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Simplified Technical English (STE) is a controlled form of English for technical documentation, governed by the ASD-STE100 standard. It is not simply a request to write in plain language: writers follow specific grammar and style rules and use a controlled dictionary that assigns approved words particular meanings. ASD identifies Issue 9, dated January 15, 2025, as the current edition.
What does Simplified Technical English mean?
ASD describes ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English as “a controlled natural language and an international standard to write technical documentation.” In practice, it gives technical writers a defined set of writing rules and a controlled vocabulary intended to make technical instructions clearer and less ambiguous. ASD-STE100 official site
STE is English governed by a standard, not a separate language or a universal plain-English rulebook. Its requirements are more specific than a general preference for short sentences or familiar words: writers must follow the standard’s rules and use dictionary entries in their assigned meanings.
How ASD-STE100 is organized
Part 1: Writing rules
Part 1 sets out grammar and style rules for technical documentation. It provides constraints on how writers construct and present information, rather than relying only on individual judgment about what sounds simple.
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Part 2: Controlled dictionary
Part 2 provides approved general vocabulary and defines how words are used. The dictionary limits ambiguity by preferring a particular word and meaning where several alternatives might otherwise be used. For example, ASD says STE selects “start” rather than “begin,” “commence,” “initiate,” or “originate.” It also assigns “fall” the meaning “move down by the force of gravity,” not “decrease.” ASD-STE100 FAQ
Project-specific terminology
ASD allows subject-specific nouns and verbs particular to a project or company. That allowance does not remove the general obligation to follow the controlled vocabulary: it accommodates technical terms needed for the subject matter.
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Why was STE developed?
ASD traces the project to the late 1970s, when the European aerospace industry, with support from the Aerospace Industries Association of America, sought to make aircraft maintenance documentation easier to understand for readers with a basic command of English. The AECMA Simplified English Guide was released in 1986; the Issue 9 history lists its first release as February 15, 1986.
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What is the current ASD-STE100 edition?
ASD identifies ASD-STE100 Issue 9, dated January 15, 2025, as the current edition. The issue history says its primary focus was harmonization of terminology with ISO standards and describes Issue 9 as the point when ASD-STE100 became an international standard. The Simplified Technical English Maintenance Group (STEMG) is responsible for the standard’s development, publication, maintenance, and management. ASD-STE100 Issue 9 PDF
For writing or checking a document, use the current official issue rather than relying on an older summary: the precise rules and dictionary entries are defined in the standard itself.
Where can you get the official standard?
The official ASD-STE100 standard is distributed free of charge through official channels. ASD provides a request process for obtaining a copy; its downloads page also provides the official access route and a process for proposing changes. ASD-STE100 downloads
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Use ASD’s official site to request the current edition. Issue 9 cautions against unauthorized distribution through other sites or portals, so avoid treating a third-party copy as the authoritative source.
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What STE does—and does not—establish
STE supplies a structured way to write technical documentation using controlled grammar, style, vocabulary, and word meanings. It does not guarantee that every reader will understand a document or that the document will be safe, nor does its definition alone establish a quantified gain in comprehension, translation cost, or writing time. No general reading-grade level should be inferred from the name.
Whether a particular organization must use STE depends on the applicable contract, specification, or regulatory context. ASD’s statements about adoption do not by themselves make STE mandatory across an industry; check the governing requirement for the document in question.
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