This page is part of the NTS training series.
When sending or receiving traffic, you may encounter or need to use prowords. Also called procedural words or operational words, prowords have special meaning and aid with moving traffic. They are not written in the message or counted in the check count.
Number
This proword begins message copy wherein you give the message number as part of reading the header.
“Please copy message number ###, routine…”
End
Spoken at the end of the message. End is short for End Of Message.
“End number ###, no more, how copy?”
Amateur call
Used before saying an amateur call sign.
“Amateur call KILO EIGHT ALPHA MIKE HOTEL.”
Book of
If there are a set of messages that contain the same text and only have different message numbers and addressees, these messages can be moved together in a group called a book.
“I have a Book of 3 going to City1, City2, and City3.“
End book
Spoken once all book traffic has been moved.
“End book.”
Break
Used twice while moving traffic, the first use indicates the end of the header and the beginning of the message text.
“Phone figures four six nine, five five five, one two three four. Break.“
The second use indicates the end of the message text. After reading the last word in the text, say, “Break.”
I spell
Indicates you are about to spell the word you just said. If you pause too long, the receiving station may start trying to spell it on their own.
“INITIALS ALPHA ROMEO LIMA… FIFTY I spell FOXTROT INDIA FOXTROT TANGO YANKEE… SIX I spell SIERRA INDIA X-RAY…”
Say again
This proword is used in two circumstances. The first is if you need to repeat something for clarity.
“ORANGE I say again ORANGE”
The second is if you missed something and need it repeated.
“Please say again word before ORANGE”
No more / One more / Two more…
After indicating the End of a message or book, this indicates if you have any other traffic you are about to move.
“SIGNED AARON AMATEUR CALL KILO EIGHT ALPHA MIKE HOTEL… End number ###, no more, how copy?”
Figures
Used to indicate you are about to give a series of numbers.
“Figures ONE TWO THREE FOUR”
Initials
Indicates you are about to give a set of initials phonetically.
“Initials ALPHA ROMEO LIMA…”
Zip figures
Similar to Figures, but indicates you are about to give a zip code.
“DALLAS TEXAS… Zip figures SEVEN FIVE TWO FOUR ZERO”
Mixed group
Indicates what you are about to provide is a mixture of letters and numbers.
“Address figures ONE TWO THREE… Mixed group EIGHT FIVE TANGO HOTEL… STREET”
Go / Go ahead / Go (text/signature)
While sending a radiogram, the receiving station will let you know you can continue.
“Go ahead.”
Phone figures
Similar to Figures, but indicates you are about to give a phone number as part of the addressee section.
“Phone figures NINER SEVEN TWO… FIVE FIVE FIVE… ONE TWO THREE FOUR”
Direction
Cardinal direction in an address.
“Address figures ONE TWO THREE direction SOUTHEAST FAKE STREET.”
All before
If a receiving station missed the beginning part of something, they will ask you to repeat that information.
“Please say again all before RADIO”
All after
If a receiving station missed the ending part of something, they will ask you to repeat that information.
“Please say again all after RADIO”
Between
If a receiving station missed something, they will ask you to repeat that information.
“Please say again all between RADIO and EXAM”
Word before
If a receiving station missed a word, they will ask you to repeat that information.
“Please say again word before RADIO”
Word after
If a receiving station missed a word, they will ask you to repeat that information.
“Please say again word after RADIO”
More to follow
The transmitting station has additional traffic for the receiving station.
“End number ###. More to follow.”
Over
Indicates the end of your transmission and for the other station to go ahead. May not be used on traffic nets taking place on repeaters as the repeater’s courtesy tone and use of other prowords serve this purpose.
“Thank you for the traffic. Kilo Eight Alpha Mike Hotel. Over.”
Roger
Indicates you received the transmission successfully. Also used to indicate you successfully copied a radiogram.
“I Roger your number ###, thank you for the traffic.“
Confirm
A request to verify something.
“Please confirm ZIP FIGURES SEVEN FIVE TWO FOUR ZERO.”
Wait / Standby
If you need to stop transmitting for some reason (such as you’re about to sneeze, or you dropped something), tell the other station to hang on a second.
“Please wait.” / “Please standby.”
Correction
Corrects an error in something just said.
“FIGURES ALPHA ROMEO LIMA… FORTY Correction SIXTY I SPELL SIERRA INDIA X-RAY TANGO YANKEE“