ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English
Write clear technical text without changing its technical meaning. Apply
ASD-STE100 controls to procedures, descriptions, safety text, terminology,
software instructions, and audit reports.
Use Issue 9, January 2025 unless the user specifies another issue. Issue 9
contains 53 writing rules in 9 sections and approximately 900 approved general
words.
Treat this skill as an operational aid. Do not claim formal compliance from the
public baseline alone.
Select the review mode
Use one mode for the complete task.
Strict mode
Use strict mode only when all these inputs are available:
- the applicable official ASD-STE100 issue
- the official controlled dictionary for that issue
- the approved project or company termbase
- the governing publication and safety rules
- authoritative technical source data
Check each general word for its approved meaning, part of speech, and permitted
forms. Check each technical noun and technical verb against approved
terminology. Report unresolved cases. Claim formal compliance only after all
checks and a technical review are complete.
Hybrid mode
Use hybrid mode when the user supplies some official rules or controlled
terminology, but not the complete authority set.
Apply supplied official data exactly. Apply the public baseline to uncovered
areas. Distinguish confirmed findings from provisional findings. Identify the
material necessary for a complete review.
Baseline mode
Use baseline mode by default.
Apply the public controls in this skill. Preserve supplied project terminology.
Flag words that require official dictionary verification. Do not state that the
result is formally compliant.
Apply source authority
Apply sources in this order:
- the official ASD-STE100 issue specified by the user
- contractual publication specifications and customer rules
- controlled safety wording and regulatory text
- approved company or project terminology
- engineering source data, drawings, schematics, and parts lists
- product UI strings, code literals, commands, and database labels
- this skill's public baseline
Preserve the higher-authority source when sources conflict. Report the conflict.
Never let a language rewrite change a technical requirement.
Load only the necessary references
Read each selected reference completely before applying it. All references are
directly linked from this file.
| Task |
Required reference |
| Vocabulary review, terminology work, strict review, or word-class decisions |
Controlled vocabulary |
| Sentence rewriting, grammar review, or ambiguity reduction |
Grammar and sentence controls |
| Maintenance procedures, operating instructions, or system descriptions |
Procedures and descriptions |
| Warnings, values, units, tables, software, UI, API, or translation-source text |
Safety, formatting, and software |
| Audit reports, findings, JSON output, termbases, or rewrite reports |
Review and output |
| Difficult examples, automated checks, quality gates, acceptance tests, or skill maintenance |
Examples, checks, and quality gates |
For a simple rewrite, read the grammar reference and the
procedure-or-description reference. Add other references only when the source
contains their subject matter.
For targeted searches in the references, use patterns such as:
rg -n "strict mode|technical noun|technical verb|word class" references/
rg -n "warning|numeric integrity|UI literal|API" references/
rg -n "output formats|machine-readable|quality gates" references/
Get the necessary inputs
Use the available inputs. Do not stop only because optional inputs are absent.
Identify:
- source text
- text type:
procedure, description, safety, or mixed
- requested review mode and ASD-STE100 issue
- approved terminology or termbase
- product and part names
- source references and drawing identifiers
- protected software labels, commands, and data fields
- safety classification and mandatory wording
- customer style rules
- requested output format
If the official dictionary or termbase is absent, use baseline mode and state
what is missing.
Protect fixed content
Before rewriting, mark these items as protected:
- part, model, and serial numbers
- software commands, source code, API paths, parameters, and data fields
- UI labels, messages, menu paths, and keyboard keys
- file names and extensions
- values, tolerances, quantities, ranges, and units
- drawing nomenclature and approved product terms
- legally controlled text and contractual safety wording
Keep the spelling, capitalization, syntax, and values of protected content
unchanged.
Follow the core workflow
- Classify each block as procedural, descriptive, safety, tabular, or protected
literal text.
- Protect fixed content before making language changes.
- Identify the technical actors, actions, objects, conditions, limits, hazards,
and results.
- Extract repeated terminology and resolve synonyms against authoritative
sources.
- Control vocabulary, meaning, word class, and word forms for the selected
mode.
- Rewrite grammar and sentence structure without changing task logic.
- Separate independent actions and topics.
- Verify every value, condition, warning, and protected literal against the
source.
- Compare the revision with the source line by line.
- Return the requested output, open technical queries, and compliance status.
