address to + person/group
Direct words or communication to someone
Use address to for speeches, remarks, questions, and written communication.
He addressed his concerns to the committee.
address to, in, or by?
Address is commonly followed by to when directing words, letters, or remarks to someone. In and by usually have other roles in the sentence.
Quick answer
Which preposition goes with address?
Use address to when something is directed at a person or group. Address in and address by are not standard verb-preposition combinations, although in and by may appear as separate adjuncts.
She addressed the complaint to the manager.
The president addressed his remarks to the audience.
The letter was addressed to my office.
The president addressed his remarks to the audience.
The letter was addressed to my office.
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
address + issue/problem
Deal with a problem
Address is often transitive with no preposition when meaning deal with.
The report addresses the staffing problem.
address in + place/context
Use in as a separate place or context phrase
In can describe where the addressing happened, not the object of address.
She addressed the crowd in French.
address by + method/person
Use by separately for method or agent
By does not normally follow address directly, but it can introduce an agent or method.
The package was addressed by hand.
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
address to
The speaker addressed her comments to new employees.
direct words or communication toward someone
address in
He addressed the audience in Spanish.
in introduces language or context, not the recipient
address by
The envelopes were addressed by the assistant.
by introduces the agent in a passive clause
address + issue
We need to address the delay.
deal with a problem directly
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Using in for the recipient
Use to for the person or group receiving the communication.
✕ She addressed her question in the teacher. ✓ She addressed her question to the teacher.Using by after active address
By is not normally used after address in active clauses.
✕ He addressed the message by the staff. ✓ He addressed the message to the staff.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. The lawyer addressed her remarks ___ the jury.
2. The report addresses ___ funding problem.
3. He addressed the audience ___ English.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I say address to someone?
Yes. Use address to when directing words, questions, or letters toward someone.
Is address in correct?
Not usually as a fixed verb-preposition combination. In normally adds information about language, place, or context.
Can address be used without a preposition?
Yes. Address often takes a direct object, especially when meaning deal with a problem.
Related preposition guides
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