A phonetic alphabet is useful when you’re dictating the spelling of a word or two for someone, such as a name. It is particularly useful for distinguishing between B/D and M/N.
I learned and sort of remembered a version of the alphabet when I was a child participating in Junior Forest Rangers. We wore red shirts.
In the world beyond Junior Forest Rangers, the phonetic alphabet is a common tool for police, the military, airlines, and dispatchers of all descriptions.
Here’s the alphabet I learned. I am typing it without looking it up, and will point out the ones I missed.
Alpha
Bravo
Charlie
Delta
Echo
Foxtrot
Golf
Hotel
India
Juliet
Kilo
Lima
Mike
November
Oscar
Papa
Quebec
Romeo
Sierra
Tango
U —> Uniform, remembered seconds later
Victor —> Mis-remembered this initially as Victoria
Whiskey
X-ray
Y —> Yankee, took longer to remember
Zulu
Around the office, I pretty much stick with Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, because those are the sections of the newspaper.
But, occasionally, I’ll say to a stranger, it’s spelled, Juliet - Alpha - November - Golf.
They are never impressed, are often taken aback, and say, “How do you spell that again?”
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