d should begin
flush with the margin at the left side of the page, and a little
below the level of the heading. The second line of the inside address
should be set in a little from the margin. See model letters under
Sec.174.

In formal friendly letters and in letters of a non-commercial nature,
the inside address should stand a little below the bottom of the
letter at the left side of the page. In informal friendly letters
the inside address may be omitted.

157. PUNCTUATION OF INSIDE ADDRESS. In punctuating the inside address,
place a period after each abbreviation that is used. In addition
to this, place a comma after the name of the addressee, a comma
after the street address, if one be given, and after the name of
the town or city. Place a period after the name of the state or
country. Examine the correct inside address under Sec.174.

158. FAULTS TO BE AVOIDED IN THE INSIDE ADDRESS. Do not omit the
town, city, or state address from the inside address.

Wrong: Mr. E. P. Griffith,
My dear Sir:

Right: Mr. E. P. Griffith.
Muskogee, Oklahoma.
My dear Sir:

Right: Mr. E. P. Griffith,
221 Fiji Avenue,
Muskogee, Oklahoma.
My dear Sir:

Do not omit proper titles.

Wrong: R. R. Stolz,
Muncy, Pennsylvania.

Right: Mr. R. R. Stolz,
Muncy, Pennsylvania.

When two or more men are addressed, do not omit the title _Mr._,
before the name of each of the men, unless their names constitute
a partnership or trading name.

Right: Jones & Smith, (_firm name_)
New York City.
Gentlemen:

Right: Mr. Jones and Mr. Smith, (_not a firm name_)
New York City.
Gentlemen:

Avoid all abbreviations of titles preceding the name except _Mr.,
Mrs., Messrs._, and _Dr._ Abbreviations of titles placed after
the name, such as, _Esq., D.D., A.M._, etc., are proper.

Do not use _Mr._ and _Esq._ with the same name.

Avoid all other abbreviations except in case of a state with a
very long name. In this case it is permissible to abbreviate, but
it is better form to write the name in full. _United States of
America_ may be abbreviated to _U. S. A._

Wrong: Merch. Mfg. Co.,
N. Y. C.
Gentlemen:

Right: The Merchants' Manufacturing Company.
New York City.
Gentlemen:

Wrong: Mr. William Shipp,
Bangor, Me.
Dear Sir:

Right: Mr. William Shipp,