Prowords Used in Radio Communication
To keep voice transmission as short and clear as possible, radio operators use procedure words (PROWORDs)
to take the place of long sentences.
PROWORD | Explanation |
ALL AFTER | The portion of the message to which I have reference is all that which follows ______. |
ALL BEFORE | The portion of the message to which I have reference is all that which precedes ______. |
BREAK | I hereby indicate the separation of the text from other portions of the message. |
BROADCAST YOUR NET | Link the two nets under your control for automatic rebroadcast. |
CALL SIGN | The group that follows is a call sign. |
CORRECT | You are correct, or what you have transmitted is correct. |
CORRECTION | An error has been made in this transmission. Transmission will continue with the last word correctly transmitted. |
An error has been made in this transmission (or message indicated). The correct version is ______. | |
That which follows is a corrected version in answer to your request for verification. | |
DISREGARD THIS TRANSMISSION -- OUT | This transmission is in error. Disregard it. This PROWORD shall not be used to cancel any message that has been completely transmitted and for which receipt or acknowledgement has been received. |
DO NOT ANSWER | Stations called are not to answer this call, receipt for this message, or otherwise to transmit in connection with this transmission. When this PROWORD is employed, the transmission shall be ended with the PROWORD "OUT". |
EMERGENCY | Precedence EMERGENCY |
EXECUTE | Carr out the purpose of the message or signal to which this applies. To be used only with the executive mode. |
EXECUTE TO FOLLOW | Action on the message or signal which follows is to be carried out upon receipt of the PROWORD "EXECUTE". To be used only with the delayed executive method. |
EXEMPT | The addressees immediately following are exempted from the collective call. |
FIGURES | Numerals or numbers follow. |
FORMAL | The message that follows is a FORMAL message. |
FROM | The originator of this message is indicated by the address designator immediately following. |
GROUPS | This message contains the number of groups indicated by the numeral following. |
GROUP NO COUNT | The groups in this message have not been counted. |
IMMEDIATE EXECUTE | Action on the message or signal following is to be carried out on receipt of the word EXECUTE. To be sued only with the Immediate Executive Method. |
INFO | The addresses immediately following are addressed for information. |
I READ BACK | The following is my response to your instructions to read back. |
I SAY AGAIN | I am repeating transmission or portion indicated. |
I SPELL | I shall spell the next word phonetically |
I VERIFY | That which follows has been verified at your request and is repeated. To be used only as a reply to VERIFY. |
MESSAGE | A message which requires recording is about to follow. Transmitted immediately after the call. (This PROWORD is not used on nets primarily employed for conveying messages. It is intended for use when messages are passed on tactical or reporting nets.) |
MORE TO FOLLOW | Transmitting station has additional traffic for the receiving station. |
NET NOW | All stations are to net their radios on the unmodulated carrier wave which I am about to transmit. |
NUMBER | Station Serial Number |
OUT | This is the end of my transmission to you and no answer is required or expected. |
OVER | This is the end of my transmission to you and a response is necessary. Go ahead, transmit |
PRIORITY | Precedence PRIORITY |
READ BACK | Repeat this entire transmission back to me exactly as received. |
RELAY (TO) | Transmit this message to all addressees (or addressees immediately following this PROWORD). The address component is mandatory when this PROWORD is used. |
ROGER | I have received your last transmission satisfactorily. |
ROUTINE | Precedence ROUTINE |
SAY AGAIN | Repeat all of your last transmission. Followed by identification data means "Repeat _____ (portion indicated)". |
SILENCE (Repeated three or more times) | Cease transmission on this net immediately. Silence will be maintained until lifted. (When an authentication system is in force, the transmission imposing silence is to be authenticated). |
SILENCE LIFTED | Silence is lifted. (When an authentication system is in force, the transmission lifting silence is to be authenticated). |
SPEAK SLOWER | Your transmission is at too fast a speed. Reduce speed of transmission. |
STOP REBROADCASTING | Cut the automatic link between the two nets that are being rebroadcast and revert to normal working. |
TACTICAL | The message that follows is a TACTICAL message. |
THIS IS | This transmission is from the station whose designator immediately follows. |
TIME | That which immediately follows is the time or date time-time group of the message. |
TO | The addressees immediately following are addressed for action. |
UNKNOWN STATION | The identity of the station with whom I am attempting to establish communication is unknown. |
VERIFY | Verify entire message (or portion indicated) with the originator and send the correct version. To be used only at the discretion of or by the addresses to which the questioned message was directed. |
WAIT | I must pause for a few seconds |
WAIT -- OUT | I must pause longer than a few seconds. |
WORD AFTER | The word of the message to which I have reference is that which follows ______. |
WORD BEFORE | The word of the message to which I have reference is that precedes ______. |
WORDS TWICE | Communication is difficult. Transmit (transmitting) each phrase (or each code group) twice. This PROWORD may be used as an order, request, or as information. |
WRONG | your last transmission was incorrect. The correct version is _____. |


