What is the meaning of the word affirm in radio communications

«Acknowledged» means I heard you & understood what you said & I take responsibility for the information you just gave me.

«Affirm» and its opposite, «negative,» are answers to a yes/no question.

They aren’t really interchangeable, although Hollywood script writers are notorious for getting details like that wrong.

An example of correct usage would be, «Callsign 123, is your ride smooth at FL350?» «Callsign 123, affirm.» (Answers the question, yes the ride here is smooth.») Then, «Callsign 123, we’ve had reports of light turbulence at your 12 o’clock and 100 miles.» «Callsign 123, acknowledged.» (Or, «roger» is more common, but same meaning… either way, I’ve received & understood the turbulence report.)

To reply «roger» or «acknowledged» to the question «is your ride smooth» is incorrect, because all you’d be saying is, I heard your question. There isn’t any «yes» or «no» component to either of those replies. Likewise, to reply «affirm» to the «turbulence ahead» call is wrong because there was no question being asked there. The controller just needs to know that you heard the information so that it doesn’t have to be repeated.

Interestingly, the FAA Pilot-Controller Glossary doesn’t list «acknowledged» at all, but lists «acknowledge» as a directive: tell me that you heard me.

It also lists «affirmative» and not «affirm» — that may be more used elsewhere. Also, with the quality of modern radios, the risk of the initial syllable(s) getting lost & the receiver left puzzling over «…ative» has probably diminished over time.

Procedure words (abbreviated to prowords) are words or phrases limited to radio telephone procedure used to facilitate communication by conveying information in a condensed standard verbal format.^[1] Prowords are voice versions of the much older procedural signs for Morse code which were first developed in the 1860s for Morse telegraphy, and their meaning is identical.

The NATO communications manual ACP-125^[2] contains the most formal and perhaps earliest modern (post-World War II) glossary of prowords, but its definitions have been adopted by many other organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme,^[3] the U.S. Coast Guard,^[4] US Civil Air Patrol,^[5] US Military Auxiliary Radio System,^[6] and others.

Prowords are one of several structured parts of radio voice procedures, including brevity codes and plain language radio checks.

Examples[edit]

According to the U.S. Marine Corps training document FMSO 108, «understanding the following PROWORDS and their respective definitions is the key to clear and concise communication procedures».

This is …[edit]

This transmission is from the station whose designator immediately follows. For clarity, the station called should be named before the station calling. So, «Victor Juliet zero, THIS IS Golf Mike Oscar three…» )VIK-tər-JOO-lee-ET—ZEE-roh-DHIS-iz-GOLF—MYK—OS-kər-THREE, for brevity, «Victor Juliet zero, Golf Mike Oscar three, ROGER, OUT». Never «This is GMO3 calling VJ0», DHIS-iz-JEE-əm-OH—THREE—KAH-ling-VEE-jay-ZEE-roh, «This is ground control to Major Tom», nor any other reversed combination.

Over[edit]

«This is the end of my transmission to you and a response is necessary. Go ahead: transmit.»

«Over» and «Out» are never used at the same time, since their meanings are mutually exclusive. With spring-loaded Push to talk (PTT) buttons on modern combined transceivers, the same meaning can be communicated with just «OUT», as in «Ops, Alpha, ETA five minutes. OUT.»^{[clarification needed]}

Out[edit]

«This is the end of my transmission to you and no answer is required or expected.»

Do you read?[edit]

A question about whether the receiver can hear and understand the transmission.

Example: «Bob, you read me? What is the situation from your position?»

Example:

A: «Air traffic control, do you read me? We have experienced a malfunction in one of our engines.»

B: «Copy loud and clear. We are monitoring your position.»^[7]

Roger[edit]

«I have received your last transmission satisfactorily, radio check is LOUD AND CLEAR.» «ROGER» may be used to mean «yes» with regard to confirming a command; however, in Air Traffic Control phraseology, it does not signify that a clearance has been given.^{[citation needed]}

The term originates from the practice of telegraphers sending an «R» to stand for «received» after successfully getting a message. This was extended into spoken radio during World War II, with the «R» changed to the spelling alphabet equivalent word «Roger».^[8][9][10] The modern NATO spelling alphabet uses the word «Romeo» for «R» instead of «Roger», and «Romeo» is sometimes used for the same purpose as «Roger», mainly in Australian maritime operations.^{[citation needed]}

For commercial maritime VHF, «Roger» is discouraged.

«Copy» does not mean the same as «roger».^{[clarification needed]} It is used when communications between two other stations which includes information for one’s own station has been overheard and received satisfactorily.^{[citation needed]}

Wilco[edit]

«I understand and will comply.» It is used on receipt of an order. «Roger» and «Wilco» used together (e.g. «Roger, Wilco») are redundant, since «Wilco» includes the acknowledgement element of «Roger».^[11]

Say again[edit]

«I have not understood your message, please SAY AGAIN». Usually used with prowords «ALL AFTER» or «ALL BEFORE». Example: radio working between Solent Coastguard and a motor vessel, call-sign EG 93, where part of the initial transmission is unintelligible.

