sdo-writing-conventions

# SDO Writing Conventions Mechanical writing rules for formal standards documents. These apply across all SDOs -- the rules are SDO-agnostic even though the canonical source is the ITU English Language Style Guide. For prose quality (specificity, fact discipline, anti-genericity, register), see `sdo-writing-style`. This skill covers only mechanical correctness. ## Quick reference -- most common rules | Category | Rule | |----------|------| | **Spelling** | UK Oxford spelling; prefer -ize (organize, standardize); use -ise only where removing -ise does not leave a recognizable English word or Latin root (e.g., surprise, comprise, advise, exercise). Note: some SDOs (e.g., ETSI) use -ise throughout; defer to the per-SDO drafting skill when it specifies a different convention. | | **telecommunication** | Noun: "telecommunications"; Adjective: "telecommunication" | | **ICT** | Full form: "information and communication technology" (NOT communications); adjective: "ICT" only | | **Hyphens** | Minimum use; non-, self-, quasi-, ex- always hyphenated; cyber and tele not hyphenated; e- always hyphenated | | **Numbers** | Spell out 0-9; figures for >=10, measurements, money, dates; use spaces not commas in large numbers | | **Dates** | 17 January 1958; time 24h: 2100 hours; time 12h: 9 a.m., 1.15 p.m. | | **Ranges** | "from ... to ..." or "13 360-13 410 kHz" -- never mix | | **Decimals** | Precede with zero: 0.3; "per cent" in text, "%" in tables | | **Capitalization** | General = lower case; specific reference with number = initial caps; "if in doubt, lower case" | | **Cross-references** | In standards, use "clause" (not "section") for internal references; in meeting documents, "section" may be used where the template or SDO practice allows it | | **Abbreviations** | Spell out on first use; no "the" before org abbreviations (ITU, not the ITU) | | **Lists** | Format A (items < 1 sentence): lower case, full stop only on last item; Format B (longer items): semicolons between items, full stop on last; Format C (each item >= 1 sentence): capitals, full stops on all. Consistency within document; "etc." never with "e.g."/"including" | | **Gender** | Use "chair" not "chairman"; "workforce" not "manpower"; avoid masculine-only pronouns | | **Disability** | People-first: "persons with disabilities"; "wheelchair user" not "wheelchair-bound" | ## Detailed conventions ## Document class switch (important) Before applying terminology rules, classify the target as one of: - **Standards document** (specification/report/Recommendation/Norm): prefer "clause" terminology for internal structure and references. - **Meeting document** (contribution/submission/TDoc/TD): "section" terminology is acceptable when aligned with SDO convention and the active template. For the full rule set, see: - [references/writing-conventions.md](references/writing-conventions.md) -- 11-section extract from the ITU English Language Style Guide Sections: 01. Written style (clarity, simplicity) 02. Spelling (-ize/-ise/-yse, telecommunication(s), ICT(s), compounds, plurals, foreign words) 03. Hyphens (permanent, temporary, prefixes, compound adjectives) 04. Punctuation (Oxford comma, spaces) 05. Adjectives (position affecting meaning: concerned, involved, present, responsible) 06. Numbers (spell-out rules, dates, ranges, decimals, ordinals, serial numbers) 07. Proper names (countries, organizations, conferences) 08. Capitalization (general vs specific, always/never capitalized lists) 09. Abbreviations and acronyms (plurals, articles, common forms) 10. Layout (paragraph numbering, headings, list formats A/B/C, neutral order) 11. Non-discriminatory language (gender-neutral, disability-inclusive) ## Cross-references - `sdo-writing-style` -- prose quality rules (complementary: this skill = HOW to write mechanically, that skill = WHAT makes good prose) - `sdo-docx-formatting` -- .docx style rules - `sdo-docx-operations` -- officecli guardrails - `itut-basics` -- ITU-T organization context for ITU-specific examples