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Cultivating Expertise: Simplified Technical English as a Core Skillset

Cultivating Expertise: Simplified Technical English as a Core Skillset

In an era of rapid technological advancement, the role of clear and accurate technical communication remains paramount. While artificial intelligence (AI) and the allure of complex, sophisticated technology may offer seemingly efficient solutions, they often overlook the fundamental importance of human expertise. ASD-STE100, or Simplified Technical English, is not merely a tool; it’s a skillset that empowers the human writer – the technical communicator, engineer, or developer who possesses the crucial subject-matter knowledge.

Beyond Automation: The Value of Human Expertise

AI, despite its capabilities, cannot replicate the nuanced understanding and critical thinking that human writers bring to technical documentation. While AI can generate text, it lacks the contextual awareness and ability to make informed judgements about the accuracy and suitability of information. Complex language, conversely, creates barriers to understanding, hindering effective communication.

  • Reduced Misinterpretation: By eliminating ambiguity and promoting clarity, ASD-STE100 minimises the risk of misinterpretations of STPA findings. This reduced risk of misinterpretation leads to more accurate and effective risk assessments and subsequent risk mitigation strategies.

Simplified Technical English, instead, provides a structured framework that enhances the human writer’s abilities. It’s a skillset that equips writers with:

  • A Controlled Vocabulary: Limiting word choices to reduce ambiguity while allowing the writer to select the most precise term.
  • Clear Grammatical Rules: Promoting consistent and easily understood sentence structures.
  • A Focus on Clarity and Precision: Ensuring that information is conveyed accurately and efficiently, without sacrificing the writer’s voice.

How This Skillset Empowers:

  • Ownership and Control: Writers retain full control over their content, ensuring accuracy and reflecting their expertise.
  • Enhanced Clarity: Simplified Technical English facilitates the creation of documents that are accessible to diverse audiences, including non-native English speakers.
  • Improved Efficiency: Clear writing reduces revisions and clarifies, streamlining the documentation process.
  • Preservation of Expertise: ASD-STE100 allows organisations to capture and retain the valuable knowledge of their human experts through a consistent method.

 

The Human Writer at the Forefront:

The essence of Simplified Technical English is not about replacing human writers with automated systems, but rather about providing them with the skillset necessary to excel. It recognises that human expertise is irreplaceable, especially when it comes to complex technical information. By empowering the human writer with this skillset, organisations ensure that technical documentation is not only accurate and clear but also reflects the knowledge and insights of the individuals who created it.

In conclusion, ASD-STE100, as a core skillset, is a testament to the enduring importance of human expertise in technical communication. It empowers writers to create clear, concise, and accurate documentation, ultimately fostering better understanding and more effective communication.

🔗 Learn more about this international writing standard: www.asd-ste100.net.

🔗 Ongoing STE workshops: https://www.shufrans-techdocs.com/online-ste-workshop-2-day-training-course/

ASD-STE100 Issue 9: Simplified Technical English Becomes a Global Standard

ASD-STE100 Issue 9: Simplified Technical English Becomes a Global Standard

The latest version of Simplified Technical English (STE), Issue 9 of ASD-STE100, arrived on January 15, 2025. This update, three years in the making, signifies more than just a revision; it marks STE’s transition from a specification to a full-fledged international standard.

Developed by the ASD Simplified Technical English Maintenance Group (STEMG) with input from national and multi-country Support Teams (STEST), Issue 9 reflects a commitment to clarity, safety, and alignment with international standards. The STEMG, comprised of industry experts and linguists, meticulously reviewed 160 items and change forms, including 11 specifically related to meta-terminology. This collaborative process ensures the standard meets the needs of technical writers and, ultimately, the end-users of the documentation.

 

👩🏻‍💻 Find the right expert to support you with ASD-STE100 training and consultancy: www.asd-ste100.net

From Specification to Standard: A Key Shift

This isn’t just a name change. The move to “standard” reflects STE’s broader applicability. While a specification governs individual projects, a standard establishes universal rules. The official document title now reflects its registered trademark: “ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English: Standard for Technical Documentation.”