Example:

[SC] All stations, all stations, this is Solent Coastguard, Solent Coastguard. Be advised large shipping vessel entering Southampton Water, currently at position [transmission unintelligible] OUT

[EG 93] Solent Coastguard, Solent Coastguard, this is Echo Golf niner three. SAY AGAIN ALL AFTER position. OVER

At this juncture, Solent Coastguard would reply, giving the position of the shipping vessel preceded with the prowords «I SAY AGAIN»:

[SC] All stations, all stations, this is Solent Coastguard. I SAY AGAIN, large shipping vessel entering Southampton water, currently at position one decimal two miles from Calshot Spit on bearing one six five degrees. Vessel restricted in ability to deviate from its course. Do not impede. OUT

The word «REPEAT» should not be used in place of «SAY AGAIN», especially in the vicinity of naval or other firing ranges, as «REPEAT» is an artillery proword defined in ACP 125 U.S. Supp-2(A) with the wholly different meaning of «request for the same volume of fire to be fired again with or without corrections or changes» (e.g., at the same coordinates as the previous round).^[12]

All after…[edit]

«Please repeat the message you just sent me beginning after the word or phrase said after this proword.»

All before…[edit]

«Please repeat the message you just sent me ending before the word or phrase said after this proword.»

Wait over[edit]

«I must pause for a few seconds.»

Wait out[edit]

«I must pause for longer than a few seconds. I will call you back.»

Read back[edit]

«Please repeat my entire transmission back to me.»

I read back[edit]

«The following is my response to your READ BACK proword.»

Correction[edit]

«I made an error in this transmission. Transmission will continue with the last word correctly sent.»

Radio check[edit]

«What is my signal strength and readability; how do you hear me?»

The sender requests a response indicating the strength and readability of their transmission, according to plain language radio check standards:

• A response of ROGER is shorthand for the prowords LOUD AND CLEAR.
• A response of WEAK BUT READABLE («WEAK READABLE» is also used) indicates a weak signal but I can understand.
• A response of WEAK AND DISTORTED indicates a weak signal and unreadable.
• A response of STRONG BUT DISTORTED indicates a strong signal but unreadable. One of the two stations might be slightly off frequency, there might be multipath distortion, or there might be a problem with the audio circuits on one or both of the radios.

«5 by 5» is an older term used to assess radio signals, as in 5 out of 5 units for both signal strength and readability. Other terms similar to 5×5 are «LOUD AND CLEAR» or «Lima and Charlie». Example:

Alpha 12: «X-ray two-three, this is Alpha one-two, RADIO CHECK, OVER.»

X-ray 23: «Alpha one-two, this is X-ray two-three, I read you 5 by 5, OVER.»

Alpha 12: «Alpha one-two ROGER, OUT.»

Similar example in shorter form:

Alpha 12: «X-ray two-three, this is Alpha one-two, RADIO CHECK, OVER

X-ray 23: «Alpha one-two, this is X-ray two-three, ROGER, OUT

If the initiating station (Alpha 12 in the example) cannot hear the responding station (X-ray 23 above), then the initiator attempts a radio-check again, or if the responder’s signal was not heard, the initiator replies to the responder with «Negative contact, Alpha 12 OUT».

The following readability scale is used: 1 = bad (unreadable); 2 = poor (readable now and then); 3 = fair (readable, but with difficulty); 4 = good (readable); 5 = excellent (perfectly readable).

Example of correct US Army radio check, for receiver A-11 (Alpha 11) and sender D-12 (Delta 12):

A-11 This is D-12 RADIO CHECK, OVER

D-12 This is A-11 ROGER, OVER

A-11 this is D-12 ROGER, OUT

Article 32 Radio Regulations distress and rescue[edit]

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Convention and Procedures for Air Navigation Services set out «distress, urgency and safety procedures».

On the radio, distress (emergency) and rescue usage takes precedence above all other usage, and the radio stations at the scene of the disaster (on land, in a plane, or on a boat) are authorized to commandeer the frequency and prohibit all transmissions that are not involved in assisting them. These procedure words originate in the International Radio Regulations.

The Combined Communications-Electronics Board (representing military use by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States) sets out their usage in the Allied Communications Publications «ACP 135(F) Communications instructions Distress and Rescue Procedures».^[13]

Mayday[edit]

Mayday is used internationally as the official SOS/distress call for voice. It means that the caller, their vessel or a person aboard the vessel is in grave and imminent danger, send immediate assistance. This call takes priority over all other calls.^[14]

The correct format for a Mayday call is as follows:

[The first part of the signal is known as the «call»]

Mayday, Mayday, Mayday,
This is (vessel name repeated three times, followed by call sign if available)
[The subsequent part of the signal is known as the «message»]

Mayday (vessel name)
My position is (position as a lat-long position or bearing and distance from a fixed point)
I am (type of distress, e.g. on fire and sinking)
I require immediate assistance
I have (number of people on board and their condition)
(Any other information e.g. «I am abandoning to life rafts»)

Over

VHF instructors, specifically those working for the Royal Yachting Association, often suggest the mnemonic MIPDANIO for learning the message of a Mayday signal: mayday, identify, position, distress, assistance, number-of-crew, information, over.^{[citation needed]}

In aviation a different format is used:

[First part of the message] Mayday, Mayday, Mayday

[Second part of the message] Callsign

[Third part of the message] Nature of the emergency

For example: «Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, Wiki Air 999, we have lost both of our engines due to a bird strike, we are gliding now.»

After that pilot can give, or the controller can ask for, additional information, such as, fuel and number of passengers on board.

Pan-Pan[edit]

Pan-pan (pronounced )^[15] is the official urgency voice call.

