How to Address a Commissioner

‘Mr. Commissioner’. ‘Commissioner’ or ‘Commissioner (Name)’ are forms used when addressing a singular official with a THE in front of ‘Commissioner’.  This includes officials such as the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue and the Commissioner for Patents.

Federal commissioners – appointed by the President of the United States (POTUS) and individually approved by the Senate – are ‘the Honorable (Full Name)’  in writing

—-Official envelope:
—-—-The Honorable (Full Name)
—-—-Commissioner
—-—-(Name of Organization or Agency)
—-—-(Address)

—-Salutation:
—-—-Dear Commissioner (Surname):

— Robert Hickey

Types of Commissioners | See a Related Post:
—–——Chairman of a Commission
—–——Member of a Commission
—–——Court Commissioner
—–——Commissioner of an Organization or Agency
—–——Commissioner of a Sport
—–——State Commissioner
—–——High Commissioner
—–——Resident Commissioner

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

How to Address a Commissioner and Spouse?

Please tell me how to address an invitation’s envelope to the Commissioner of Patents and his spouse?
——————– Milton

Dear Milton:

—–On social correspondence the (office) is not mentioned.

———-The Honorable William Smith
———-and Mrs. Smith
———-(Address)

———-The Honorable William Smith
———-and Dr. Janice Smith
———-(Address)

—–—–The Honorable William Smith
———-and Ms. Linda Wilson
———-(Address)

—–On the inside envelope use:

———-Commissioner Smith and Mrs. Smith
———-Commissioner Smith and Dr. Smith
—————-or
———-Commissioner Smith and Ms. Wilson

– Robert Hickey

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?

You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing a letter, invitation, card or Email. (If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.)  The form noted in the salutation is the same form you say when you say their name in conversation or when you greet them.
___What I don’t cover on this site are many things I do cover in my book: all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions, etc. I hope you’ll get a copy of the book if you’d like the further detail.

Not Finding Your Answer?

—-#1)  At right on desktops, at the bottom of every page on tablets and phones, is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.

—-#2)  If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answered send me an e-mail. I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so (unless I am traveling.)  Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.

—-#3)  If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question  – but always change all the specifics.

— Robert Hickey 

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

Recommended Resources:  The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW) and Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA)    For more information see the Protocol Resources page.