Originally designed for aerospace and defense, STE is now used across various sectors, including rail, medical, automotive, and renewable energy. Its focus on clear, unambiguous language reduces human error, especially for non-native English speakers, leading to improved documentation quality, enhanced safety, and smoother global communication.

The Core of STE: Rules and Dictionary

ASD-STE100 is built on two pillars: writing rules and a controlled dictionary. The rules provide strict guidelines for grammar, style, and sentence structure, making content easily understandable for a global audience. The dictionary lists approved words, their definitions, and usage examples, along with a list of unapproved words and alternatives. This standardization of terminology ensures consistency and avoids confusion.

What’s New in Issue 9?

While no new rules were added, 31 of the 53 existing rules were clarified. The dictionary saw significant updates, with 555 entries revised for accuracy and relevance. A major focus was the meta-terminology review. In the context of ASD-STE100, terminology refers to the words and phrases used within the standard itself, such as “technical noun” and “technical verb.” Meta-terminology, on the other hand, refers to the terms used to describe and categorize those terms, such as “noun” and “verb.”

Essentially, meta-terminology is the language we use to talk about the language of the standard. It provides a framework for understanding the relationships between different types of terms and how they should be used.

The distinction between terminology and meta-terminology is important because it helps to ensure that the standard is clear, consistent, and easy to understand. By using precise meta-terminology, the ASD-STE100 Maintenance Group can avoid ambiguity and ensure that the standard is interpreted correctly by technical authors and translators.

Meta-Terminology Refresh: Aligning with International Standards

Issue 9 aligns with ISO 1087-1:2019, modernizing legacy classifications. “Technical name” and “technical verb” are now “technical noun” and “technical verb (term).” Subject field classifications have also been refined, with new categories added under Rules 1.5 and 1.12.

User-Centric Approach: Balancing Precision and Practicality

The STEMG prioritized usability for technical writers, recognizing that most aren’t linguists. Simplicity was key, even while maintaining terminological precision. For example, the dictionary retains the “word” column designation instead of more complex lexicographic terminology. Balancing correct meta-terminology with practical application was a key challenge. The goal was always to empower authors to create clear, accessible documentation. Defining technical verbs, in particular, required careful consideration to ensure both accuracy and ease of understanding.

The Future: AI and Collaboration

The STEMG and STEST are now exploring how AI can enhance STE compliance checks, provide real-time feedback, and automate terminology updates. Collaborations with universities are examining AI-driven tools to streamline technical documentation, improve accessibility, and ensure interoperability.

Issue 9 represents a significant step for ASD-STE100. Its evolution to a global standard, coupled with meta-terminology updates and alignment with international standards, ensures its continued relevance. With a focus on AI and digital transformation, STE is poised to evolve further in the age of smart documentation and Natural Language Processing.

Generative AI in Simplified Technical English: A Balancing Act of Automation and Human Expertise

Generative AI in Simplified Technical English: A Balancing Act of Automation and Human Expertise

While generative AI offers exciting possibilities for streamlining STE content creation, it’s crucial to understand its limitations and the enduring value of human expertise.

AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement: Generative AI excels at tasks like:

  • Drafting and Editing: Automating repetitive tasks, suggesting alternative phrasing, and identifying potential inconsistencies.
  • Enforcing Standards: Checking for adherence to ASD-STE100 and other standards.
  • Improving Clarity: Identifying areas of ambiguity and suggesting clearer language.

However, AI cannot fully replace the critical thinking and nuanced understanding that human writers bring to the table.

 

Addressing Missing Information:

  • Human Expertise: Technical writers, with their deep domain knowledge and understanding of the target audience, are essential for identifying and addressing crucial information gaps.
  • Thorough Planning: Careful planning, including detailed requirements gathering and thorough subject matter research, is paramount to prevent missing information from the outset.

  • Human Review: Even with AI assistance, meticulous human review is necessary to ensure all mission critical information is accurately and comprehensively conveyed.