Meaning «I, my vessel or a person aboard my vessel requires assistance but is not in distress.» This overrides all but a mayday call, and is used, as an example, for calling for medical assistance or if the station has no means of propulsion. The correct usage is:

Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan

All stations, all stations, all stations
This is [vessel name repeated three times]
My position is [position as a lat-long position or bearing and distance from a fixed point]
I am [type of urgency, e.g. drifting without power in a shipping lane]
I require [type of assistance required]
[Any other information e.g. size of vessel, which may be important for towing]

Over^{[citation needed]}

SÉCURITÉ[edit]

Pronounced say-KURE-i-tay, this is the official safety voice call.

«I have important meteorological, navigational or safety information to pass on.»
This call is normally broadcast on a defined channel (channel 16 for maritime VHF) and then moved onto another channel to pass the message. Example:

[On channel 16]

SÉCURITÉ, SÉCURITÉ, SÉCURITÉ

All stations, all stations, all stations.

This is Echo Golf niner three, Echo Golf niner three, Echo Golf niner three.

For urgent navigational warning, listen on channel six-seven.

OUT

[Then on channel 67]

SÉCURITÉ, SÉCURITÉ, SÉCURITÉ

All stations, all stations, all stations.

This is Echo Golf niner tree (three), Echo Golf niner tree, Echo Golf niner tree.

Floating debris sighted off Calshot Spit.

Considered a danger to surface navigation.

OUT

SEELONCE MAYDAY[edit]

«Seelonce» is an approximation rendition of the French word silence. Indicates that your vessel has an emergency and that you are requiring radio silence from all other stations not assisting you.

SEELONCE DISTRESS[edit]

Indicates that you are relaying or assisting a station that has placed a MAYDAY call and you are requiring radio silence from all other stations not assisting you or the station in distress.

When the emergency issue is winding down and then has been resolved, these prowords are used to open up the frequency for use by stations not involved in the emergency:

PRU-DONCE[edit]

Indicates that complete radio silence is no longer required and restricted (limited) use of the frequency may resume, but immediately giving way to all further distress communications.

SEELONCE FEENEE[edit]

Indicates that emergency communications have ceased and normal use of the frequency may resume.

ACP 125(F)[edit]

