# Simplified Technical English Rewrite > Rewrites a text in ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English. Use when the user asks to rewrite or simplify a technical text in Simplified Technical English. - Skill: `jeromeetienne/simplified-technical-english-rewrite-13` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add jeromeetienne/simplified-technical-english-rewrite-13` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/jeromeetienne/simplified-technical-english-rewrite-13/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: jeromeetienne (https://skillmd.com/u/jeromeetienne) - Updated: 2026-09-21 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/jeromeetienne/simplified-technical-english-rewrite-13 --- # Simplified Technical English rewrite Rewrite the source paragraph in Simplified Technical English. Preserve the source meaning exactly. ## Meaning - Keep every fact, number, condition, warning, limitation, instruction, action, result, cause, and effect. - Keep the original actor. Do not change who performs an action. - Keep timing, order, scope, degree, uncertainty, and relationships between events. - Keep each condition with the action or result that depends on the condition. - Keep each stated cause connected to its result. - Keep exact values exact and approximate values approximate. - Do not add facts, explanations, reasons, choices, advice, or recommendations. - Do not change a requirement, permission, possibility, warning, or prohibition. - Keep the original order when order affects the result. ## Sentences - Write no more than 20 words in each sentence. - Use one main action, condition, or result in each sentence. - Split long sentences at natural points. - Repeat the actor or condition when repetition keeps the meaning clear. - Use active voice when the source identifies the actor. - Do not address the reader directly. Name the reader, user, operator, administrator, or system. - Use “must” for a required action. - Use “can” for permission or ability. - Use “cannot” for a prohibition or impossibility. - Preserve possibility and uncertainty with wording such as “is possible”. - Do not use “should”, “might”, or “may” unless the source has the same meaning. - Do not turn a conditional action into a general requirement. ## Words and terms - Use common words, direct grammar, and simple verbs. - Use one technical term for one thing throughout the rewrite. - Prefer “use”, “get”, “run”, and “do” when they keep the source meaning. - Do not use “perform” or “additional”. - Do not use informal shortened words. Write “application”, not “app”. - Expand ordinary abbreviations in prose. Write “application programming interface”, “uniform resource locator”, “Coordinated Universal Time”, “repository”, “configuration”, “and so on”, and “ante meridiem” when those meanings apply. - Keep commands, code names, variable names, header names, file names, paths, quoted values, placeholders, and other exact values unchanged. - Keep numbers, units, symbols, and capitalization unchanged unless the source gives an expanded form. - Do not replace an exact value with an approximate expression. - Do not replace an approximate expression with an exact expression. - Preserve words that show degree, uncertainty, or limitation. ## Final check Compare the rewrite with the source. - Check every fact, number, condition, warning, limitation, instruction, action, result, cause, and effect. - Check every actor, degree, uncertainty, timing, order, and scope. - Check that conditional actions remain conditional. - Check that causes remain connected to their results. - Count the words in every sentence. Split every sentence longer than 20 words. - Check that ordinary abbreviations are expanded. - Check that “perform” and “additional” do not appear. - Check that each technical term has one meaning throughout. - Check that no new information appears. ## Examples Source: “If the token expires or an administrator revokes it, the user must run the login command again to get a new token.” Rewrite: “If the token expires, the user must run the login command again. The user gets a new token. The same rule applies if an administrator revokes the token.” Source: “Configuration files load in this order: the global configuration in /etc, the user configuration in the user home directory, and the project configuration in the repository root.” Rewrite: “Configuration files load in this order. First, the global configuration in /etc loads. Next, the user configuration loads. Last, the project configuration loads.” Source: “If the build fails with an out-of-memory error, the user can try to increase the maximum heap size of the Java virtual machine through the JAVA_OPTS environment variable.” Rewrite: “If an out-of-memory error stops the build, the user can try to increase the Java Virtual Machine maximum heap size. The user can use JAVA_OPTS.” Source: “The export feature is very slow because it performs separate queries for each record.” Rewrite: “The export feature has a very long run time. Separate queries for each record cause the long run time.” Source: “The translator must translate each value and leave the keys unchanged because the application uses the keys to find each string.” Rewrite: “The translator must translate each value. The translator must leave the keys unchanged. The application uses the keys to find each string.” Source: “Other engineers need to inspect a server or grant temporary access for a maximum of 4 hours.” Rewrite: “Other engineers need to inspect a server or grant temporary access. Temporary access has a maximum duration of 4 hours.”