5-digit ZIP Code:
ZIP codes that share the same first five digits.

Aspect Ratio:
The aspect ratio is the dimensions of a mailpiece expressed as a ratio of height to length.

Banded:
Many mailpieces bound together by rubber bands (or string). They must be secured both ways (i.e., 2 rubber bands, 1 horizontally and 1 vertically.)

Bulk Mailing:
A bulk mailing can be First-Class Mail (at least 500 pieces) or Standard Mail (at least 200 pieces). It includes mailpieces going to certified addresses and presorted according to United States Postal Service (USPS) regulations.

CASS or CASS-certified
CASS stands for Coding Accuracy Support System.  In order for an address list to receive CASS certification, the list must be checked against the USPS database, a match must be found for each address and the correct 11-digit Delivery Point ZIP code and corresponding barcode must be added. Only addresses with the Delivery Point ZIP code and barcode are eligible for automation bulk mailing rates.

Carrier Route:
The area (route) or group of addresses that have mail delivered by a single U.S. Postal Service mail carrier.

Carrier Route Endorsement Line:
The carrier route endorsement line prints just above the first line of address. It looks like this: *********AUTOCR**xxxx (where "xxxx" is the carrier route).

Delivery Point Barcode
The Delivery Point Barcode represents both the full nine-digit ZIP code and the two numbers from the street address and is required on all automated mailings.

Dial-A-ZIP:
The Envelope Manager Software feature that looks up the nine-digit ZIP code for any address in the United States using a modem or the Internet.

Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail:
Mailers who sort Standard Mail (A) by individual carrier routes earn a discount from the bulk rate. Pieces must be part of a group of 10 or more sorted to the same carrier route. Pieces that cannot be sorted to carrier routes do not qualify for the lower rate and may not make up more than five percent of the mailing.

FASTforward
An on-line method of comparing the names and addresses in a mailing list against those listed in the USPS National Change of Address (NCOA) files. This process checks to see if any of the people in the address list have instructed the USPS to forward their mail to a new address by submitting a change of address card to the post office.

FIM Code:
The FIM (Facing Identification Mark) is a barcode that appears on a mailpiece in the upper right corner (next to the stamp area) to indicate it has a POSTNET barcode and the type of postage used on the mailpiece.

First-Class Mail
First-Class is used for mailing letters, postcards, bills or statements of accounts and checks or money orders. To qualify for automation discounts, a First-Class mailing requires at least 500 pieces.

Flats:
Sorted without bending, flats are large mailpieces that exceed at least one of the letter size maximums and weighs less than 16 ounces. Dimension requirements are slightly different for automation rate eligible flats than for non-automation rate flats.

Non-verified:
Addresses that were not successfully matched with an address in the U.S. Postal Service's national address database during verification (CASS certification) are considered non-verified (not CASS-certified) and are not eligible to be a part of a discount mailing.

PAVE or PAVE-certified
PAVE stands for Presort Accuracy Validation and Evaluation. The USPS provides testing for certain categories of presort software to determine compliance of sorting address information to USPS standards and the ability to produce standardized documentation.

Periodicals
Magazines, newspapers or other publications that are issues at least four times a year at regular, specified intervals. Periodicals usually must have a list of subscribers and/or requesters. Formerly called second-class mail.

Permit
An authorization to mail without postage affixed by using indicia or an imprint. Payment is made against an advance deposit account established with the USPS.

Permit Imprint
Printed indicia, instead of an adhesive postage stamp or meter stamp, that shows postage pre-payment by an authorized mailer.

Postal Business Center:
There are Postal Business Centers run by the U.S. Postal Service all over the country to assist small to medium sized businesses with planning their mailings. To locate the Postal Business Center nearest to you, access http://www.usps.gov/busctr/welcome.htm.

Postcard-size pieces:
Mailpieces that are not larger than 4-1/4 inches by 6 inches and are not thicker than 0.016 inch.

Presorted mail:
A form of mail preparation in which the mailer groups pieces in a mailing by ZIP code or by carrier route or carrier walk sequence (or other USPS-recommended separation).

SCF (Sectional Center Facility):
An SCF is a mail processing facility that serves a specific geographic area as determined by the first three digits of a ZIP code.

Scheme:
A scheme is a group of 3-digit ZIP codes that are served by a single Post Office.

Separator Cards:
Separator cards are made of paper or card stock and are at least 1/4 inch higher than the height of the mailpieces.

Standard Mail
Standard Mail is usually circulars, printed matter, pamphlets and merchandise. Each piece must weigh less than 16 ounces. To qualify for automation discounts, a Standard mailing must contain at least 200 pieces.

Standard POSTNET Barcode
The POSTNET barcode represents only ZIP code information, with no street address details, and can be used on non-automated mailings. Business Reply Mail uses a Standard POSTNET barcode.

Tray Labels:
Labels that are affixed to the trays that you turn in to the U.S. Postal Service with your bulk mailing.

Traying:
Traying is a term for the process of assembling your mailing into the trays provided to you by the U.S. Postal Service for submittal of a bulk mailing. AlphaMailer, Envelope Manager and DAZzle print a traying report to help you with this process.

Verification:
An automatic feature of Envelope Manager Software products that uses your Internet connection to check addresses against the U.S. Postal Service's address database. Verification also adds ZIP+4s to your addresses for faster delivery.

Verified:
Verified addresses are those that are successfully matched with an address in the U.S. Postal Service's national address database and are therefore eligible to be a part of a discount automation mailing. Verification is an automatic feature of Envelope Manager Software products. Non-verified addressed are eligible only for non-automation discounts.

ZIP+4 or ZIP4:
The ZIP+4 is the 9-digit ZIP code assigned to an address by the U.S. Postal Service. Using a ZIP+4 instead of just a 5-digit ZIP code can make delivery of mailpieces faster.