Proword	Meaning	Prosign/ OPSIG
ACKNOWLEDGE (ACK)	An instruction to the addressee that the message must be acknowledged	ZEV or QSL
ADDRESS GROUP	The group that follows is an address group
ALL AFTER	The portion of the message to which I have reference is all that follows……………	AA
ALL BEFORE	The portion of the message to which I have reference is all that precedes…………..	AB
ANSWER AFTER	The station called is to answer after call sign……..when answering transmissions.	ZGO
ASSUME CONTROL	You will assume control of this net until further notice	ZKD
AUTHENTICATE	The station called is to reply to the challenge that follows	INT ZNB
AUTHENTICATION IS	The transmission authentication of this message is……….
BREAK	I hereby indicate the separation of the text from other portions of the message	BT
BROADCAST YOUR NET	Link the two nets under your control for automatic rebroadcast
CALL SIGN	The group that follows is a call sign
CLOSE DOWN	Stations are to close down when indicated. Acknowledgments are required	ZKJ
CORRECT	You are correct, or what you have transmitted is correct.	C
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»	EEEEEEEE C C
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 receipted.)	EEEEEEEE AR
DO NOT ANSWER	Stations called are not to answer this call, receipt for this message, or otherwise transmit in connection with this transmission. When this proword is employed, the transmission shall be ended with the proword OUT.	F
EXECUTE	Carry out the purport of the message or signal to which this applies. (To be used only with the Executive Method.)	IX——
EXECUTE TO FOLLOW	Action on the message or signal that follows is to be carried out upon receipt of the proword EXECUTE. (To be used only with the Delayed Executive Method.)	IX
EXEMPT	The station(s) immediately following is (are) exempted from the collective call or from collective address	XMT
FIGURES	Numerals or numbers follow.
FLASH	Precedence FLASH.	Z
FROM	The originator of this message is indicated by the address designator immediately following	FM
GRID	The portion following is a grid reference
GROUPS	This message contains the number of groups indicated by the numeral following.	GR
GROUP NO COUNT	The groups in this message have not been counted.	GRNC
I AM ASSUMING CONTROL	I am assuming control of this net until further notice	ZKA
I AUTHENTICATE	The group that follows is the reply to your challenge to authenticate	ZNB
IMMEDIATE	Precedence IMMEDIATE	O
IMMEDIATE EXECUTE	Action on the message or signal following is to be carried out on receipt of the EXECUTE. (To be used only with the Immediate Executive Method.)	IX
INFO	The addressees immediately following are addressed for information	INFO
I READ BACK	The following is my response to your instructions to read back	IRB
I SAY AGAIN	I am repeating transmission or portion indicated.	IMI
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.)	C
MESSAGE	A message that 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.)	ZBO
MORE TO FOLLOW	Transmitting station has additional traffic for the receiving station.	B
NEGATIVE (NEGAT)	No. Cancel message(s) sent by the Delayed Executive Method. (NEGAT may be used to cancel a single message or a group of messages awaiting execution.)	ZUG
NET NOW	All stations are to net their radios on the unmodulated carrier wave that I am about to transmit.	ZRC2
NO PLAY	During exercises the words NO PLAY are used to distinguish real activity from messages concerned with exercise play e.g. a real emergency or real casualty. The first words of any message is to contain the words exercise (nickname e.g.Red Flag) NO PLAY
NOTHING HEARD	To be used when no reply is received from a call station.	ZGN
NUMBER	Station serial number.	NR
OUT	This is the end of my transmission to you and no answer is required or expected.	AR
OVER	This is the end of my transmission to you and a response is necessary. Go ahead, transmit	K
PRIORITY	Precedence PRIORITY	P
READ BACK	Repeat this entire transmission back to me exactly as received	G
REBROADCAST YOUR NET	Link the two nets under your control for automatic rebroadcast.
RELAY (TO)	Transmit this message to all addressees (or addressees immediately following this proword). The address component is mandatory when this proword is used.	T or ZOF
RELAY THROUGH	Relay your message through call sign………	ZOK
ROGER	This is a method of receipt. I have received your last transmission satisfactorily.	R
ROUTINE	Precedence ROUTINE.	R
SAY AGAIN	Repeat all of your last transmission. Followed by identification data means «Repeat………… (portion indicated).”	IMI
SEND YOUR	I am ready to receive your message, report, etc.	K
	(Used only in reply to the offer of a message, etc., on tactical or reporting nets.)
SERVICE	The message that follows is a SERVICE message	SVC
SIGNALS	The groups that follow are taken from a signal book. (This proword is not used on nets primarily employed for conveying signals. It is intended for use when tactical signals are passed on non-tactical nets.)
SILENCE (Repeated three or more times)	Cease transmissions on this net immediately. Silence will be maintained until lifted. (Transmissions must be authenticated by use of a self authenticated system, codeword, etc.)	HM HM HM
SILENCE LIFTED	Silence is lifted. (Transmissions must be authenticated by means of self authentication system, codeword, etc.)	ZUG HM HM HM
SPEAK SLOWER	Your transmission is too fast. Reduce speed of transmission.	QRS
STOP REBROADCASTING	Cut the automatic link between the two nets that are being rebroadcast and revert to normal working.
THIS IS	This transmission is from the station whose designator immediately follows.	DE
THIS IS A DIRECTED NET	From now until further notice this net is directed.	ZKB
THIS IS A FREE NET	From now until further notice this net is free.	ZUG ZKB
THROUGH ME	Relay your message through me	ZOE
TIME	That which immediately follows is the time or datetime group of the message.	QTR
TO	The addressees immediately following are addressed for action	TO
—TO—	The portion of the message to which I have reference is all that which appears between the groups………and………
UNKNOWN STATION	The identity of the station with whom I am attempting to establish communication is unknown.	AA
USE ABBREVIATED CALL SIGNS	Call signs are to be abbreviated until further notice.
USE ABBREVIATED PROCEDURE	As conditions are normal, all stations are to use abbreviated procedure until further notice.
USE FULL CALL SIGNS	Call signs are to be sent in full until further notice
USE FULL PROCEDURE	As conditions are not normal, all stations are to use full procedure until further notice.
VERIFY	Verify entire message (or portion indicated) with the originator and send correct version. (To be used only at the discretion of, or by, the addressee to which the questioned message was directed.)	J
WAIT	I must pause for a few seconds	AS
WAIT – OUT	I must pause for longer than a few seconds.	AS AR
WILCO	I have Received your signal, understand it, and will comply. To be used only by the addressee. Since the meaning of ROGER is included in that of WILCO, the two prowords are never used together.
WORD AFTER	The word of the message to which I have reference is that which follows…………..	WA
WORD BEFORE	The word of the message to which I have reference is that which precedes…………..	WB
WORDS TWICE	Communication is difficult. Transmit each phrase (or each code group) twice. (This proword may be used as an order, request, or as information.)	QSZ
WRONG	Your last transmission was incorrect. The correct version is…….	ZWF

Aviation radio[edit]

More formally known as «Aeronautical Mobile communications», radio communications from and to aircraft are governed by rules created by the International Civil Aviation Organization. ICAO defines a very similar but shorter list of prowords in Annex 10 of its Radiotelephony Procedures (to the Convention on International Civil Aviation). Material in the following table is quoted from their list.^[16] ICAO also defines «ICAO Radio Telephony Phraseology».^[17]

Proword	Meaning	Notes
Acknowledge	Let me know that you have received and understood this message
Affirmative or Affirm	Yes.
Approved	Permission for proposed action granted.
Break	I hereby indicate the separation between portions of the message.
Break Break	I hereby indicate the separation between messages transmitted to different aircraft in a very busy environment
Cancel	Annul the previously transmitted clearance
Check	Examine a system or procedure
Cleared	Authorized to proceed under conditions specified.
Confirm	I request verification of: (clearance, instruction, action information).
Contact	Establish communications with…
Correct	True or Accurate
Correction	An error has been made in this transmission (or message indicated). The correct version is…
Disregard	Ignore
How Do You Read	What is the readability of my transmission
I say again	I repeat for clarity or emphasis.
Monitor	Listen out on (frequency)	Often used by terminal controllers when instructing the recipient to tune into a different frequency and listen in, but refrain from creating unnecessary radio traffic.
Negative	«No» or «Permission not granted», or «That is not correct» or «Not capable»
Over	My transmission is ended, and I expect a response from you.
Out	This exchange of transmissions is ended and no response is expected.
Read Back	Repeat all, or the specified part, of this message back to me exactly as received.
Recleared	A change has been made to your last clearance and this new clearance supersedes your previous clearance or part thereof.
Report	Pass me the following information…
Request	I should like to know…
Roger	I have received all of your last transmission.
Say Again	Repeat all, or the following part, of your last transmission.
Speak Slower	Reduce your rate of speech	Normal rate of speech is to never exceed 100 words per minute. This rate is still too fast for most people to write or type, so SPEAK SLOWER means a significant drop.
Standby	Wait and I will call you.
Unable	I cannot comply with your request, instruction, or clearance.
Wilco	I understand your message and will comply with it.
Words Twice	(As a request) Communication is difficult. Please send every word, or group of words, twice.

