Meaning & use
FAO
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Meaning
abbreviation
Written before someone's name to show that a message or document is intended for that person.
Grammar: Used mainly in writing, especially on envelopes, memos, and email subject lines, followed by a name or job title.
Patterns
- FAO someone
- FAO: someone
Please mark the envelope FAO Ms. Johnson in the sales department.
The email subject line read 'FAO: Accounts Payable' so it went straight to the right team.
I left a note on the parcel saying FAO Dr. Patel.
Common combinations
- FAO someone
- The memo was addressed FAO the branch manager.
- mark something FAO someone
- She marked the folder FAO the new intern.
- FAO: [name]
- In the subject line, write 'FAO: Customer Service'.
Synonyms and how they differ
- for the attention of
- The full phrase that FAO stands for; it is more formal and is usually written out in full in very formal letters.
- attn
- Another abbreviation with a similar meaning, often used on business letters, but it is slightly less common in email subject lines than FAO.
Commonly confused: FAO or FYA?
FAO vs FYA
FYA stands for 'for your action' or 'for your attention' and is used to tell someone to deal with something, while FAO simply directs a message to a particular person.
Practice
You are sending an email and want it to go to the finance team. Which subject line is correct?
Choose one answer.
FAO is followed directly by the person or team, often with a colon in writing, so 'FAO: finance team' is correct. 'FAO to' and 'FAO for' are not used because FAO already includes the idea of 'for'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “FAO”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.