mailing
B1Neutral to formal. Common in business, administrative, and marketing contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The act or process of sending items, especially letters or parcels, through the postal system; also the items themselves that are sent.
A batch of similar items (letters, brochures, promotional material) sent out at one time to a list of recipients. More recently, can refer to the sending of emails as a digital equivalent.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can function as a deverbal noun (derived from the verb 'to mail') or a gerund. The meaning often depends on the determiner (e.g., 'a mailing', 'the mailing', 'bulk mailing').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'post' is often preferred over 'mail', but 'mailing' is still common in specific contexts like marketing ('direct mailing') and IT ('mailing list'). The word is fully understood and used, but 'posting' might be a more frequent British alternative for the general act of sending a letter.
Connotations
In both dialects, 'mailing' often carries a commercial or bulk-send connotation. In American English, its use is more general and less marked.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English for general use; slightly more marked as a business/commercial term in British English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[SUBJ] do a mailing to [RECIPIENT][SUBJ] send out a mailing[SUBJ] be on a mailing list[OBJ] require mailingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “S/he is on every mailing list (receives too much promotional material)”
- “Drop it in the mailing (send it with the regular post)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The core of direct marketing strategies. 'We need to plan our quarterly customer mailing.'
Academic
Rare, except in research about marketing or communications.
Everyday
Used for describing sending birthday cards, party invitations, or a batch of letters. 'I spent the afternoon doing the Christmas card mailing.'
Technical
In IT, refers to email distribution lists and list servers. 'Subscribe to the software update mailing.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She is mailing the contracts today.
- Have you finished mailing the invitations?
American English
- He's mailing the package this afternoon.
- We'll be mailing the tax forms next week.
adverb
British English
- This can be sent mailing priority.
- (Note: Rare as adverb. 'By mail' is standard.)
American English
- They shipped it mailing express.
- (Note: Rare as adverb. 'By mail' is standard.)
adjective
British English
- The mailing address is different from the billing address.
- We offer a mailing service for small businesses.
American English
- Please provide your mailing information.
- The mailing list is updated monthly.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I am mailing a letter to my grandma.
- What is your mailing address?
- The company is doing a big mailing to all its customers.
- Please add me to your mailing list for news.
- The effectiveness of a direct mailing campaign depends on accurate targeting.
- After mailing the brochures, we saw a significant increase in inquiries.
- The charity's quarterly mailing was meticulously crafted to maximize donor engagement while minimizing costs.
- The senator's office was inundated with responses following the controversial policy mailing.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SAILING ship carrying a pile of MAIL. The ship is 'mail-ing' its cargo across the sea.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT BEING TRANSPORTED (We 'send' ideas, 'receive' news). MAILING IS A BATCH PRODUCTION PROCESS.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'электронная почта' (email) only; 'mailing' is the *act* of sending or the *batch* itself. Do not translate as 'отправление' (a single dispatch) when referring to a list or campaign.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'mailing' as a direct synonym for a single 'letter' (incorrect: 'I received a mailing from my friend' – better: 'I received some mail/a letter'). Overusing in contexts where simpler words like 'post' or 'send' suffice.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'mailing' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its core meaning relates to physical post, it is widely used for email campaigns (e.g., 'email mailing list'). The context usually makes the medium clear.
'Mail' is the general, uncountable term for letters and parcels (or the system itself). 'Mailing' refers to a specific *instance*, *batch*, or *process* of sending mail.
It's unusual and sounds odd. 'A mailing' typically implies a batch or campaign. For one item, use 'a letter', 'a parcel', or 'some mail'.
It can be, especially for the gerund ('posting a letter'). However, for commercial/batch contexts like 'direct mailing', the term 'mailing' is still standard in the UK. 'Mailing list' is also far more common than 'posting list'.