MIL-STD-962-SUP Defense Standards Format and ContentThis standard establishes the format and content requirements for the preparation of standards prepared either by DoD activities or by contractors for the DoD.

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MIL-STD-962D

f. The words "drawing" and "bulletin" shall be capitalized only when they are used immediately preceding the document identifier. However, specifications, standards, and handbooks shall be identified in the text only by their document identifier; thus, MIL-E-000 (not: "specification MIL-E-000").

g. The following prepositional phrases shall be used when referencing figure and table information: "on a figure" or "in a table".

h. "Shall", the emphatic form of the verb, shall be used throughout sections 4 and 5 of the standard whenever a requirement is intended to express a provision that is binding. For example, in the requirements section, state that "The gauge shall indicate . . . " and in the test section, "The indicator shall be turned to zero, and 220 volts of alternating current shall be applied." For specific test procedures, the imperative form may be used, provided the entire method is preceded by "The following test shall be performed" or similar wording. Thus, "Turn the indicator to zero and apply 220 volts of alternating current." "Shall" shall not appear in sections 1, 2, 3, or 6 of the standard.

i. "Will" may be used to express a declaration of purpose on the part of the Government. It may be necessary to use "will" in cases when simple futurity is required.

J. Use "should" and "may" to express nonmandatory provisions.

k. "Must" shall not be used to express a mandatory provision. Use the term "shall."

l. Indefinite terms, such as "and/or," "suitable," "adequate," "first rate," "best possible," "and others," and "the like" shall not be used. Use of "e.g.," "etc.," and "i.e.," should be avoided.

m. The term "flammable" shall be used in lieu of "inflammable," and "nonflammable" shall be used in lieu of "unflammable" and "noninflammable."

4.8 Measurements. Decimals shall be used in documents instead of fractions wherever possible. Measurements such as length, time, or weight shall be stated as a limit or with a tolerance.

4.9 Metric practices. Metric practices shall conform to IEEE/ASTM SI 10. Preference shall be given to expressing measurements in metric units, if practicable. The SD-10 provides guidance on when to develop a metric standard or to convert inch-pound standards to metric.

4.9.1 Metric units. Metric units shall be in accordance with IEEE/ASTM SI 10. Metric sizes should generally be expressed in whole numbers. There shall be no soft conversion of units merely for the sake of conversion.