 

The Importance of Human Judgement:

  • Nuance and Context: STE requires understanding subtle nuances, interpreting complex technical concepts, and tailoring the information to the specific needs of the audience. These tasks demand human judgement and expertise.
  • Ethical Considerations: AI models can sometimes exhibit biases or generate inaccurate information. Human oversight is crucial to ensure the ethical and responsible use of AI in STE.

Generative AI can be a valuable tool for technical writers, enhancing efficiency and improving the quality of STE documentation. However, it should be viewed as an assistant, not a replacement. The unique skills and expertise of human writers, including critical thinking, domain knowledge, and the ability to understand and address complex technical issues, remain indispensable for creating high-quality, effective, and trustworthy STE content. By leveraging the strengths of both AI and human expertise, we can create a synergistic approach that maximises the benefits of both while mitigating the risks.

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

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

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Use present tense: Present tense is preferred in STE because it is more immediate and makes the text easier to understand.
  5. 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.
  6. Use standardized terminology: STE requires the use of standardized terminology to avoid confusion and ensure consistency.
  7. Use clear headings and subheadings: Headings and subheadings should be clear and concise so that the reader can quickly identify the topic.
  8. Use illustrations: Illustrations can help to clarify complex concepts and make the text easier to understand.
  9. 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.

Looking to advance your technical writing career? Our Simplified Technical English workshop is the perfect opportunity to enhance your skills and stand out from the crowd. Don’t miss your chance to master this essential skill with our workshop.

 

🌐 Learn more about this international writing standard at our upcoming lectures and writing workshops in Q2 2023:

Europe Online STE Workshop | 2-day Training Course

April 13 – April 14

US, Canada | Certified Simplified Technical English workshops

April 17 – April 19

Asia Pacific: 2-day certified online STE workshop (APAC)

April 24 – April 25

Middle East & Africa (MEA) Simplified Technical English Writing Workshop | A language for all industries

May 8 – May 9

▶️ Sign up now!

STC Webinar: STE as a simplistic dichotomy or quite something else?

STC Webinar: STE as a simplistic dichotomy or quite something else?

Society for Technical Communication (STC Webinar: India Chapter) is hosting the Simplified Technical English Webinar conducted by Shufrans TechDocs on 5 September (Saturday), at 11:00 AM IST (100mins+15mins for Q&A).

Simplified Technical English: A simplistic dichotomy or quite something else?

Dates: Saturday, 5 September 2020

Time: 11:00 AM to 12:45 PM, India Standard Time (IST)

Simplified Technical English (STE) or ASD-STE100 is a controlled technical English language that is used to write technical manuals in a way that they can be more easily understood by an international audience. Often a formal requirement for aircraft and defence maintenance documentation, STE can easily be adapted to all technical industries and beyond. 

This STC webinar explores the usability of Simplified Technical English outside of maintenance documentation. We will discuss industry examples that demonstrate the versatility of this documentation standard that has been in active use since the 1980s.

As a very simple example, one of our customers actually makes coffee machines.  Coffee machines seem to have nothing to do with aircraft. However, 98% of passenger aircraft actually have coffee machines on board, and they need their documentation in Simplified English. Now, if this coffee machine happens to be in an office, or in a medical practitioner’s practice, or in a cafeteria, would it require documentation that is all that different from the documentation on board an aircraft? No, because if anything at all, we just restrict the rules a little bit less. Aerospace tends to be a little bit more restrictive, we just relax the rules a little bit for other industries.

Programme Highlights

  1. The applicability of Simplified Technical English across different industries
  2. How STE is different from company style guides
  3. STE case studies from different industries.
  4. STE writing rules 
  5. Customising vocabulary & terminology 
  6. Reaping the benefits of STE.
  7. STE in a nutshell
  8. Implementing STE with minimal disruption to on-going production and existing documentation
  9. Ensuring a seamless transition to STE writing at work.

About the Speaker

Since 2006, Ms Shumin Chen has been working as a consultant with customers in various industries worldwide: aerospace & defence, banking, consumer products, healthcare, IT, medical, and fitness equipment. She has helped many companies with their documentation needs, based on standards where possible, and is widely regarded as a leading expert in ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English training, aviation documentation and multilingual documentation.

