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ZIP Codes are numbered with the first digit representing a certain group of U.S. states, the second and third digits together representing a region in that group (or perhaps a large city) and the fourth and fifth digits representing a group of delivery addresses within that region.

A ZIP code is a postal code used by the United States Postal Service (USPS) in a system it introduced in 1963. An extended ZIP+4 code was introduced in 1983 which includes the five digits of the ZIP code, followed by a hyphen and four additional digits that reference a more specific location.

Of course, there are larger post offices that are able to handle more than one ZIP code. However, each post office has at least one ZIP code assigned to it. So, USPS created 9-digit ZIP Codes to ensure fast and accurate mailings.

The term ZIP is an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan; it was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently and quickly (zipping along) when senders use the code in the postal address.

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.

A ZIP+4 code uses the basic five-digit code plus four additional digits to identify a geographic segment within the five-digit delivery area, such as a city block, a group of apartments, an individual high-volume receiver of mail, a post office box, or a specific delivery route ? meaning the actual path the mail truck

ZIP is an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan. However, the USPS intentionally chose the acronym to indicate that mail travels more quickly when senders mark the postal code on their packages and envelopes. It makes sense that the term ZIP code would be related to being zippy, which means ?lively? or ?peppy.?

This mail is sorted separately from general-delivery mail and often takes a bit longer to arrive at its destination. But, for many businesses the discount is worth it. The USPS requires a full nine-digit zip code for mail sent at a discounted bulk rate.

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.

Follow the steps below to shorten to five digits: Insert a new column to the right of your current zip code column. Type or copy and paste =LEFT(C2,5) , replacing C2 with your cell's identifier. Drag the formula down the rest of your column.