How to Address an Interim or Acting Official

How to Address an Interim or Acting Official?

Interim (like acting) is sometimes added to a title of an office when a person serves temporarily. When they are interim or acting include it when addressing the person in writing.  If there are special forms of address attached to the office, the acting or interim official is not addressed with the same forms of address as an elected and inaugurated or an appointed and installed official.  Address an acting or interim official with the forms of address to which he or she is normally entitled and identify as the acting or interim official.

When writing the name of someone in a interim position — include interim in front of the title.

—–So it might look like this:
—-—-Mr./Ms./Dr./etc. (Full Name)
—-—-Interim (Name of  Office)
—-—-(Organization
—-—-(Address)  How to address an interim official
—-—-(City, State, ZIP)

————Dear Mr./Ms./Dr./etc. (Surname):

—–Or:
—-—-Mr./Ms./Dr./etc. (Full Name)
—-—-Acting (Name of Office)
—-—-(Organization)
—-—-(City, State, ZIP) how to address an acting official

—————-Dear Mr./Ms./Dr./etc. (Surname):

— Robert Hickey  How to address an acting official   how to address an acting official

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.