The standard attention abbreviation is Attn., a shortened form of the word attention. You will see it on envelopes, package labels, cover letters and invoices, almost always followed by a colon and the name of a person or a department: "Attn: Billing Office."
That short line does one job. It tells the mail room, the front desk or the shared inbox which person inside a company or agency should get the item. The letter is addressed to the organization, but it is meant for the named reader.
Quick facts
Abbreviation
Attn. (also written ATTN or Attn)Stands for
Attention, as in "for the attention of"Period
Optional; Attn. and Attn are both common in the USUsually followed by
A colon, then a name, title or departmentUsed on
Envelopes, shipping labels, business letters, invoices, emailsUK cousin
FAO, for the attention ofPlural
None; one Attn line names the reader
What the attention abbreviation means
Attn. is a clipped word, not an acronym. It keeps the first letters of attention and drops the rest, the same way Dept. stands in for department. Read aloud, people simply say the whole word: "attention, Human Resources."
The longer phrase behind it is "for the attention of." In older business letters you may still find that phrase spelled out, but the short form took over because it fits neatly on a single address line. If you want to see how clipped words differ from true acronyms, the guide on acronym vs abbreviation explains the difference.
Where to put Attn on an envelope or package
In the United States, the attention line normally goes on the line right under the company name, or as the first line of the address block. Either spot works for postal sorting machines, which read the bottom lines (street, city, state, ZIP) first.
On a mailed check:
Lakeside Dental Group
Attn: Accounts Receivable
410 Harbor Road, Suite 2
Duluth, MN 55802
The envelope goes to the business, and the clerk who opens mail passes it straight to the billing team.
On a shipping label, the same rule applies. Put the attention line in the "company" or "address line 2" field if the form has no special box for it.
Using Attn in letters, invoices and email
- Business letters: the attention line sits in the inside address, above or below the company name, before the greeting.
- Invoices and purchase orders: "Bill to" blocks often carry an Attn line naming the person who approves payment.
- Email: some writers start the subject line with "Attn:" to flag a message for one person on a shared team inbox, such as "Attn: Maria, signed lease attached."
- Faxes and forms: a cover sheet may show "Attn" in place of a longer "To" field.
In casual email, many people skip it and just write the name. Attn reads as formal, and in all caps (ATTN) it can look a little like shouting, so save capitals for labels and forms.
How to write it: periods, capitals and colons
| Form | Where you see it |
|---|---|
| Attn. | Letters and documents that follow traditional US style |
| Attn: | The most common form on envelopes; the colon replaces the period |
| ATTN: | Shipping labels, printed forms, warehouse paperwork |
| Att. | Older or less common; can be confused with attachment |
When a colon follows, most writers drop the period, so "Attn: Payroll" is cleaner than "Attn.: Payroll." Capitalize the A because the word starts the line. Postal guidance in the US favors addresses written without punctuation in all capitals, so ATTN with no colon is also fine on a mailing label.
Mixups: Attn vs Att, FAO and c/o
A few short forms sit near the attention line and are easy to confuse.
- Att. or Atch. can mean attachment or attached in some offices, which is one reason Attn is clearer.
- FAO, for the attention of, is the usual British and Irish form. American readers understand it, but Attn is far more common in the US.
- c/o, care of, is different. It means the person does not normally receive mail at that address, so someone else will pass it on, such as a guest staying with a relative.
- Re: names the subject of a letter, not the reader.
Other address shortcuts, such as Ste. for suite and Bldg. for building, often appear on the same envelope.
Quick tips for a clean attention line
- Name a department if you do not know the person, such as "Attn: Admissions."
- Add a job title when the name alone may not be enough: "Attn: Dr. Lee, Clinic Manager."
- Keep it to one line so it fits the label.
- Do not put the Attn line below the city and ZIP line; that confuses sorting.
- Pick one style, such as Attn: with a colon, and use it on every page of a mailing.
For more short forms used at work and in the mail, the common abbreviations hub gathers dozens of office and mailing shortcuts in one place.
Questions people ask
What is the abbreviation for attention?
The usual abbreviation is Attn., often written Attn: when a name follows. ATTN in capitals is common on shipping labels and forms.
Do you put a colon after Attn?
Most people do, as in "Attn: Sales Department." When you use the colon, you can drop the period. A comma or nothing at all also works on a label, as long as the line is clear.
Where does the attention line go on an envelope?
Put it right below the company name or as the first line of the address. It should never come after the city, state and ZIP line.
Is it Attn or Att?
Attn is the standard and clearest form. Att. is sometimes used, but it can be mistaken for attachment, so most style guides and offices prefer Attn.
What does ATTN mean in an email?
It flags the message for a specific person or group, often on a shared inbox. For example, "ATTN: night shift" means the message is meant for the night shift team.