Postcodes
Sir: The answer to Timothy Dufford's question (Letters 4 November) is yes: letters will be delivered just as quickly whether the postcode is in capitals or lower case characters. The Post Office preference, however, is for upper case letters. There are a number of reasons. Our Postcode desk operators find it much easier to read codes printed in capitals. Moreover, the use of a lower case format could result in great variations a joining of the characters and would, bear ing in mind the ations in hand writing, increase the chance of a code being misread. The future use of machines capable of reading handwritten or typed postcodes is also a major consideration. The use of upper case characters only will enable these machines to be much less complex than would otherwise be necessary.
Peter H. Young Director of Public Relations The Post Office 23 Howland Street London W1 This letter was hand-delivered by Expresspost — Editor.
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