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April 2023

Do you struggle to communicate technical information to your audience? Here are 9 Simplified Technical English best practices.

by Shufrans Techdocs in Blog Comments Off

Simplified Technical English (STE) is a controlled language that is used in the aerospace and defense industries to simplify the language used in technical documents. Here are 9 best practices of Simplified Technical English:

Use a limited vocabulary: STE restricts the vocabulary used in technical writing to a specific set of words. This helps to reduce ambiguity and ensures that the meaning of the text is clear.
Use simple sentence structures: STE encourages the use of simple sentence structures that are easy to understand. Complex sentence structures can lead to confusion and misunderstandings.
Use active voice: The active voice is preferred in STE because it is clearer and more concise than the passive voice when writing procedural text.
Use present tense: Present tense is preferred in STE because it is more immediate and makes the text easier to understand.
Use the imperative mood: The imperative mood is used in STE to give commands and instructions. This is because it is a clear and direct way of communicating.
Use standardized terminology: STE requires the use of standardized terminology to avoid confusion and ensure consistency.
Use clear headings and subheadings: Headings and subheadings should be clear and concise so that the reader can quickly identify the topic.
Use illustrations: Illustrations can help to clarify complex concepts and make the text easier to understand.
Comply with established STE guidelines: To ensure consistency and accuracy, it is important to follow established STE guidelines when writing technical documents. This will help to ensure that the text is clear and easy to understand.