Marine radio[edit]

Marine radio procedure words follow from the ACP-125 definition, and those in the International Radio Regulations published by the ITU, and should be used by small vessels as their standard radio procedure. Beginning in 2001, large vessels, defined as being 500 gross tonnage or greater, the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers has required that a restricted and simplified English vocabulary with pre-set phrases, called Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP), be used and understood by all officers in charge of a navigational watch. These rules are enforced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).^[18] The IMO describes the purpose of SMCP, explaining «The IMO SMCP includes phrases which have been developed to cover the most important safety-related fields of verbal shore-to-ship (and vice-versa), ship-to-ship and on-board communications. The aim is to get round the problem of language barriers at sea and avoid misunderstandings which can cause accidents.»^[19]

The SMCP language is not free-form like the standard radio voice procedures and procedure words. Instead, it consists of entire pre-formed phrases carefully designed for each situation, and watch officers must pass a test of their usage in order to be certified under international maritime regulations. For example, ships in their own territorial waters might be allowed to use their native language, but when navigating at sea or communicating with foreign vessels in their own territorial waters, they should switch to SMCP, and will state the switch over the radio before using the procedures. When it is necessary to indicate that the SMCP are to be used, the following message may be sent: «Please use Standard Marine Communication Phrases.» «I will use Standard Marine Communication Phrases.»

SMCP[edit]

• «Yes» when the answer to a question is in the affirmative
• «No» when the answer to a question is in the negative
• «Stand by» when the information requested is not immediately available
• «No information» when the information requested cannot be obtained

Misusages[edit]

Clear[edit]

«Clear» is sometimes heard in amateur radio transmissions to indicate the sending station is done transmitting and leaving the airways, i.e. turning off the radio, but the Clear proword is reserved for a different purpose, that of specifying the classification of a 16-line format radio message as one which can be sent in the clear (without encryption), as well as being reserved for use in responding to the Radio Check proword to indicate the readability of the radio transmission.

Affirmative[edit]

«Confirm» or «yes» and sometimes shortened to Affirm is heard in several radio services, but is not listed in ACP-125 as a proword because in poor radio conditions it can be confused with Negative. Instead, the proword Correct is used.

Negative[edit]

Means «no», and can be abbreviated to Negat. Because over a poor quality connection the words «affirmative» and «negative» can be mistaken for one another (for example over a sound-powered telephone circuit), United States Navy instruction omits the use of either as prowords.^[20] Sailors are instructed to instead use «yes» and «no».

Example of usage[edit]

Example 1[edit]

Two helicopters, call signs «Swiss 610» and «Swiss 613», are flying in formation :

Swiss 610: «613, I have a visual on you at my 3 o’clock. 610»

Swiss 613: «Roger 613»

Swiss 610: «613, Turn right to a heading of 090. 610»

Swiss 613: «Wilco 613»

Anytime a radio call is made (excepting «standby», where the correct response is silence), there is some kind of response indicating that the original call was heard. 613’s «Roger» confirms to 610 that the information was heard. In the second radio call from 610, direction was given. 613’s «Wilco» means «will comply.»

Reading back an instruction confirms that it was heard correctly. For example, if all 613 says is «Wilco», 610 cannot be certain that he correctly heard the heading as 090. If 613 replies with a read back and the word «Wilco» («Turn right zero-niner-zero, Wilco») then 610 knows that the heading was correctly understood, and that 613 intends to comply.

Example 2[edit]

The following is the example of working between two stations, EG93 and VJ50 demonstrating how to confirm information:

EG93: «Victor Juliet five zero, Victor Juliet five zero, this is Echo Golf niner three. Request rendezvous at 51 degrees 37.0N, 001 degrees 49.5W. Read back for check. Over»

VJ50: «Echo Golf niner three, this is Victor Juliet five zero. I read back: five one degrees three seven decimal zero north, zero zero one degrees four niner decimal five west. Over.»

EG93: «Victor Juliet five zero, this is Echo Golf niner three. Correct, Out»

See also[edit]

• Allied Communication Procedures
• NATO phonetic alphabet
• Prosigns for Morse code
• Ten-code
• Distress signal
• Plain language radio checks

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

• FM 21-75
• Handbook for Marine Radio Communication, Fifth Edition

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What does the word affirm mean?

According to Collins English Dictionary and the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the word affirm is a transitive verb or an intransitive verb that means to state that something is true, to confirm or to positively declare. When you affirm something, you make a judgment call that it is true. Affirm is two syllables – af-firm, and the pronunciation of affirm is əfɜrm.

In court and law, this term is used to refer to the oath an authorized magistrate takes when they are sworn in to be a judge. An appellate court might also affirm a judgment of the action of the lower court decision by making a solemn declaration under penalties of perjury. The judgment of another court, a higher court, is often required when the lower court’s ruling is questioned or if new evidence is discovered, the defendant must reaffirm their lack of guilt or another judge must hold a strong belief. This often happens in human rights cases when the racial equality of all peoples is brought into question, or when religious beliefs or another important idea are d. You could affirm your loyalty to a person or country. 