Ms Chen now heads the ASD-STE100 training arm of Shufrans TechDocs in Singapore. In her current role, Ms Chen continues to focus on the practical implementation of international standards to facilitate the efficient creation and management of multilingual documentation.

 

Asia Pacific (APAC): 2-day Certified Online STE Workshop

Asia Pacific (APAC): 2-day Certified Online STE Workshop

 

Write effective user manuals & instructions with Simplified Technical English

APAC Online STE Workshop

Dates: 3 & 4 April 2025

Plan later: 17 & 18 April 2025

Time: 09:00 to 16:00 UTC/GMT+8:00 [APAC]

Length of training: 2 days

Course fee: 899 EUR*⁺⁺

Course registration ends one week before training commences.

*Course fee includes exercises, learning aids, certificate of completion, and 120-day post-training support.

⁺⁺A €100 group discount per participant is applicable when two or more participants sign up for the same event. Send us your questions: enquiry@shufrans-techdocs.com.

🏷️ A €210 fee discount is applicable when you also sign up for 🆕 Certified STE Masterclass | Asia Pacific (APAC) Online.

Rediscover clarity in documentation with STE

Simplified Technical English (STE) or ASD-STE100 is a controlled technical English language that is used to write technical manuals in a way that they can be more easily understood by an international audience. STE helps to make translations cheaper and more accurate.

STE can easily be adapted to all technical industries and beyond. Ms. Shumin Chen will show participants how to correctly and effectively use STE in practice. She will also address some of the mistakes commonly found in technical writing and the frequent incorrect use of common STE writing rules.

What customers are saying..

I am giving this training a 10/10. There was a good introductory and explanation to describe the 2-day training seminar. Rule 1.1 0 lets me use words that are: approved in the dictionary / technical names / technical verbs and is one rule I like very much because of its flexibility.

I think rule 1.1 is the most critical and important for STE dictionary. Sometimes I have to use non-approved words as an exception, but I will try to keep this rule 1.1 in my documents for good measure.

Although some of the exercises were tricky, they remind me of each rule application at that time. So they were practical for my role as a technical writer.

I want to recommend this course to current technical writers in Korea or engineers who are interested in writing their own documents effectively. Seung Eun Lee, Technical Writer, DB HiTek

Online STE Workshop Outline*

This two-day Online STE Workshop includes interactive training, exercises, and a 120-day post-training consultation.

  • Day 1: Classroom Training
    1. Practical overview of Simplified Technical English
    2. How STE helps both native & non-native speakers of English
    3. Benefits of adopting the STE international writing standard
    4. Writing rules and how to apply them in practice
    5. How to use the general vocabulary.
    6. Approved and non-approved words discussion and the rationale behind.
  • Day 2: Application, Review, & Exercises
    1. How to deal with industry-specific terminology
    2. How to use STE for various documentation types
    3. How to implement STE with minimal disruption to on-going production and existing documentation
    4. Practical workshop session for applying STE rules to your own documents
    5. Review, edit, and discuss participants’ own documents to reinforce learning
    6. Classroom presentation of own documents.

* Shufrans also offers customised ASD-STE100 training solutions tailored to meet your specific requirements. These courses are normally provided at the customer’s premises.

 

Why select a Simplified Technical English training with Shufrans?

Shumin is a very knowledgeable STE instructor. She kept the course interesting and was always open to our questions/feedback. The introduction to Simplified Technical English has been greatly beneficial for my understanding of what the specification entails. In terms of preferred rules, I cannot pinpoint a specific set of STE writing rules as they are all valuable. This was my favorite part of the course as I enjoyed analyzing how other writers went about using STE to best apply it to their line of work.

The rewriting workshop was my favorite part of the course as I enjoyed analyzing how other writers went about using STE to best apply it to their line of work. I would highly recommend this course to all technical writers. Shumin Chen takes the time to clearly explain the rules of STE. A very attentive instructor, indeed. If given the chance, I would really enjoy working along side her. Michael Palmieri, Documentation Specialist, AON3D | The Advanced Additive Manufacturing Platform

What technical writing outcomes to expect?

