Establish Zip Code Article For Free

The first digit in a ZIP code represents a defined group of U.S. states. The second and third digits represent a region in that group, such as a large city. To send mail, only the first five digits of the ZIP code are required.

Since our caller works for the U.S. government, and ZIP codes are a government thing, I checked the US Printing Office style guide first. It recommends ?ZIP Code.? Associated Press style is similar: ?ZIP code??two words with ?ZIP? in all caps?but it uses a lowercase C, and I was surprised it would deviate.

?the five-digit ZIP number is a structured code in which the first digit identifies one of ten large areas of the Nation, and the second digit indicates a State, a geographic portion of a heavily populated State, or two or more less populated States.

The most complete ZIP Code is a nine-digit number consisting of five digits, a hyphen, and four digits, which the USPS describes by its trademark ZIP+4. The correct format for a numeric ZIP+4 code is five digits, a hyphen, and four digits.

Standard US ZIP codes The standard ZIP code notation used by the United States Postal service uses five digits to identify a delivery area. An example of a standard US ZIP code is 90210.

Leave one space between the city and state and two spaces between the state and ZIP Code?. Use black ink on white or light-colored paper. Use a PO Box? address or street address?but not both. If the address includes a directional?for instance, ?NW? for northwest?be sure to use it.

So what do the extra numbers mean? These last 4 digits represent specific delivery routes within delivery areas. This extra detail means an even more precise matching to a more granular level. It could represent a handful of houses on one side of a street, or even a single building that receives a high volume of mail.