---
title: Avoid adding new dictionary entries without documenting their purpose and rationale.
description: "Impact Area Manageability Severity Low Affected Element Dictionary (DICT) Rule number **SN-AVOID-UNDOCUMENTED-DICT-ENTRY** ## Impact Adding new dictionary entries to an instance without documenting their intended use and the rationale for creating them in the comments field hinders the manageability of…"
url: "https://community-staging.qualityclouds.com/qcdocs/qc/servicenow-rules/avoid-adding-new-dictionary-entries-without-documenting-their-purpose-and-rationale/"
updated: "2025-03-21"
category: Rules for ServiceNow / ServiceNow Rules
---

# Avoid adding new dictionary entries without documenting their purpose and rationale.

Impact Area

Manageability

           Severity

Low

           Affected Element

Dictionary (DICT)

Rule number

**SN-AVOID-UNDOCUMENTED-DICT-ENTRY**

## Impact

Adding new dictionary entries to an instance without documenting their intended use and the rationale for creating them in the comments field hinders the manageability of the instance in the medium and long term, as the intent of the field may not be obvious to future developers and administrators of the instance from the field’s name and label alone.

## Remediation

Ensure that all newly created custom fields have a descriptive value in the comments attribute.

### Time to fix

15 min