USPS Omission and Insertion Errors 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Original: 'PO Box 1138, Tucson, AZ 85701'. Copy: 'PO Box 11138, Tucson, AZ 85701'. The copy has:
- A missing digit in the box number
- An extra digit inserted in the box number (Correct answer)
- A digit omitted from the ZIP code
- An extra digit in the ZIP code
Correct answer: An extra digit inserted in the box number
The PO Box number '1138' became '11138' in the copy, with an extra '1' inserted, making it a five-digit box number.
Question 2: Which of the following represents an omission error in a street address?
- '123 Maple Streeet' instead of '123 Maple Street'
- '123 Maple St' instead of '123 Maple Street'
- '1230 Maple Street' instead of '123 Maple Street'
- '123 Maple Stret' instead of '123 Maple Street' (Correct answer)
Correct answer: '123 Maple Stret' instead of '123 Maple Street'
Omission means a character was left out; 'Stret' is missing the 'e' compared to the correct 'Street'.
Question 3: Original: 'Dr. Samuel Okonkwo Jr.'. Copy: 'Dr. Samuel Okonko Jr.'. The error in the copy is:
- An extra letter inserted in the last name
- A letter omitted from the last name (Correct answer)
- The suffix was changed
- The title was omitted
Correct answer: A letter omitted from the last name
The last name 'Okonkwo' lost the 'w', becoming 'Okonko' — a single-letter omission.
Question 4: Original: '5588 Birchwood Court, Apt 12'. Copy: '5588 Birchwood Court, Apt 112'. What error occurred?
- A digit was omitted from the apartment number
- A digit was inserted into the apartment number (Correct answer)
- A digit was omitted from the street number
- The apartment label was duplicated
Correct answer: A digit was inserted into the apartment number
Apartment '12' became '112' in the copy, with an extra '1' inserted at the front of the apartment number.
Question 5: A mail piece shows the original city as 'Springfield' but the clerk typed 'Springfeld'. This is classified as:
- An insertion error — an extra letter was added
- An omission error — a letter was left out (Correct answer)
- A transposition error — letters were swapped
- A substitution error — a letter was replaced
Correct answer: An omission error — a letter was left out
'Springfeld' is missing the 'i' from 'Springfield', making this a classic omission error.
Question 6: Original: '77 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001'. Copy: '77 West 34th Street, New York, NY 100001'. The error is:
- A digit omitted from the ZIP code
- An extra digit inserted into the ZIP code (Correct answer)
- A missing letter in the state abbreviation
- An extra zero in the street number
Correct answer: An extra digit inserted into the ZIP code
The ZIP code '10001' became '100001' with six digits instead of five, due to an inserted extra zero.
Question 7: Original form reads 'Robert L. Fitzgerald'. Copy reads 'Robert L. Fitzgeral'. This represents:
- Insertion of an extra letter
- Omission of the final letter (Correct answer)
- Transposition of the last two letters
- Substitution of a letter
Correct answer: Omission of the final letter
The last name 'Fitzgerald' lost its final 'd' in the copy, making 'Fitzgeral' an omission error.
USPS Omission and Insertion Errors 3
Original: 'PO Box 1138, Tucson, AZ 85701'.
Copy: 'PO Box 11138, Tucson, AZ 85701'.
The copy has: