# Terminology and clarity

## Purpose

Reduce **cognitive load** and **cross-team confusion** between warehouse, sales, procurement, and finance. **Accounting words** on warehouse screens (and vice versa) must be **chosen deliberately** or **explained in-line**.

## Audit dimensions

### 1. Confusing labels

| Symptom | Example hazard | Remediation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Same word, two meanings | “Post” = ship vs GL post | **Disambiguate**: “Post receipt”, “Post to ledger” |
| Jargon | “ATP”, “Committed” without definition | Tooltip + glossary link |
| Hidden state | “Active” vs “Open” vs “In progress” | **Single** vocabulary per state machine |

Maintain a **glossary** (in-app help or a shared doc) keyed by **role**; keep terms synchronized with the string table.

### 2. Accounting terminology

- Finance screens may use **debit/credit**, **recognize**, **accrue**—with **role-gating** or **learner mode** tooltips.
- **Warehouse screens** should prefer **operational verbs**: receive, pick, ship, adjust—not “credit inventory” unless training mode.

### 3. Warehouse vocabulary

- Prefer **location**, **bin**, **LPN**, **license plate** consistently with data model.
- **“Allocate” vs “Reserve” vs “Commit”**: pick **one** primary term; show others in help text only if legacy.

### 4. Localization consistency

- **One string table** per concept; no duplicate keys with divergent English.
- **Locale** affects format (date, number) **first**; translation **second**—avoid concatenated sentences that break in RTL.
- **Parameter order** in translated strings must follow ICU-style placeholders.

## Audit process

1. Export **UI strings** for scoped modules (procurement, inventory, sales, invoicing).
2. **Cross-review**: warehouse lead + finance reviewer mark ambiguous rows.
3. **Fix** copy in **one** PR per module to avoid thrash; update screenshots in training.

Feed findings to [../simulation/operator-friction-logging.md](../simulation/operator-friction-logging.md) under **confusing terms**.

## Self validation (this document)

- **Confusing labels**, **accounting terminology**, **warehouse vocabulary**, and **localization consistency** each have audit and remediation guidance.