Asd ste100

Simplified Technical English (ASD-STE100)

Apply the ASD-STE100 specification (Issue 8) when writing or rewriting technical text. STE is a controlled language: a restricted dictionary plus writing rules that remove ambiguity for readers whose first language is not English and for machine parsing.

When to Use

• The user invokes /asd-ste100 or asks for STE, Simplified Technical English, or controlled language.
• The user asks to write or review procedures, work instructions, maintenance steps, or safety warnings that must be unambiguous.
• The user asks to "simplify" documentation explicitly to a controlled standard, not just tidy it.

Core Principles

1. One word, one meaning. Each approved word has exactly one meaning and one part of speech. If a word is approved as a noun, do not use it as a verb.
2. Approved words only. General vocabulary comes from the STE dictionary (about 900 words). Everything else must qualify as a Technical Name or a Technical Verb.
3. Short, direct, active. Short sentences, active voice, one instruction per sentence.

Vocabulary Rules

Rule	Standard
Approved meaning only	Use a dictionary word only in its approved meaning. Example: "fall" means only "to move down by the force of gravity", never "decrease" or "autumn".
Approved part of speech	"test" is approved as a noun only: write "Do a test of the system", not "Test the system".
Prefer the approved alternative	"start" replaces "begin, commence, initiate". "do" replaces "carry out, perform". "before" replaces "prior to".
Technical Names	Nouns specific to the domain (part names, tools, materials, system names) are allowed even if not in the dictionary. Use them consistently and only as nouns.
Technical Verbs	Domain-specific actions (e.g. "to calibrate", "to drill") are allowed as verbs when no approved verb exists.
No slang or idioms	Remove figurative language, phrasal padding, and Latin abbreviations (write "for example", not "e.g.").

Grammar Rules

Rule	Standard
Verb forms	Use only: infinitive, imperative, simple present, simple past, future with "will", and past participle as an adjective.
No -ing verb forms	Do not use gerunds or present participles ("Removing the cover..." becomes "When you remove the cover..."). An -ing form is allowed only inside a Technical Name.
Active voice	Use active voice in procedures always. In descriptive text, use passive only when the agent is unknown or unimportant.
Articles required	Do not drop articles or demonstratives: "Install the panel", not "Install panel".
Noun clusters	Maximum three nouns in a cluster. Break longer clusters with prepositions: "the fan of the cooling system", not "cooling system fan assembly housing".
Consistent naming	Use the same name for the same thing everywhere. No elegant variation.

Sentence and Paragraph Rules

Rule	Standard
Procedural sentence length	Maximum 20 words.
Descriptive sentence length	Maximum 25 words.
Paragraph length	Maximum 6 sentences. One topic per paragraph.
One instruction per sentence	Split compound instructions. Only closely related actions may share a sentence.
Commands start instructions	Procedures begin with the imperative verb: "Remove the bolts", not "The bolts should be removed".
Vertical lists	Use a list when a sentence would hold more than three connected items.

Warnings, Cautions, and Notes

• Warning: risk of injury or death. Caution: risk of equipment damage. Note: helpful information only. Never put an instruction in a note.
• Put the warning or caution before the step it applies to.
• Start with a clear and simple command, then give the condition or reason: "WARNING: Do not touch the terminal. The terminal has a dangerous voltage."

Rewriting Workflow

1. Classify the text. Procedural (instructions) or descriptive (explanations). The sentence limits and voice rules differ.
2. Split and shorten. Break sentences over the word limit. One instruction per sentence, one topic per paragraph.
3. Convert the verbs. Imperatives for steps, simple present for description, remove -ing forms and passives.
4. Substitute vocabulary. Replace unapproved general words with approved alternatives. Keep Technical Names and Technical Verbs, used consistently.
5. Restructure safety text. Move warnings and cautions before their steps, command first.
6. Verify. Recheck sentence lengths, noun clusters, articles, and that no word is used outside its approved meaning.

Example

Before:

Prior to commencing disassembly, ensuring the power has been disconnected is essential, as failure to do so may result in serious injury being sustained by maintenance personnel.

After:

WARNING: Disconnect the power before you disassemble the unit. If you do not disconnect the power, injury can occur.

Gotchas

• Do not apply STE to marketing copy, READMEs, or conversational docs unless asked. STE prose reads as terse and repetitive by design.
• Do not invent approved words. When unsure whether a general word is in the dictionary, prefer a simpler common alternative ("use", "make", "get", "do", "start", "stop").
• "May" is not approved for permission or possibility; use "can" for possibility.
• Keep required legal or certified text verbatim; STE rewrites must not alter regulatory wording.