Module 3 - Phonetic Alphabet & Prowords
Useful Prowords
What you will learn
Choose the short procedure word that states whether a reply, repetition, delay or correction is required.
Procedure words reduce the amount a receiving station has to infer. Over, Out, Say Again, Stand By and Correction each trigger a different next action.
Use Over when your transmission is complete and you expect the other station to reply. Use Out when the exchange is complete and no reply is expected. Combining them as 'Over and Out' gives contradictory instructions.
Say Again asks for all or part of a message to be repeated because it was not properly heard. Stand By means the requested information is not immediately available; IMO SMCP says to follow it with the time interval within which the information will be available.
Correction repairs your own spoken error. The IMO sequence says Mistake, then Correction, then the corrected part. Acknowledging or receiving a message is not the same as promising that you will comply with an instruction; the response must match the actual question or request.
Signal exactly what the other station should do next
A harbour station asks for your arrival time, but the navigator needs two minutes to confirm it.
1. State the delay
Say Stand By two minutes rather than filling the channel with an uncertain estimate.
2. Return with the checked answer
Call back within the stated interval and give the verified time.
3. Close correctly
Use Over if the harbour station still needs to respond; use Out only when the exchange is finished.
Sense check: A listener should be able to tell from the closing word whether they are expected to transmit next.
Common mistake or limitation
- Saying Over and Out together even though one requests a reply and the other ends the exchange.
- Using Say Again as a vague filler instead of identifying the word, number or part that needs repetition when possible.
- Saying Stand By without a realistic time interval and then failing to return to the waiting station.
Recap
- Over invites the next transmission; Out closes the exchange.
- Say Again requests repetition of a message that was not properly heard.
- Stand By should include when the information will be available.
- Correction introduces the corrected part of your own message.
Optional quick check
Section 3 of 7
You have finished speaking and need the coast station to answer. Which closing word fits?
Sources and factual review
Reviewed 20 August 2026 - Compass Revision editorial review.
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