French Phrase
On met l'adresse du destinataire au centre.
Meaning
The sentence gives a formatting instruction: the address of the person who will receive the letter or package should be placed in the middle of the page. It is a neutral, instructional tone often found in guides or office manuals.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are explaining how to layout a formal letter, an invitation, or any document that requires the recipient’s address to be centered. It is also appropriate in training videos or written tutorials for office staff.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Onmetl'adressedudestinataireaucentre.
On (impersonal pronoun)
‘On’ is an impersonal subject meaning ‘we’ or ‘one’, and it takes a third‑person singular verb.
mettre (present tense)
‘Met’ is the third‑person singular present of ‘mettre’ (to put, to place).
Elision with l'
The article ‘la’ elides before a vowel, becoming ‘l’’, as in ‘l’adresse’.
du = de + le
‘du’ contracts ‘de le’, indicating ‘of the’ (the recipient’s address).
au = à + le
‘au’ contracts ‘à le’, meaning ‘to the/at the’ (the centre).
Centre as a location
When ‘centre’ refers to a part of a page, it functions as a noun of place and does not need a preposition like ‘dans’.
🗨In Conversation
Où doit‑on mettre l'adresse du destinataire ?
Where should we put the recipient’s address?
On la met au centre.
We put it in the centre.
✕Common Mistakes
Mettez l'adresse du destinataire au centre.
‘Mettez’ is the imperative form; the sentence uses the impersonal ‘on’, so the correct verb form is ‘met’.
On met l'adresse du destinataire au le centre.
‘au’ already contracts ‘à le’; adding ‘le’ again is redundant.
On met l'adresse du destinataire dans le centre.
‘dans le centre’ suggests a physical space; for page layout we use ‘au centre’.
↔Alternatives
L'adresse du destinataire se place au centre.
The recipient's address is placed in the centre.
Placez l'adresse du destinataire au centre.
Place the recipient's address in the centre.
Mettez l'adresse du destinataire au milieu de la page.
Put the recipient's address in the middle of the page.
Cultural Tip
In French business correspondence, the recipient’s address is traditionally centered on the page, above the salutation, and written in a slightly larger font. This layout signals formality and respect. In Québec, you may also see the address aligned left‑justified, especially in informal emails, so adapt to the audience.