February 2025
Celebrating a milestone in Simplified Technical English: ASD-STE100 Issue 9
The release of ASD-STE100 Issue 9 is a significant advancement in Simplified Technical English (STE). This latest issue reinforces STE’s position as the leading controlled language for creating clear, concise, and consistent technical documentation across diverse industries.
The Importance of Simplified Technical English
In today’s interconnected world, technical documentation must be readily understood by a global audience, regardless of language proficiency. STE addresses this challenge by providing a structured set of writing rules and a controlled vocabulary that minimizes ambiguity and maximizes comprehension. This results in improved safety, increased efficiency, and reduced translation costs. STE is widely adopted in sectors such as aerospace, defense, manufacturing, energy, and increasingly, in other technical fields.
Key Improvements in Issue 9
ASD-STE100 Issue 9, developed and maintained by the ASD Simplified Technical English Management Group (STEMG), builds upon previous versions with key improvements designed to meet the evolving needs of the technical communication landscape. A primary focus of this release has been the comprehensive review and modernization of legacy terminology. Terms established in the 1980s during the early development of AECMA Simplified English have been meticulously examined and updated, ensuring alignment with contemporary usage and international standards, including ISO 1087-1:2019. This terminological refinement included the reclassification of technical nouns and verbs, enhancing precision and consistency within specific subject domains.
Refining the STE Standard
While Issue 9 does not introduce entirely new rules, it features important revisions to the wording of 31 of the existing 53 rules. These changes reflect current best practices in technical communication and ensure clarity and ease of application. Furthermore, 555 entries in the STE dictionary, comprising words, definitions, and illustrative examples, have been updated to reflect the latest linguistic and technical conventions.
A Collaborative and Rigorous Development Process
The development of ASD-STE100 Issue 9 exemplifies the collaborative nature of the STE community. STEMG worked closely with academic experts and STE users worldwide throughout the process. A two-month global feedback period allowed for extensive review and input from practitioners, ensuring that the final release is robust and validated by real-world application.
McLaren Receives First Official Copy
In a demonstration of STE’s broad applicability, the first official copy of ASD-STE100 Issue 9 was presented to McLaren, the 2024 Formula 1 Constructors’ World Champions. As a pinnacle of high-performance engineering, McLaren understands the critical importance of precise and unambiguous technical communication. This presentation highlights STE’s value in complex, technically demanding environments beyond the traditional aerospace and defense sectors.
STE is widely adopted in sectors such as aerospace, defense, manufacturing, and energy.
