (full name)
                 The Ambassador of the United States of America
                           (Address)

    An foreign ambassador to the United States is addressed by US citizens as:
          His/Her Excellency (full name)
                 The Ambassador of (official name of country)
                           (Address)

    So in this case, a French Ambassador in the United States would be addressed as:
          His Excellency (full name)
                 The Ambassador of the French Republic
                           (Address)

           -- Robert Hickey

How a Should Non-US Citizen
Address an American Ambassador ?

          I am writing an invitation letter to the ambassador of the United States to Japan. According to your book the ambassador should be addressed by US citizens as The Honorable John V. Roos.  But I am not a U.S. citizen and I live in Japan.  I will be writing to him in care of the US Embassy in Tokyo. 
          Should I address him as The Honorable John V. Roos as the U.S. citizens do?  Or should I address him as His Excellency John. V. Roos?
        ~ T. Suzuki

Dear T. Suzuki:
          Using The Honorable would be honoring his tradition -- would be how a US citizen would address him -- and how he would expect to be addressed in the USA..
          Using The Excellency will follow the international custom -- would be the most typical form of address by non-US citizens -- and how he  would expect to be addressed outside the USA.
          Either is a correct form of address, but if you are located in Japan ... use Excellency.
           -- Robert Hickey

How To Write a Former Ambassador's Escort & Place Cards?
      I would like to know how to print an escort card and a table place card for a former Ambassador.
              - Ruthie W.

Dear Ms. W.:
     Former ambassadors are addressed with the honorific Ambassador at their preference ... and most I've encountered to prefer to be addresses as such.
    So an escort card could read -- if you are using first and last names ...
        Ambassador Mary Mel French
 
   and a place card should read -- if you are using just last names ....
        Ambassador French

                     -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a Retired US Ambassador?
    How do I address (in a letter) an retired American Ambassador?

           -- Carol Bentley in the United Kingdom

Dear Ms. Bentley:
    A retired US ambassador and a retired UK ambassador are addressed differently .... so I wish everyone tried as hard as you try to get everyone addressed correctly.
    A retired US ambassador is addressed on "the envelope" and in "the address block" of the letter as:
  
          The Honorable Carol Bentley
   
       
(Address)
    And in the salutation or conversation he or she would be addressed as:
 
           Dear Ambassador Bentley,
    Use the American spelling of Honorable because it's considerate to present another person's name exactly as they are accustomed to seeing it.
    In the US we address anyone who was ever appointed to a position by The President and approved by The US Senate -OR- elected to public office by the citizens as "The Honorable" ... for life. It's a bit like
in the UK once you are a member of the Privy Council you are The Right Honourable for life. Same situation.
    And ... ambassadors DO continue to use
Ambassador as an honorific when they retire.
             -- Robert Hickey

How To Address Two Ambassadors in a Salutation ?
    Please tell me what the joint salutation would be for married U.S. ambassadors with different last names.   Am I correct in that the mail names would be ... 
     The Honorable Jack G. Small
     and The Honorable Ann K. Jones

 Thanks so much!
                 -- Debbie

Dear Debbie:
    Yes .. .that is perfect. Each gets their full name spelled out on their own line.
    Next question is whose name is listed first? You listed Jack Small. Officially the one who became an ambassador earlier has higher precedence ... and would be listed first ... unless you are writing to one of them at their post ... and an ambassador at his or her post has the higher precedence.

                   -- Robert Hickey


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