[Public Interpretations Database]

I-0405: American English Is An Acceptable Refinement

 
TYPE:                 Guidance
NUMBER:               I-0405
STATUS:               Approved, Acceptable to CCIMB, No CCIMB Interpretation

TITLE:                American English Is An Acceptable Refinement

EFFECTIVE:            2000-12-20

SOURCE REFERENCE:     CEM v1.0 Part 2 Subclause 3.4.5 APE_REQ
                      CEM v1.0 Part 2 Subclause 4.4.6 ASE_REQ
RELATED TO:           <None>
CCIMB ENTRY:          CCIMB-INTERP-0139

ISSUE:

The language used in a PP/ST should not distract or confuse the reader. Constant shifts between U.S. and International English spelling could do just that.

STATEMENT

It is acceptable to refine Common Criteria elements to use a consistent spelling convention (i.e., U.S. English or International English) with a single global identification.

SPECIFIC INTERPRETATION

[Note: The changes stated below are ADVISORY ONLY, and represent one approach to addressing the guidance in the statement. Other approaches that achieve the same goal are acceptable.]

To address this interpretation, the following changes are made to CEM v1.0 Part 2: (additions marked thusly; deletions marked thusly)

  • Subclause 3.4.5.2.1, Action APE_REQ.1.1E, Work Unit APE_REQ.1-11, para 225, item "c)", 3rd paragraph is modified as follows:

    A special case of refinement is an editorial refinement, where a small change is made in a requirement, i.e. rephrasing a sentence due to adherence to proper English grammar or changing the element to use a consistent spelling convention (U.S. English or International English). This change is not allowed to modify the meaning of the requirement in any way.

  • Subclause 3.4.5.2.1, Action APE_REQ.1.1E, Work Unit APE_REQ.1-11, para 225, item "c)", last paragraph is modified as follows:

    The evaluator is reminded that editorial refinements have to be clearly identified (see work unit APE_REQ.1-10). It is acceptable for editorial refinements for the purposes of achieving a consistent spelling style to be identified once (at the start of the enumeration of the requirements), so as not to clutter the requirements presentation.

  • Subclause 4.4.6.3.1, Action ASE_REQ.1.1E, Work Unit ASE_REQ.1-12, para 415, item "c)", 3rd paragraph is modified as follows:

    A special case of refinement is an editorial refinement, where a small change is made in a requirement, i.e. rephrasing a sentence due to adherence to proper English grammar or changing the element to use a consistent spelling convention (U.S. English or International English). This change is not allowed to modify the meaning of the requirement in any way.

  • Subclause 4.4.6.3.1, Action ASE_REQ.1.1E, Work Unit ASE_REQ.1-12, para 415, item "c)", last paragraph is modified as follows:

    The evaluator is reminded that editorial refinements have to be clearly identified (see work unit ASE_REQ.1-10). It is acceptable for editorial refinements for the purposes of achieving a consistent spelling style to be identified once (at the start of the enumeration of the requirements), so as not to clutter the requirements presentation.

SUPPORT:

This interpretations permits a PP/ST author to use a consistent spelling style with a single global identification.

2003-07: This was reviewed by the CCIMB (CCIMB-INTERP-0139), who felt no need for an international interpretation.