There are many other languages that contain words meaning affirm. You might notice that many of these words look and sound similarly to one another. These are called cognates, which are words and phrases that mean the same thing as well as look and sound similar across languages. This often happens when the two words or languages share a common Greek or Latin root or language of origin like Latin or Greek. This list of translations for the word affirm is provided by Word Sense. 

•  Mandarin: 承认‎,肯定‎
•  Lithuanian: teigti‎
•  Finnish: vahvistaa‎
•  Maori: whakakoikoia‎, whakakoia‎
•  Polish: potwierdzać‎ (impf), potwierdzić‎ (pf)
•  Latin: dico‎
•  Portuguese: afirmar‎
•  Japanese: 肯定‎
•  Spanish: afirmar‎
•  German: zustimmen‎, bejahen‎, bestätigen‎
•  Greek: βεβαιώ‎, επιβεβαιώνω‎
•  Danish: bejae‎

What are synonyms and antonyms of affirm?

There are many different words and phrases that someone can use in place of the word affirm. These are called synonyms, which are words and phrases that have the same meaning as another word or phrase. Synonyms are a useful English grammatical device to know. They are an easy way to build your vocabulary, and can help you avoid repeating yourself in conversation and written works. This list of synonyms for the word affirm is provided by Power Thesaurus. 

•  confirm
•  acknowledge
•  sanction
•  assert
•  allege
•  verify
•  prove
•  certify
•  profess
•  aver
•  endorse
•  maintain
•  bear out
•  state
•  promise
•  insist
•  admit
•  sustain
•  warrant
•  testify
•  depose
•  protest
•  avouch
•  attest
•  ratify
•  asseverate
•  substantiate
•  contend
•  corroborate
•  hold
•  say
•  swear
•  approve
•  claim
•  announce
•  reaffirm
•  proclaim
•  swan
•  authenticate
•  lay claim
•  uphold
•  pronounce
•  avow
•  guarantee
•  argue
•  support
•  validate
•  assure
•  pledge
•  declare
•  vouch
•  remand

There are also numerous different words that have the opposite definition as the word affirm. These opposite words are called antonyms. Antonyms are also useful to know if you are working on expanding your vocabulary. This list of antonyms for the word affirm is also provided by Power Thesaurus.

•  controvert
•  argue
•  falsify
•  retract
•  confirm
•  straddle the fence
•  protest
•  confute
•  claim
•  uphold
•  attest
•  disavow
•  resist
•  sanction
•  pronounce
•  corroborate
•  give the lie to
•  vouch
•  recant
•  doubt
•  debunk
•  ratify
•  testify
•  avouch
•  belie
•  authenticate
•  prove
•  disagree
•  confound
•  proclaim
•  dispute
•  repudiate
•  challenge
•  disprove
•  disown
•  swan
•  aver
•  depose
•  pledgeadeny
•  validate
•  approve
•  invalidate
•  declare
•  prove false
•  say
•  negative
•  maintain
•  admit
•  guarantee
•  assert
•  promise
•  disallow
•  insist
•  call into question
•  gainsay
•  show to be false
•  contest
•  support
•  reject
•  allege
•  contradict
•  discredit
•  endorse
•  announce
•  refute
•  certify
•  fight
•  avow
•  rebut
•  nullify
•  state
•  substantiate
•  shoot down in flames
•  combat
•  swear
•  ignore
•  sustain
•  hold
•  verify
•  acknowledge
•  contend
•  shoot down
•  blow out of the water
•  profess
•  disclaim
•  counter
•  shoot full of holes
•  blow sky-high
•  negate
•  take back
•  assure
•  reaffirm
•  spurn
•  revoke
•  bear out
•  asseverate
•  be at odds with
•  withstand
•  warrant

What is the origin of the word affirm?

According to Etymonline, the word affirm has been used since the c14 Middle English affermen and affirmen. This comes from the Middle French afermer and affermer, Old French afermer and Modern French affirmer. These come from the Latin affirmare/Latin affirmāre and adfirmare, from the prefix as meaning to and the root firmare/firmāre meaning to strength, from the Latin firmus and fermen, from dher in Proto-Indo-European roots. Many different suffixes can be added to the end of the word affirm including er, bly, and ble to make the related words afirmably (adv.) affirmable (adj.) and affirmer (n.).

How can the word affirm be used in a sentence?

The word affirm can be used in many different ways in the English language. Below are a few different examples of affirm.

The recent convert affirmed his dedication to the Bible by being baptized. He had a willingness and a certainty to him.

The choleric gentleman, a philospher named Dean from Iowa affirmed his belief in an alternative vision of human relationships by the ideas of self-determination and the existence of free will.

The court of session noted last week its affirmation of sending the prominent doctors to prison after they were discovered to be contributing to marine pollution with human waste.

It is the duty of parties to affirm that their candidate is true and just, and will preserve the sanctity of our multi-ethnic roots. The one candidate had a beautiful ritual to celebrate our heritage.

Overall, the word affirm means to declare as true or to confirm. This can be used in an official capacity in court.

Sources:

1. affirm: meaning, origin, translation | Word Sense 
2. Affirm synonyms – 2 131 Words and Phrases for Affirm | Power Thesaurus 
3. Affirm antonyms – 676 Opposites of Affirm | Power Thesaurus 
4. affirm | Origin and meaning of affirm | Online Etymology Dictionary 
5. Affirm definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary 

1a : validate, confirm He was affirmed as a candidate. b : to state positively He affirmed his innocence. 2 : to assert (something, such as a judgment or decree) as valid or confirmed The court affirmed his conviction.