Our interactive training, exercises and workshop, will teach participants to standardise content to:

Interested in learning more?

Speak to us today or learn more about our upcoming Online STE Workshops here.

Certified STE workshops online

Browse our convenient line-up of Simplified Technical English workshops scheduled at different timezones.

 

ASD-STE100 Trainer’s qualifications

 

Ms Shumin Chen will show participants how to correctly and effectively use Simplified Technical English (STE) in practice. She will also address some of the mistakes commonly found in technical writing and the frequently incorrect use of common STE writing rules.

According to Ms Chen, the benefits of STE are manifold – audience engagement through high-quality content, improved product safety, lower life cycle cost and reduced logistics footprint

Learn more about how you can create sustainable STE content and reap substantial cost-saving benefits as a result here.

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Europe Certified STE Training Workshop Programme | 2-day Training Course Online

Europe Certified STE Training Workshop Programme | 2-day Training Course Online

 

Write effective user manuals & instructions with Simplified Technical English

Europe Online STE Workshop

Dates: 31 March & 1 April

Plan later: , 14 & 15 April 2025

Time: 08:00 to 15:00 CET

Length of training: 2 days

Course fee: 899 EUR*⁺⁺

Course registration ends one week before training commences.

*Course fee includes exercises, learning aids, certificate of completion, and 120-day post-training support.

⁺⁺A €100 group discount per participant is applicable when two or more participants sign up for the same event. Send us your questions: enquiry@shufrans-techdocs.com.

🏷️ A €210 fee discount is applicable when you also sign up for 🆕 Certified STE Masterclass | Europe Online.

Summary of Simplified Technical English (STE)

Simplified Technical English (STE) or ASD-STE100 is a controlled technical English language that is used to write technical manuals in a way that they can be more easily understood by an international audience. STE helps to make translations cheaper and more accurate. Often a formal requirement for aircraft and defence maintenance documentation, STE can easily be adapted to all technical industries and beyond. Ms. Shumin Chen will teach participants how to correctly and effectively use STE in practice. She will also address some of the mistakes commonly found in technical writing and the frequent incorrect use of common STE writing rules.

Why select a Simplified Technical English training with Shufrans?

Shumin is a very knowledgeable STE instructor. She kept the course interesting and was always open to our questions/feedback. The introduction to Simplified Technical English has been greatly beneficial for my understanding of what the specification entails. In terms of preferred rules, I cannot pinpoint a specific set of STE writing rules as they are all valuable. This was my favorite part of the course as I enjoyed analyzing how other writers went about using STE to best apply it to their line of work.

The rewriting workshop was my favorite part of the course as I enjoyed analyzing how other writers went about using STE to best apply it to their line of work. I would highly recommend this course to all technical writers. Shumin Chen takes the time to clearly explain the rules of STE. A very attentive instructor, indeed. If given the chance, I would really enjoy working along side her. Michael Palmieri, Documentation Specialist, AON3D | The Advanced Additive Manufacturing Platform

STE Course Outline*

This 2-day Europe Online STE Workshop includes interactive training and exercises.

  • Day 1: Classroom Training
    1. Practical overview of Simplified Technical English
    2. How STE helps both native & non-native speakers of English
    3. Benefits of adopting the STE international writing standard
    4. Writing rules and how to apply them in practice
    5. How to use the general vocabulary.
    6. Approved and non-approved words discussion and the rationale behind.
  • Day 2: Application, Review, & Exercises
    1. How to deal with industry-specific terminology
    2. How to use STE for various documentation types
    3. How to implement STE with minimal disruption to on-going production and existing documentation
    4. Practical workshop session for applying STE rules to your own documents
    5. Review, edit, and discuss participants’ own documents to reinforce learning
    6. Classroom presentation of own documents.