Apply non-negotiable controls
- Preserve technical meaning, task order, and dependencies.
- Preserve every limit, value, tolerance, quantity, unit, and range.
- Preserve hazards, consequences, prevention actions, and mandatory force.
- Preserve part numbers, commands, labels, file names, and data fields.
- Do not invent steps, tools, materials, causes, results, limits, or safety
conditions.
- Do not delete information necessary for safe and correct work.
- Do not weaken mandatory language or change a safety classification.
- Do not resolve technical ambiguity by assumption.
- Do not replace an approved technical term only because it is absent from the
general dictionary.
- Do not classify an ordinary word as a technical term to bypass a vocabulary
rule.
- Do not claim formal compliance after partial or automated checks.
Apply the essential writing controls
Procedures
- Use imperative active voice.
- Put one instruction in each sentence.
- Put a condition before the action when the reader must know it first.
- Keep steps in the source order.
- Separate an action from a verification action.
- State simultaneous actions explicitly.
- Give a count or end condition for repeated actions when the source provides
it.
- Use 20 words or fewer in a baseline procedure sentence unless technical
integrity requires an exception.
Descriptions
- Put one main topic in each sentence.
- Prefer direct active constructions.
- Distinguish a state from an action.
- Name the actor when the source identifies it.
- Repeat a technical noun when a pronoun can be ambiguous.
- Use 25 words or fewer in a baseline descriptive sentence unless technical
integrity requires an exception.
Vocabulary and terminology
- Use one term for one concept.
- Verify a general word's meaning and part of speech in strict mode.
- Use technical nouns and technical verbs only for their approved meanings.
- Keep engineering distinctions such as
remove, disconnect, release,
loosen, and open.
- Query vague or ambiguous words when their interpretation affects technical
meaning.
Safety and values
- Keep the supplied danger, warning, caution, notice, or note classification.
- Keep the hazard close to the affected action.
- Use direct commands for prevention actions.
- Put
not close to the action that it controls.
- Copy technical values exactly. Do not round or normalize them during a
language rewrite.
- Create a query when a safety limit or criterion is missing. Do not invent it.
Create useful technical queries
Create a query when meaning, obligation, scope, terminology, or technical status
is unclear.
Name the location, ambiguity, and decision required.
Preferred:
Q3: In Step 7, does "it" refer to the cable or the connector?
Avoid:
Please clarify the sentence.
Do not guess when a query can prevent a technical or safety error.
Return the requested output
Support these output types:
rewrite
audit
rewrite-and-audit
vocabulary-report
termbase-extract
redline-summary
strict-compliance-report
- machine-readable JSON
For an unspecified output, return:
- revised text
- findings that materially changed the text
- open technical queries
- compliance status
Do not report every punctuation edit unless the user requests an exhaustive
audit.
State compliance accurately
Use one suitable status:
ASD-STE100 Issue 9 reviewed against the official standard and the approved project terminology.
STE-oriented rewrite completed with the public-rule baseline. Official dictionary verification is required.
Hybrid STE review completed. Supplied official entries were applied; the remaining vocabulary requires official dictionary verification.
Partial STE review completed. The listed technical queries prevent a reliable compliance decision.
The source conflicts with controlled safety or contractual wording. The controlled wording is unchanged and the conflict is reported.
Do not use ASD-STE100 compliant unless the official standard, dictionary,
terminology, publication rules, and technical review were all applied.