What is a synonym for affirm?

Some common synonyms of affirm are assert, avow, declare, and protest.

What is the antonyms for affirm?

Antonyms:

• Antonyms: deny.
• She affirmed that she would go when I asked her. Antonyms: deny.
• They did everything they could to affirm the children’s self-confidence. Antonyms: deny.

What part of speech is affirm?

verb

How do you affirm someone?

To affirm someone is to say something positive about someone directly to him or her. It is about saying something positive to the person about who he or she is. Or, it could be thanking someone for something he or she has done for you. Think of someone who has done something special for you.

Does affirm mean agree?

To agree, verify or concur; to answer positively. She affirmed that she would go when I asked her. To assert positively; to tell with confidence; to aver; to maintain as true.

Why is it important to affirm others?

Affirmations are positive statements that can help you to challenge and overcome self-sabotaging and negative thoughts. When you repeat them often, and believe in them, you can start to make positive changes. Self-affirmation may also help to mitigate the effects of stress.

What does affirm mean in the Bible?

the assertion that something exists or is true. When we look at the definition of “affirmation” it is very straightforward. Affirming the truth. Bible truths strengthen everything about us. The promises God gives us in His word can give us hope and direction, as we trust in Him.

What does the word affirm mean in legal terms?

There are several, related usages of the word “affirm” in a legal context; but, generally it means “to confirm or ratify.” Common occurrences of this word include: An appellate court can affirm the ruling that was the subject of the appeal.

What does affirm mean in a contract?

When an act is done with full exposure to facts as it relates to a contract. Or continuing a contract despite breach or misrepresentation with full knowledge. It can be a declaration or by the parties actions.

Is affirm and confirm same?

Affirm means, to validate or state positively, to assert as valid and to express someone’s dedication; confirm means, to ratify, to strengthen, and to give assurance.

What does affirm mean in unemployment?

Affirmed. When an unemployment decision is appealed, the decision of the lower level can be affirmed or reversed. If a decision is affirmed, it means that the lower level decision was found to be correct.

Can reverse or affirm the decision of the lower court?

Appellate courts can affirm, reverse, modify, or remand a court order. A reversal occurs when the higher court decides that the lower court’s decision was made in error and cancels the decision.

What does hearing decision affirm mean?

Affirmed – In the practice of the court of appeals, it means that the court of appeals has concluded that the lower court decision is correct and will stand as rendered by the lower court.

What does affirm previous ruling mean?

It means that the second court (or administrative body) agrees with the ruling from the first hearing. It sounds like your employer lost their appeal and you win.

What does affirmed but modified mean?

Affirmed: “Affirmed” means that the judicial decision has been appealed to a higher court, and the higher court has agreed with the lower court’s holding. Amended by: “Amended by” means that a higher court has, through its own decision, amended the lower court’s decision for a particular reason.

What does it mean when your appeal is granted?

Generally, the losing party in a lawsuit may appeal their case to a higher court. The higher court then reviews the case for legal errors. If an appeal is granted, the lower court’s decision may be reversed in whole or in part. If an appeal is denied, the lower court’s decision stands.

What does affirmed in part mean?

Disposition of cases: Affirmed – the judgment of the lower court is correct and should stand. Affirmed in part – a portion of the judgment of the lower court was affirmed. Dismissed – an order that disposes of the matter without a trial of the issues involved on their merits.

What are two kinds of legal cases?

3. Two kinds of legal cases are civil and criminal cases.

Who hears criminal cases?

More specifically, federal courts hear criminal, civil, and bankruptcy cases. And once a case is decided, it can often be appealed.

What’s the meaning of per curiam?

by the court

What does en banc mean in legal terms?

on the bench

Why do courts issue per curiam opinions?

Traditionally, the per curiam opinion was used to signal that a case was uncontroversial, obvious, and did not require a substantial opinion. By the turn of the century, the Court also regularly issued per curiams for brief affirmances and reversals of lower court decisions.

What is a persuasive precedent?

Persuasive precedent. Precedent that a court may, but is not required to, rely on in deciding a case. Examples of persuasive precedent include: decisions from courts in neighboring jurisdictions; and. dicta in a decision by a higher court.

What is an example of persuasive precedent?

House of Lords agreed with the Court of Appeal that a man could be guilty of raping his wife. Oil leaked from the defendants boat (The Wagon Mound) and into Sydney Harbour which was then ignited causes damaged of other the Warfe and boats.

What are the two types of precedent?

There are typically said to be two types of precedents. These are binding precedents and persuasive precedents. In some cases, courts are essentially required to follow precedents. These are called binding precedents.

What is the difference between a binding and a persuasive precedent?

A binding precedent must be followed (whether the judge agreed with the principle contained therein or not) whereas a persuasive precedent does not have to be followed, but is considered by the court in making its decision and may be followed.

What happens if there is no legal precedent in a case?

There are times, however, when a court has no precedents to rely on. In these “cases of first impression,” a court may have to draw analogies to other areas of the law to justify its decision. Once decided, this decision becomes precedential. Appellate courts typically create precedent.

What are the types of precedents?

There are two types of precedent: binding precedents and persuasive precedents. As the names suggest, a binding precedent obliges a court to follow its decision, while a persuasive precedent can influence or inform a decision but not compel or restrict it.

Supreme Court – This is the highest state court and has two divisions, the Trial Division and Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal deals with cases heard in lower courts and cases are heard by three or five judges.

