care of

USAGE SUMMARY

"care of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used when you have a recipient whose name you don't know, and their address is the address of someone else who is taking care of them. For example, "John Doe, Care of Jane Smith, 1234 Main Street, Anytown, USA."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Already taken care of.

The New Yorker

Take care of himself.

The New Yorker

Taking care of education.

The New Yorker

Food's taken care of".

The New York Times - Arts

Take care of them.

The New York Times

Took care of everybody".

Independent

"He took care of everything.

The New Yorker

We felt taken care of.

The New Yorker

They take care of everything.

The New Yorker

He takes care of me".

The New York Times - Sports

I'm taking care of you".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "care of" in addresses, ensure it's followed by the name of the person or entity that will receive the mail on behalf of the intended recipient. This clarifies who is responsible for delivering the mail.

Common error

Don't use "care of" if the intended recipient lives at the address. "Care of" indicates that someone else at that address is responsible for passing on the mail. If the person lives there, address it directly to them.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "care of" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase, indicating a specific routing instruction for mail or packages. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "care of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase that serves to direct correspondence via an intermediary. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's most commonly found in News & Media, Wiki, and Formal & Business contexts. To ensure correct usage, remember that "care of" is appropriate when the intended recipient doesn't reside at the address. Alternatives like "in the charge of" or "under the care of" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. By understanding its function and avoiding common errors, you can confidently use "care of" in your writing and communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

taken care of by

Passively highlights being looked after.

looked after by

Emphasizes the action of providing care.

under the care of

Highlights the state of being looked after.

attended to by

Focuses on the act of giving attention.

in the charge of

Emphasizes the responsibility aspect.

in the custody of

Implies a legal or formal responsibility.

the responsibility of

Highlights the obligation to provide care.

managed by

Focuses on the organizational aspect of care.

overseen by

Stresses supervision and guidance.

protected by

Emphasizes the element of safety and security.

FAQs

How do I use "care of" in an address?

Use "care of" when the intended recipient doesn't reside at the address, but someone else there will forward their mail. For example: "John Doe, Care of Jane Smith, 123 Main Street".

What's the difference between sending mail directly versus using "care of"?

Direct mail assumes the recipient lives at the address. "Care of" indicates the recipient doesn't live there, and someone else will handle the mail for them.

When should I not use "care of" in an address?

Avoid using "care of" if the intended recipient lives at the address. Address the mail directly to them in this case.

What can I say instead of "take "take care of""?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "look after", "attend to", or "manage" to convey a similar meaning.