* Shufrans also offers customised ASD-STE100 training solutions tailored to meet your specific requirements. These courses are normally provided at the customer’s premises.

Who should attend this Simplified Technical English training?

  • Compliance managers
  • CIO, COO, CTO
  • Customer support managers
  • Documentation managers
  • Editors
  • Engineering managers
  • Engineers and SMEs who create documentation
  • Graphics specialists
  • ILS managers
  • Maintenance managers
  • Operation managers
  • Product managers
  • Project managers
  • Quality managers
  • Software research engineers
  • Technical illustrators
  • Technical writers
  • Translation managers
  • Translators.

What technical writing outcomes to expect?

Our interactive training, exercises and workshop, will teach participants to standardise content to:

What customers are saying..

The introduction was a good and concise way to familiarize yourself with STE basics. I’ve a background in plain language, so for example the rule on noun clusters makes perfect sense. I’m all about simplification, so substituting verbs like “eliminate” for verbs like “remove” or “stop” will be my new quest. The STE exercises were helpful in getting to grasp with STE during the training workshop. I’d very likely recommend this course to anyone planning to introduce STE as it’s got a great practical angle. Jenni Virtaluoto, PhD, Senior Lecturer, University of Jyväskylä, Finland

ASD-STE100 Trainer’s qualifications

Ms. Shumin Chen, principal trainer & consultant at Shufrans TechDocs received her professional on-the-job training in the field of STE under the tutelage of Dr Frans Wijma, a linguist and documentation expert. Together as an experienced global team, they provided their combined knowledge and dedication to benefit customers worldwide. To date, they have provided training and consultancy services to over 200 companies. Shufrans TechDocs is the only company with such vast experience in providing certified STE training.

Shumin has supported various companies with their STE and other documentation needs, based on standards where possible. Although STE was developed for the aerospace industry, more specifically for aircraft maintenance documentation, she found that it made a lot of sense to apply the same principles to other industries and types of documents as well. Few -if any- changes to the specification are necessary to adapt STE to industrial sectors ranging from machinery to IT, automotive to medical equipment.

Simplified Technical English STE examples

 

 

 

6 Words that Technical Writers Struggle to Break Up With in Simplified Technical English

6 Words that Technical Writers Struggle to Break Up With in Simplified Technical English

TCLoc Master article on 6 Words that Technical Writers Struggle to Break Up With in Simplified Technical English by Ms. Shumin Chen, Principal ASD-STE100 Trainer & Consultant.

First published on TCLoc Master Blog • University of Strasbourg • 26 August 2019

Product documentation can potentially be confusing, incoherent, and ambiguous in many situations. Recognising language ambiguity usually takes months, if not longer. Several aggravating factors include:

  • A constant need to churn out or translate volumes of documentation, manuals, and working standards.
  • Rarely questioning the relevance or validity of legacy documentation.
  • Allowing unclear parts of your technical content to snowball into substantial chunks that will eventually make up parts of your “user-unfriendly” help guides.

Finally, let us not forget the insidiously familiar workplace jargon that often explains why we tend to ignore simpler alternatives that could help us express our thoughts with greater clarity.

From workplace jargon to user-friendly words

Sometimes, realising the level of complexity of one’s technical content involves an epiphany of sorts once the writer catches a glimpse of technical writing in Simplified Technical English (STE). This is true for one of our clients, who is both an experienced technical author and documentation manager:

“A training course helped me better appreciate the objectives of Simplified Technical English from a technical writer’s perspective. I like the fact that STE promotes the use of less complex sentence structures and does away with unnecessary words like: ‘would’, ‘should’, and ‘might’.”

Do we have a problem? If so, fix it!

For example, if you look up the meaning of the word “fix” in a standard dictionary, the definitions are aplenty, from “fixing a technical difficulty” to “fixing up a meal in the kitchen”. Given the many possible meanings that hold true for the verb “to fix”, one could also distil as many interpretations of the word in a sentence.

According to Simplified Technical English, Issue 7, January 2017, there is a solution for this. Instead of “fix”, synonyms such as “ATTACH*”, “SET”, “REPAIR”, and “INSTALL”  powerfully extend our understanding and knowledge of what “fix” really entails when paired with various contextual clues.

