Do not issue the word ___ in conjunction with authorization for aircraft to taxi.

• A. Taxi
• B. Proceed
• C. Cleared
• D. Hold

Answer: (C)

Ground movement phraseology uses clear, ground-focused instructions. When ATC authorizes an aircraft to move on the taxiways, the standard is to say something like “Taxi to Runway X via …” rather than saying “Cleared to taxi.” The word cleared is reserved for permissions tied to air operations—takeoff, landing, or specific airspace/route clearances. Using it with taxi could blur the distinction between ground movement and air clearance and create confusion about when the aircraft is allowed to enter the runway environment. So, the word to avoid is the one that would imply an air/airfield clearance rather than a ground movement instruction.