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Is there a term in English for where you want to describe the discreet or cautious approach you take, when you want to make sure you're not risking or jeopardizing anything in doing a routine job?

How would a native complete these sentences?

The _______ is to take two more spare tyres with you when you go off-road.

OR

You have to bring a sleeping bag, in case it gets cold in the forest over night; that is called _______, my friend :)

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  • I don’t understand what you’re trying to ask. What red line or threshold? What discreet/cautionary approach do you mean? And to what? And how does any kind of cautionary approach fit with the gap in your example sentence? The most obvious things I can think of to complete the sentence would be “rule”, “general guideline”, “sensible thing to do” and such things, which don’t seem to relate to the rest of your question at all.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    Commented Aug 24, 2015 at 18:45
  • Workplace health and safety guidelines?
    – Julie Carter
    Commented Aug 24, 2015 at 18:53
  • Sorry if I didn't elaborate properly, I just edited the question, What about now? @JanusBahsJacquet
    – Morteza Farhang
    Commented Aug 24, 2015 at 19:01
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    Ah! Now it makes sense. @Julie’s comment is definitely what it most often springs from. Procedure is often used in this sense (though it doesn’t imply that you’re being careful or cautious).
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    Commented Aug 24, 2015 at 19:04
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    How about the word "careful"?
    – rhetorician
    Commented Aug 24, 2015 at 23:17

3 Answers 3

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I think the word you are looking for is precaution.

The best precaution is to take two more spare tyres with you...

That is precaution, my friend.

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  • "Precaution measure"; does that fit too? @WS2
    – Morteza Farhang
    Commented Aug 30, 2015 at 6:48
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I think the word you are looking for is prudent

Defined in the American Heritage dictionary1 as:

  1. Careful or wise in handling practical matters; exercising good judgment or common sense: a prudent manager of money.
  2. Characterized by or resulting from care or wisdom in practical matters or in planning for the future: a prudent investment.

Your sentences would read:

The prudent approach is to take two more spare tires with you when you go off-road.

You have to bring a sleeping bag, in case it gets cold in the forest over night. That is called being prudent, my friend:)

1 American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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The sensible thing is to take....

That is called being sensible. OR That is called having good sense. OR That is only common sense.

Sensible: Acting with or exhibiting good judgment; reasonable

Sense: Natural understanding or intelligence, especially in practical matters: The boy had sense and knew just what to do when he got lost.

American Heritage, Fifth Edition, 2011

OR

It's good preparation to take....

That is called being prepared.

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