USPS USPS Error Detection Identifying Data Entry Errors Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A mail carrier's route sheet shows a delivery to '1247 Oakwood Blvd, Apt 3B, Springfield, IL 62704.' The package label reads '1274 Oakwood Blvd, Apt 3B, Springfield, IL 62704.' What is the error?
- The street number is transposed from 1247 to 1274 (Correct answer)
- The apartment number is incorrect
- The ZIP code does not match the city
- There is no error
Correct answer: The street number is transposed from 1247 to 1274
The digits in the street number have been transposed, changing 1247 to 1274.
Question 2: A certified mail log entry lists the sender as 'Johnson & Whitfield LLC' but the receipt copy shows 'Johnson & Whitefield LLC.' Which type of data entry error is present?
- A spelling error in the company name (Correct answer)
- A transposition of letters
- A missing ampersand symbol
- There is no error
Correct answer: A spelling error in the company name
The name 'Whitfield' was misspelled as 'Whitefield' by adding an extra letter 'e'.
Question 3: A parcel tracking entry shows weight as '5.3 lbs' but the scale reading documented on the intake form is '5.8 lbs.' What error has occurred?
- A numeric substitution error in the weight (Correct answer)
- The decimal point is misplaced
- The unit of measurement is wrong
- There is no error
Correct answer: A numeric substitution error in the weight
The digit 8 was incorrectly entered as 3, constituting a numeric substitution error.
Question 4: A forwarding address form lists the new ZIP code as '90210' but the corresponding city is listed as 'Phoenix, AZ.' What data entry error is most likely?
- The ZIP code does not correspond to Phoenix, AZ (Correct answer)
- The state abbreviation is wrong
- The city name is misspelled
- There is no error
Correct answer: The ZIP code does not correspond to Phoenix, AZ
ZIP code 90210 belongs to Beverly Hills, CA, not Phoenix, AZ, indicating the wrong ZIP was entered.
Question 5: An Express Mail label shows the delivery date as '02/30/2026.' What type of error does this represent?
- An invalid date entry since February does not have 30 days (Correct answer)
- A transposition error in the month and day
- The year is entered incorrectly
- There is no error
Correct answer: An invalid date entry since February does not have 30 days
February never has 30 days, making this an impossible date and a clear data entry error.
Question 6: A postal clerk enters a customer's PO Box as 'P.O. Box 4456' on the receipt, but the application form clearly shows 'P.O. Box 4465.' What error occurred?
- The last two digits of the PO Box number are transposed (Correct answer)
- The PO Box prefix is formatted incorrectly
- A digit was omitted from the PO Box number
- There is no error
Correct answer: The last two digits of the PO Box number are transposed
The digits 65 were transposed to 56, changing PO Box 4465 to 4456.
A mail carrier's route sheet shows a delivery to '1247 Oakwood Blvd, Apt 3B, Springfield, IL 62704.' The package label reads '1274 Oakwood Blvd, Apt 3B, Springfield, IL 62704.' What is the error?