A Simple Checklist for Writing Requirements That Engineers Can Actually Use

Full guide + resources. Most requirement docs fail for one simple reason: They are hard to execute. Not because they are incomplete. Not because they lack detail. Because they are unclear. This post is a practical checklist to fix that. No theory. No fluff. Just a usable structure. What counts as a functional requirement (quick reset) Before writing anything, align on this: A functional requirement = what the system does when a user does something That’s it. If a line does not describe: a user action a system response …it’s not a functional requirement. Step 1: Identify functional requirements (fast method) Use this 3-question loop: 1. Who is using the system? 2. What are they doing? 3. What should the system do back? Example: User: logs in Action: enters email + password System: validates → allows access OR shows error That becomes one requirement. Repeat this loop until all key flows are covered. Quick checklist [ ] Every user action is listed [ ] Every action has a system response [