Teachings presented herein provide a method and apparatus for processing input information bits for coding using a code, such that the length of the information word formed from the input information bits matches a fixed information word length defined by the code. In at least one embodiment, a coding circuit receives input information bits (and adds error protection bits as needed, to make the information word length match the fixed information word length. The method and apparatus contemplate generating the error protection bits by sub-coding a subset of the input information bits (e.g., parity bit generation), thereby providing extra protection for that subset. These teachings allow the same code to be used for coding feedback or other information, where the amount of information to be coded varies as a function of operating modes.