English Language Arts
Grade 11
15 min
Formatting street addresses
Formatting street addresses
What you'll learn
- Identify the three main parts of a street address (house number, street name, and city/state/zip code) in 4 out of 5 examples.
- Apply correct capitalization rules to street names (e.g., 'Main Street' instead of 'main street') in at least 3 out of 4 practice addresses.
- Explain why it is important to write addresses correctly so that mail and packages arrive at the right place.
- Solve address formatting problems by placing a comma between the city and state in 5 out of 5 provided addresses.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Correctly format a standard US street address for mailing according to USPS guidelines.
Identify and apply standard USPS abbreviations for street suffixes, directional indicators, and state names.
Properly punctuate and place secondary unit designators, such as apartment or suite numbers.
Differentiate between formatting an address for a mailing envelope versus integrating an address into a formal sentence.
Analyze the rhetorical effect of including specific addresses in literary texts to establish setting or develop character.
Synthesize address formatting rules to create error-free addresses for various contexts, such as business letters and college applications.
Ever wonder if that college application or thank-you note actually reached its destination?...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Recipient LineThe first line of an address block that identifies the intended recipient by name, and often, title or organization.MS EMILY DICKINSON or AMHERST COLLEGE
Delivery Address LineThe line containing the civic number (house or building number) and the street name.280 MAIN ST
Last LineThe final line of a domestic address, containing the city, the two-letter state abbreviation, and the ZIP Code or ZIP+4 Code.AMHERST MA 01002-5000
Secondary Unit DesignatorAn official USPS abbreviation that specifies a location within a building, such as an apartment, suite, or floor.APT (Apartment), STE (Suite), FL (Floor). For example: 123 OAK AVE STE 450
Street SuffixThe abbreviated word following the street name that identifies the type of street.ST (Street), AVE (Avenue), B...
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Key Rules & Conventions
USPS Mailing Address Standard
RECIPIENT
DELIVERY ADDRESS
CITY STATE ZIP
For mailing purposes, the USPS prefers addresses printed in all capital letters with no punctuation (except the hyphen in a ZIP+4 code). Use standard USPS abbreviations for street suffixes and states to ensure efficient machine reading and delivery.
In-Text Address Convention
Number Street Name, City, State Zip Code
When writing an address within a sentence, use standard sentence case capitalization. Use a comma to separate the street address from the city, and another comma to separate the city from the state. It is conventional to place a comma after the state if the sentence continues.
Placement of Secondary Units
Place secondary unit designators (e.g., APT, STE) at the end of the Delivery Addre...
4 more steps in this tutorial
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Challenging
A character in a contemporary American novel is portrayed as meticulous and tech-savvy. The author includes a scene where the character addresses an envelope. Which of the following formats would most effectively reinforce this character trait?
A.John Smith
123 Main Street
Anytown, USA 12345
B.MR JOHNATHAN SMITH
123 N MAIN ST APT 7C
ANYTOWN US 12345-6789
C.Mr. J. Smith
#123 North Main St., Apt 7C
Anytown, U.S.A.
D.To: John Smith, From: Me, 123 Main St, Anytown
Challenging
You are converting an address from an email signature into a USPS-compliant mailing label. The signature reads: 'Dr. Evelyn Reed, Chief of Research, Bio-Genetics Inc., 101 Research Parkway, Building C, Suite 450, Innovation City, Maryland 21093'. What is the most correct and complete USPS-formatted address block?
A.DR EVELYN REED
CHIEF OF RESEARCH
BIO-GENETICS INC
101 RESEARCH PKWY BLDG C STE 450
INNOVATION CITY MD 21093
B.BIO-GENETICS INC
ATTN DR EVELYN REED
101 RESEARCH PKWY STE 450
INNOVATION CITY MD 21093
C.DR EVELYN REED
BIO-GENETICS INC
101 RESEARCH PKWY BLDG C STE 450
INNOVATION CITY MD 21093
D.DR EVELYN REED
BIO-GENETICS INC
101 RESEARCH PKWY STE 450
INNOVATION CITY MD 21093
Challenging
In a historical novel set in the 1950s, a character writes a letter addressed to 'Miss Jane Marple, 14 Orchard Road, Milchester, Midsomer, England'. An editor suggests changing the in-text description to '...addressed the envelope to 14 ORCHARD RD, MILCHESTER MS 12345, ENGLAND' to modernize the text. Why would this be an inappropriate editorial choice for establishing setting?
A.The suggested change is grammatically incorrect.
B.The use of all-caps and USPS abbreviations is anachronistic and would break the historical immersion of the 1950s setting.
C.The state abbreviation 'MS' is for Mississippi, not Midsomer, which is a fictional English county.
D.The original address is too vague and the editor's suggestion adds necessary clarity.
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What grade level is "Formatting street addresses"?
Formatting street addresses is a Grade 11 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Formatting street addresses?
You'll be able to: Identify the three main parts of a street address (house number, street name, and city/state/zip code) in 4 out of 5 examples; Apply correct capitalization rules to street names (e.g., 'Main Street' instead of 'main street') in….
Is "Formatting street addresses" free to practice?
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How many practice questions are included with Formatting street addresses?
This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.