Depending on where you live, it may or may not be acceptable to use the term “Mr. /Madam/Ms. Prime Minister. ” This is customary in commonwealth nations, but is generally frowned upon in the U. K. , Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. [2] X Research source
Similarly, you would say, “His/Her Excellency” when referring to the prime minister in conversation with another person. The phrase, “Your Excellency” is also useful for eliminating confusion if the official is visiting another country with its own prime minister.
There’s no need to use their first name. Saying, “Prime Minister Theresa May” in a personal setting will come off as awkward and unnatural. In some cases, it may be alright to switch to a more informal mode of address after your initial show of respect, such as, “Ms. Spencer. ”[4] X Research source
Be careful not to make the mistake of using the prime minister’s first name when talking to someone else about them, too. Instead of saying, “Theodore and I were just discussing the issue of misappropriate funds,” you would want to say, “Prime Minister Huxley and I…”
The completed address on the outside of your envelope should look something like this: “The Honourable William Clay, M. P/Prime Minister of Australia. ” If the official is distinguished by any other post-nominal identifiers, such as a province key like “B. C. ” ( “British Columbia”), be sure to list them right after “M. P. ”
Don’t try to get fancy with the salutation. Start with the same one you would use for any other formal letter, “Dear. ” You also have the option of foregoing a salutation altogether by simply saying, “Prime Minister” or, “Prime Minister Bentley. ”[7] X Research source
“His/Her Excellency” is the correct grammatical format for the outside of an envelope, not, “Your Excellency,” which should only be used when addressing the official directly.
Sign your letter with your full name, along with any titles you may have that are relevant to your reason for writing. As with your salutation, resist the urge to try to dress up your closing too much. A simple and respectful tone tends to work best.
