A reader asked about the meaning and use of the noun protocol.
Answer
Protocol has several different meanings, all connected to the idea of guidelines or procedures to follow. It is used mostly in formal or academic language.
The most common meaning of protocol is “a system of rules that explain the correct conduct and procedures to be followed in formal situations,” as in these example sentences:
The soldier's actions constituted a breach of military protocol.
They did not follow the proper diplomatic protocols.
What is the proper protocol for rejecting a job offer?
Protocol can also mean “a plan for a scientific experiment or for medical treatment,” as in:
an experimental protocol
a simplified treatment protocol
You will also encounter the word protocol in the names of international treaties, such as the Kyoto Protocol – an international agreement on the reduction of greenhouse gases.
Finally, protocol can be used to mean “a set of rules used in programming computers so that they can communicate with each other,” such as an Internet protocol. If you are familiar with VOIP, a new kind of phone service, the letters in this acronym stand for Voice Over Internet Protocol.