The sun does not more certainly shine in the heavens, than that which I now affirm is true. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Christ came into existence before Abraham did (as Arians affirm is the meaning), but that He never came into being at all, but existed before ❋ Unknown (1871)

The sun does not more certainly shine in the heavens, than that which I now affirm is true (30). [ ❋ Unknown (2003)

Against this view it can hardly be thought to militate that the Batak does not in set terms affirm his external soul to be in his totem, but alleges other grounds for respecting the sacred animal or plant of his clan. ❋ Unknown (1922)

Batak does not in set terms affirm his external soul to be in his totem, but alleges other grounds for respecting the sacred animal or plant of his clan. ❋ James George Frazer (1897)

For to affirm is to determine; now, every determination, to be true, must be reached empirically. ❋ Unknown (1888)

Philologists of yet greater name affirm that it was meant to designate _pre-eminence_, and therefore ought to be written _ante_, before, from the Latin, a language now pretty well forgotten, though the authors who wrote in it are still preserved in French translations. ❋ Kate Sanborn (1878)

What pure Christianity is, divested of all its ornaments, appendages, and corruption, I pretend not to say; but what it is not, I will venture to affirm, which is, that it is not the offspring of fraud or fiction: such, on ❋ 1704-1787 (1799)

The lilting calls affirm basic Islamic tenets such as belief in one God and his Prophet ❋ Unknown (2010)

He means that art is valuable primarily if not exclusively to the exent it works to foster such health, ideally to «affirm» traditional assumptions and practices. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Scruton’s is an entirely coherent argument if you accept the underlying world view according to which the role of art is to «affirm» the deep, if not always completely visible, truth in «the scheme of things» that manifests itself in beauty. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Some Christian denominations prohibit swearing oaths; that’s why the option to «affirm» rather than «swear» is in there: because to 18th century Americans and British, requiring an oath at all was a religious test, calibrated to exclude several varieties of Dissenters, including Quakers. ❋ Unknown (2009)

The effort of homosexual activists to convince Americans to tolerate (i.e., «affirm«) homosexual behavior tramples religious freedom and leaves a trail of broken bodies in the dust. ❋ Unknown (2008)

If it’s an issue for the states, constitutionally, why does Congress need to «affirm» that? ❋ Ann Althouse (2008)

A- Is it [raining] outside?
[B-] [Affirm]. ❋ @SD0803 (2016)

«Afirmative [ya] [bitch], [over and out]» ❋ Capin (2004)

With my full [awareness] as I speak my [affirmations] the Universe receives [by law] of attraction. ❋ G’ity (2021)

In the old SNL sketch, «Daily [Affirmations] with Stuart Smalley», he would look in the mirror and say, «I’m good enough, [I’m smart] enough, and [doggone] it, people like me.» ❋ NeverGonnaGetIt69 (2021)

Winston: Did you see that annual report that Miss Wells drew up?
Charles: Yes… [jolly good] for a woman. Perhaps an affirmation is deserved?
Winston: Excellent idea, [a Spank] and [Linger] I think.
Charles: Here she comes now.
*spank*… [linger]
Miss Wells: Oooh!
Winston: Good report. See me after work! ❋ Miss Tessmacher (2010)

[Tank commander]: (Over radio) “[Gunner], see that tree line 12 [o’clock]?”
Gunner: “Affirmative” ❋ The_Big_Cheif_ (2020)

I [said] to him affirmatively to [get out]. ❋ DeGidio (2017)

[Hey jimmy]! [Im racist] as fuck and i support affirmative action to [prove it]! ❋ I Am Legend! (2021)

If there are male and female coaccused and one is offered a [plea] [bargain] to [testify] against the other at a trial, there would be an equal chance that either the male or female is offered the plea bargain resulting in affirmative justice.
There would be an equal percentage (ie 50%) of inmates being male and female. ❋ Lagoona (2011)

I can’t believe it…I lost [a spot] at UM even though I have a higher test score to the other guy due to [Affirmative Blaction] giving him a 20 point raise in [the test] scores! /=( ❋ Piranha (2004)

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What we need to affirm is that Jesus is neither a Democrat nor a Republican. Whenever we marry Jesus to a political party, we are committing the sin of idolatry. We are making Jesus into the image of our political party.

Tony Campolo

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD AFFIRM

Via Old French from Latin affirmāre to present (something) as firm or fixed, assert, from ad- to + firmāre to make firm1.

PRONUNCIATION OF AFFIRM

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF AFFIRM

Affirm is a verb.

WHAT DOES AFFIRM MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Definition of affirm in the English dictionary

The first definition of affirm in the dictionary is to declare to be true; assert positively. Other definition of affirm is to uphold, confirm, or ratify. Affirm is also to make an affirmation.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO AFFIRM

PRESENT

PAST

FUTURE

CONDITIONAL

IMPERATIVE

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH AFFIRM

SYNONYMS OF «AFFIRM»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «affirm» and belong to the same grammatical category.

TRANSLATION OF AFFIRM

Find out the translation of affirm to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «AFFIRM»

The term «affirm» is quite widely used and occupies the 26.571 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.

Principal search tendencies and common uses of affirm

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «AFFIRM» OVER TIME

10 QUOTES WITH «AFFIRM»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word affirm.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «AFFIRM»

Discover the use of affirm in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to affirm and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «AFFIRM»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term affirm is used in the context of the following news items.

REFERENCE

« EDUCALINGO. Affirm [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/affirm>. Apr 2023 ».