The next five words: are you thinking of these too?

Keeping in mind that these are not the only unproductive words I talk about in my workshops, they are among the most frequently discussed ones.

The word “should” usually indicates duty or correctness that points to a desirable or expected state. However, it still allows the possibility of non-compliance. “MUST”, on the other hand, makes it clear that the instructions are mandatory and leaves no room for a different reading.

Besides the roughly 900 approved words found in the STE general vocabulary, the STE specification also includes a list of non-approved words. “Would” is one of those words that is easily replaced by a more straightforward and approved STE word like “CAN”.

In the STE general dictionary, the approved word examples in the 2nd column are very useful for technical writers who are transitioning from Standard English to Simplified English. This is because they provide the writer with the correct use of words in a real-life context that would be difficult to think of independently. Here, we see that “CAN” is once again a very helpful alternative to the verb “may”. Using too many words that point to the same or similar meanings can be, at times, overwhelming for your readers, especially when documentation becomes lengthier and more detailed.  

By now, the effects of STE on everyday words that pose as potential roadblocks to concise writing are clear. Instead of “transfer”, STE encourages the use of “MOVE” or “INSTALL”. This adds granularity to your choice of verbs, making technical work instructions more detailed and easier to follow.

The preference in STE for the verb “MAKE SURE” over “confirm” is again another unique characteristic of this standard. This is very likely so because the maintenance committee (made up of a diverse mix of linguists, engineers, and translators) deems “MAKE SURE” a more fitting word with more frequent usage to back their word choice. 

What are some popular words in STE that trained technical writers have adopted to date?

We spoke to more than 30 technical writers and this is by far the most comprehensive response to date:

“My favourite STE verbs are ‘APPLY’, ‘ATTACH’, ‘MAKE SURE’, and ‘SHOW’. The verb ‘APPLY’ has multiple use cases for our documents. The verb ‘ATTACH’ is a great utility verb because common alternatives like ‘mount’ are not approved. The verb ‘MAKE SURE’ is extremely helpful in cautions and warnings, as well as in some procedural steps. Finally, the verb ‘SHOW’ is extremely helpful when I write about background processes and how things work in general.” 

STE as a game-changer in our technical communication landscape

Can you envision a future where STE serves as the primary language reference for content creation and development in your field? 

We would like to hear from you. Leave your ideas in the comments section below!

Can Simplified Technical English be used for various documentation types?

Can Simplified Technical English be used for various documentation types?

Remote webinar: Simplified Technical English

Dates: Wednesday, 28 August 2019

Time: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST)

Register

ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English is a guideline that regulates the wording and writing style used in technical publications. Originally developed for the aerospace industry, it is now widely used also outside the aviation industry, including companies in the defence, machinery, electronics, semiconductor, medical equipment, IT, and hi-tech industries.

This presentation explores the usability of Simplified Technical English outside of maintenance documentation. We will discuss industry examples that demonstrate the versatility of this documentation standard that has been in active use since the 1980s.

 

Why ‘fix’​ is a useless word – and four preferred alternatives from Simplified Technical English

Why ‘fix’​ is a useless word – and four preferred alternatives from Simplified Technical English

According to Simplified Technical English, Issue 7, January 2017, having these four words at hand – ATTACH, SET, REPAIR, AND INSTALL – powerfully extends our understanding and knowledge of what ‘fix’ really means.

 

Simplified Technical English expertly divides this easily misunderstood word into specific actions that are necessarily taken based on prevailing circumstances.

Under the tutelage of an experienced STE trainer, we probably have many more ways of expressing ourselves unambiguously in technical work instructions than our informal day-to-day language knows how to recognise.

 

Find out more:

What is Simplified Technical English?

How do we apply Simplified Technical English in practice?

Which types of training are available for me as an individual writer, as a team, or as scattered teams in offices worldwide?

 

Copyright © 2019 Shufrans TechDocs. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means whatsoever without express written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.