As a matter of personal technique, I generally read back ATC clearances as close to verbatim as they are issued by the controller, e.g. if Langen Radar tells me:
"Airliner 1234, climb to flight level five zero", I say "Climb to flight level five zero, airliner 1234."
Similarly, if changing frequencies during a climb or descent, I will check on by stating "Langen radar, Airliner 1234, passing flight level five two, climbing to flight level one one zero".
I believe this is correct per the ICAO material I have studied as well as the FAA AIM. However, I was recently reprimanded by a "superior" for using the word "to" in my transmissions because "it can be too easily confused with the number 2" (even if I was separating "to" from the numerical clearance with a word such as "heading" or "flight level" as in "climb to flight level two zero zero"). I was also instructed never to say "for" unless I meant the number "4"(cleared ____ takeoff? Cleared _____ land?
).
Is this a generally accepted nugget of wisdom that I've somehow missed? Is it accepted practice to omit the word "to and for" from all transmissions? Or am I getting misguided advice?
One more related question:
Is there a response expected by ATS units after they say to you "identified" or "radar contact"? I have flown in places where it seems to be the the custom for you to respond to these, based upon observation of the locally based carriers, however my colleague again reprimanded me for doing so, in response to "radar contact" even if only responding with "Airliner 1234, roger".
Thanks for the responses.