Complete the quality gate
Before delivery, confirm that:
- all source actions remain present and in order
- every condition controls the correct action
- all values, units, identifiers, and literals match the source
- hazards and mandatory language are unchanged
- no technical claim was added
- terms are consistent
- each procedure sentence contains one instruction
- each descriptive sentence contains one topic
- unresolved vocabulary and ambiguity are reported
- the compliance statement matches the evidence
1---2name: asd-ste1003description: Write, rewrite, and audit technical procedures and descriptions with ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English. Use for maintenance, operating, installation, inspection, troubleshooting, safety, software, API, specification, terminology, controlled-language, translation-source, vocabulary, and STE compliance-review tasks. Supports baseline, hybrid, and strict review modes; formal compliance requires the applicable official ASD-STE100 issue, official dictionary, project termbase, publication rules, and technical review.4---56# ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English78Write clear technical text without changing its technical meaning. Apply9ASD-STE100 controls to procedures, descriptions, safety text, terminology,10software instructions, and audit reports.1112Use **Issue 9, January 2025** unless the user specifies another issue. Issue 913contains 53 writing rules in 9 sections and approximately 900 approved general14words.1516Treat this skill as an operational aid. Do not claim formal compliance from the17public baseline alone.1819## Select the review mode2021Use one mode for the complete task.2223### Strict mode2425Use strict mode only when all these inputs are available:2627- the applicable official ASD-STE100 issue28- the official controlled dictionary for that issue29- the approved project or company termbase30- the governing publication and safety rules31- authoritative technical source data3233Check each general word for its approved meaning, part of speech, and permitted34forms. Check each technical noun and technical verb against approved35terminology. Report unresolved cases. Claim formal compliance only after all36checks and a technical review are complete.3738### Hybrid mode3940Use hybrid mode when the user supplies some official rules or controlled41terminology, but not the complete authority set.4243Apply supplied official data exactly. Apply the public baseline to uncovered44areas. Distinguish confirmed findings from provisional findings. Identify the45material necessary for a complete review.4647### Baseline mode4849Use baseline mode by default.5051Apply the public controls in this skill. Preserve supplied project terminology.52Flag words that require official dictionary verification. Do not state that the53result is formally compliant.5455## Apply source authority5657Apply sources in this order:58591. the official ASD-STE100 issue specified by the user602. contractual publication specifications and customer rules613. controlled safety wording and regulatory text624. approved company or project terminology635. engineering source data, drawings, schematics, and parts lists646. product UI strings, code literals, commands, and database labels657. this skill's public baseline6667Preserve the higher-authority source when sources conflict. Report the conflict.68Never let a language rewrite change a technical requirement.6970## Load only the necessary references7172Read each selected reference completely before applying it. All references are73directly linked from this file.7475| Task | Required reference |76| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |77| Vocabulary review, terminology work, strict review, or word-class decisions | [Controlled vocabulary](references/controlled-vocabulary.md) |78| Sentence rewriting, grammar review, or ambiguity reduction | [Grammar and sentence controls](references/grammar.md) |79| Maintenance procedures, operating instructions, or system descriptions | [Procedures and descriptions](references/procedures-and-descriptions.md) |80| Warnings, values, units, tables, software, UI, API, or translation-source text | [Safety, formatting, and software](references/safety-format-and-software.md) |81| Audit reports, findings, JSON output, termbases, or rewrite reports | [Review and output](references/review-and-output.md) |82| Difficult examples, automated checks, quality gates, acceptance tests, or skill maintenance | [Examples, checks, and quality gates](references/examples-and-quality.md) |8384For a simple rewrite, read the grammar reference and the85procedure-or-description reference. Add other references only when the source86contains their subject matter.8788For targeted searches in the references, use patterns such as:8990```text91rg -n "strict mode|technical noun|technical verb|word class" references/92rg -n "warning|numeric integrity|UI literal|API" references/93rg -n "output formats|machine-readable|quality gates" references/94```9596## Get the necessary inputs9798Use the available inputs. Do not stop only because optional inputs are absent.99100Identify:101102- source text103- text type: `procedure`, `description`, `safety`, or `mixed`104- requested review mode and ASD-STE100 issue105- approved terminology or termbase106- product and part names107- source references and drawing identifiers108- protected software labels, commands, and data fields109- safety classification and mandatory wording110- customer style rules111- requested output format112113If the official dictionary or termbase is absent, use baseline mode and state114what is missing.115116## Protect fixed content117118Before rewriting, mark these items as protected:119120- part, model, and serial numbers121- software commands, source code, API paths, parameters, and data fields122- UI labels, messages, menu paths, and keyboard keys123- file names and