Dear Ms. Cards Etiquette,
I always wonder, when writing out cards, is it professional to write on the opposite side of the imprinted message. If you have a card that folds in half downwards, are you supposed to write on the top half of the card?? Does it matter??
Not Sure Nancy.
Well, Nancy, since your question can be a little confusing to some, I’ve included a diagram so people exactly understand what you’re asking. You’re asking if it is proper to write in the “Inside Front Cover” of the card. Refer to the image below.
The short answer is, yes, you can write on the inside front cover. There is no etiquette saying you cannot do this. However, there are a few conditions where this might not be such a good idea.
- Does the card have a foil finish? If so, you may not want to write on the inside front cover of the card because you could rub the foil off. (Foil is the shiny ‘metal’ look that is pictured on the top Happy Birthday Card pictured below.)
- Does the card have an “stamped” design that puts a texture on the cover? You might not want to write on the inside front cover of this type of card just because writing in the texture would be difficult for the other person to read — not to mention difficult for you to write. The second card, pictured below is a good example of a card that is stamped.
- Are you a heavy handed writer? That is, do you press down hard enough to leave an indention in the paper when you write? If so, you may not want to write on the inside front cover just because you could leave cursive indentions on the cover of the card which makes it unattractive to the recipient.
If none of those conditions applies, you can absolutely write on the inside front cover of the card. Hopes this helps you, Nancy!
Dear Ms. Cards Etiquette,
What does c/o mean in an address? When should I use it in my correspondence?
-The-only-CO-I-know-is-in-the-Army
When used in addressing envelopes, c/o means “care of”, and is used when you’re sending mail to someone who does not actually live at the address in question. It can come in handy when trying to get in touch with someone who’s home address you don’t know, if you can send mail to their work address:
Bob Smith
c/o ACME Company, Inc.
123 Street St.
City, ST 99999
It could also be used to send mail to someone staying at a hotel, if you don’t know their room number. Or, if you’re sending invitations for an event, and you don’t know one person’s address, but you are also inviting a mutual friend, you could send both invitations to the same
address, using c/o:
Jen Rogers
c/o Jane Rivers
123 Avenue Ave.
City, ST 00000
It’s not something you’ll need to use often, but when it is needed, it definitely comes in handy. Just write the recipient’s name on the first line, and start the second line (with the person’s or company’s name who’s address you’re using) with c/o.
Hope that clears things up!
Dear Ms. Cards Etiquette,
My friend recently had a pet pass away. She is very distraught about it, and I’m wondering if it is appropriate to send a card to her. I mean, it is not like a person died: it was just a dog.
-Jane S. in Idaho
Ah, Jane, what you fail to realize is that most people who adopt animals into their lives think of those animals as members of the family. To you it might just be a “dog”, but to your friend, she thought of her dog as a faithful, loving companion, or perhaps even a 4-legged child. If she is distraught, it is clear her dog brought her joy, so she will mourn it just like the loss of a human relative.
The most important thing you can do right now is to acknowledge her pain, and let her know you will be there to help her through this tough time. A sympathy card or a thinking of you card is very appropriate thing right now. Offer to take her out for a coffee or just tell her if she needs a friend to talk to, that you’ll be there. Don’t say anything like ‘You can get another dog,’ because that is stating that her dog was unimportant and ‘replaceable anyway’. Not everyone is able to adopt again right away. Something along the lines of ‘I’m sorry for your loss, and I’ll be there for you’ is really all you need to say. As always, with sympathy cards, it is important to offer support, not advice.
Good Luck, Jane.
Dear Ms. Cards Etiquette,
Our company is planning an expansion at our main office, and we’re trying to think of a good way to welcome the new employees. Some of them are local, and some are relocating to our town. I was hoping you’d have some good ideas!
-HR Newbie
No problem, Newbie … I’ve got a handful of great ideas for you!
- Throw a party! If all the new employees are being hired in a relatively short period of time (like within the same month) a welcome party would be a fun way to let everyone meet their new coworkers in a relaxed setting.
- The Welcome Wagon. A lot of towns have a “Welcome Wagon” organizations which give welcome baskets to people new to town, with coupons and small gifts from local businesses. You may be able to coordinate with them to deliver baskets to your relocating employees, with “Welcome” cards signed by everyone in the office included with the basket. (Of course, you could play Welcome Wagon yourselves, and put together your own gift baskets too!)
- Send cards to your local hires too. While they may not need the local resources a Welcome Wagon style gift includes, a “From All of Us” welcome card delivered to their homes, signed by the office staff, is a nice, personal way to let them know you’re glad to have them on board.
- Leave a surprise on their desk. This doesn’t need to be anything fancy … maybe a new coffee mug with a “bouquet” of pens and pencils? Or a nice note pad with their name printed on each sheet? Just a little something to bring a smile to their face on the first day at the new office.
None of these ideas need to be super-extravagant, this is really one of those “thought that counts” kind of situations. Letting your new hires know you’ve gone out of your way to welcome them to their new job goes a long way towards making a good first impression!
Dear Ms. Cards Etiquette,
I just took a job with a company that hosts a number of parties and charity events throughout the year. It seems one of my duties will be coordinating the invitations for these events. Is there a set guideline for when to send invitations to business events? Does it vary from event to event? Thanks!
- Nervous Nellie
No need to be nervous, Nellie! There are no concrete rules about invitation lead times, but general guidelines do vary according to the formality of the event, and how important it is that people attend. Here are some rules of thumb for you:
For recurring annual events, like a Christmas party, sending invitations a month in advance is fine. People already know to expect the event, so the invitation is just a matter of letting everyone know what this year’s exact date and time will be.
A formal dinner or big budget cocktail party, 4 to 6 weeks is appropriate. People will need enough notice to arrange their schedules, but not so much notice that the even risks slipping their mind.
For major events where you’ll be needing a large group of people, and possible media coverage (like a major charity ball, for instance), 6 to 12 weeks’ notice is more appropriate. Because the event requires so much preparation, the advance notice ensures everyone has time to make necessary arrangements.
If you have other events that don’t fit those general groups, you may wish to look through company records to see how similar past events were handled (and find out if the company feels they were handled well!).
When it doubt, it’s never a bad idea to ask!
