Publication 28 - Postal Addressing Standards > 3 Business Addressing Standards > 35 Address Data Element Compression Guidelines > 354 Special Characters
“Remove special characters, multiple blanks, and punctuation in order as listed below.”
Special Characters
Double spaces/blanks change to single space or blank, except between state abbreviations and ZIP Codes or ZIP+4 Codes.
*
Asterisks, except in the Optional Endorsement Line
,
Commas
.
Periods
( \u2009)
Parentheses
“ ”
Quotations
:
Colons
;
Semicolons
‘
Apostrophes
-
Hyphens, except in the ZIP+4 Code and in the primary number used in the Delivery Address Line. Spaces before and after the hyphen or slashes (/) should be removed from the address or firm line.
@
At
&
Ampersand