extensions124- values, tolerances, quantities, ranges, and units125- drawing nomenclature and approved product terms126- legally controlled text and contractual safety wording127128Keep the spelling, capitalization, syntax, and values of protected content129unchanged.130131## Follow the core workflow1321331. Classify each block as procedural, descriptive, safety, tabular, or protected134 literal text.1352. Protect fixed content before making language changes.1363. Identify the technical actors, actions, objects, conditions, limits, hazards,137 and results.1384. Extract repeated terminology and resolve synonyms against authoritative139 sources.1405. Control vocabulary, meaning, word class, and word forms for the selected141 mode.1426. Rewrite grammar and sentence structure without changing task logic.1437. Separate independent actions and topics.1448. Verify every value, condition, warning, and protected literal against the145 source.1469. Compare the revision with the source line by line.14710. Return the requested output, open technical queries, and compliance status.148149## Apply non-negotiable controls150151- Preserve technical meaning, task order, and dependencies.152- Preserve every limit, value, tolerance, quantity, unit, and range.153- Preserve hazards, consequences, prevention actions, and mandatory force.154- Preserve part numbers, commands, labels, file names, and data fields.155- Do not invent steps, tools, materials, causes, results, limits, or safety156 conditions.157- Do not delete information necessary for safe and correct work.158- Do not weaken mandatory language or change a safety classification.159- Do not resolve technical ambiguity by assumption.160- Do not replace an approved technical term only because it is absent from the161 general dictionary.162- Do not classify an ordinary word as a technical term to bypass a vocabulary163 rule.164- Do not claim formal compliance after partial or automated checks.165166## Apply the essential writing controls167168### Procedures169170- Use imperative active voice.171- Put one instruction in each sentence.172- Put a condition before the action when the reader must know it first.173- Keep steps in the source order.174- Separate an action from a verification action.175- State simultaneous actions explicitly.176- Give a count or end condition for repeated actions when the source provides177 it.178- Use 20 words or fewer in a baseline procedure sentence unless technical179 integrity requires an exception.180181### Descriptions182183- Put one main topic in each sentence.184- Prefer direct active constructions.185- Distinguish a state from an action.186- Name the actor when the source identifies it.187- Repeat a technical noun when a pronoun can be ambiguous.188- Use 25 words or fewer in a baseline descriptive sentence unless technical189 integrity requires an exception.190191### Vocabulary and terminology192193- Use one term for one concept.194- Verify a general word's meaning and part of speech in strict mode.195- Use technical nouns and technical verbs only for their approved meanings.196- Keep engineering distinctions such as `remove`, `disconnect`, `release`,197 `loosen`, and `open`.198- Query vague or ambiguous words when their interpretation affects technical199 meaning.200201### Safety and values202203- Keep the supplied danger, warning, caution, notice, or note classification.204- Keep the hazard close to the affected action.205- Use direct commands for prevention actions.206- Put `not` close to the action that it controls.207- Copy technical values exactly. Do not round or normalize them during a208 language rewrite.209- Create a query when a safety limit or criterion is missing. Do not invent it.210211## Create useful technical queries212213Create a query when meaning, obligation, scope, terminology, or technical status214is unclear.215216Name the location, ambiguity, and decision required.217218Preferred:219220`Q3: In Step 7, does "it" refer to the cable or the connector?`221222Avoid:223224`Please clarify the sentence.`225226Do not guess when a query can prevent a technical or safety error.227228## Return the requested output229230Support these output types:231232- `rewrite`233- `audit`234- `rewrite-and-audit`235- `vocabulary-report`236- `termbase-extract`237- `redline-summary`238- `strict-compliance-report`239- machine-readable JSON240241For an unspecified output, return:2422431. revised text2442. findings that materially changed the text2453. open technical queries2464. compliance status247248Do not report every punctuation edit unless the user requests an exhaustive249audit.250251## State compliance accurately252253Use one suitable status:254255- `ASD-STE100 Issue 9 reviewed against the official standard and the approved project terminology.`256- `STE-oriented rewrite completed with the public-rule baseline. Official dictionary verification is required.`257- `Hybrid STE review completed. Supplied official entries were applied; the remaining vocabulary requires official dictionary verification.`258- `Partial STE review completed. The listed technical queries prevent a reliable compliance decision.`259- `The source conflicts with controlled safety or contractual wording. The controlled wording is unchanged and the conflict is reported.`260261Do not use `ASD-STE100 compliant` unless the official standard, dictionary,262terminology, publication rules, and technical review were all applied.263264## Complete the quality gate265266Before delivery, confirm that:267268- all source actions remain present and in order269- every condition controls the correct action270- all values, units, identifiers, and literals match the source271- hazards and mandatory language are unchanged272- no technical claim was added273- terms are consistent274- each procedure sentence contains one instruction275- each descriptive sentence contains one topic276- unresolved vocabulary and ambiguity are reported277- the compliance statement matches the evidence