TSE ISO/IEC DIRECTIVES Part 2

TSE ISO/IEC DIRECTIVES Part 2: TSE ISO/IEC Directives Part 2 defines the principles and rules for structuring and drafting ISO and IEC documents. Rather than judging the technical content of a standard, it governs how normative text is organised and expressed so that documents are clear, consistent, and easy to interpret across committees and subject areas.

How the document framework is organised

This standard covers the drafting rules for International Standards, Technical Specifications, and Publicly Available Specifications. As far as practicable, the same principles also apply to Technical Reports and Guides. In general technical documentation practice, such rules help authors arrange elements such as scope, terms and definitions, normative references, and annexes, and help control the wording used for requirements, recommendations, and informative content. The result is a common language for ISO and IEC publications, even when the technical subject matter differs widely.

What it does not cover

Part 2 does not prescribe typography or page layout; those presentation details are determined by the publishing organisation’s house style. It also does not set out the procedures by which ISO and IEC documents are developed; those process rules are given in ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1, together with the ISO, IEC and JTC 1 Supplements. This separation matters because Part 2 standardises drafting conventions, while other documents govern appearance and development workflow.

• Common drafting principles for International Standards, Technical Specifications, and Publicly Available Specifications
• Practical application to Technical Reports and Guides where feasible
• Typography and layout explicitly excluded from scope
• Document development process and procedures covered elsewhere