# Page 41–44 of 434

> **Source:** ASD-STE100 Issue 9, January 2025
> **Pages:** 41–44 of 434

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## Section 1 – Words

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Summary of the rules
Which words can you use?
Rule 1.1 Use words that are:
- Approved in the dictionary
- Technical nouns
- Technical verbs.
Part of speech
Rule 1.2 Use approved words from the dictionary only as the specified part of speech.
Approved meaning
Rule 1.3 Use approved words only with their approved meanings.
Forms of verbs and adjectives
Rule 1.4 Use only the approved forms of verbs and adjectives.
Technical nouns
Rule 1.5 You can use words that you can include in a technical noun category.
Rule 1.6 Use a word that is not approved in the dictionary, only when it is a technical noun or
part of a technical noun.
Rule 1.7 Do not use words that are technical nouns as verbs.
Rule 1.8 Use technical nouns that are approved in your company, industry, or subject field.
Rule 1.9 When you must select a technical noun, use one which is short and easy to
understand.
Rule 1.10 Do not use regional, slang, or jargon words as technical nouns.
Rule 1.11 Do not use different technical nouns for the same item.
Technical verbs
Rule 1.12 You can use verbs that you can include in a technical verb category.
Rule 1.13 Do not use technical verbs as nouns.
Spelling
Rule 1.14 Use American English spelling unless other official directives tell you differently.
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### Which words can you use?

Simplified Technical English (STE) has a controlled dictionary (part 2) that gives the words most frequently used in technical writing. You can also use words that are not in the dictionary if you can include them in the specified categories of technical nouns and technical verbs.

A technical noun is a noun term that refers to a specified concept and is applicable to a subject field. A technical verb is a verb term that also refers to a specified concept or process and is applicable to a subject field.

#### Examples

The word “use” is an approved verb in the dictionary. The word “engine” is a technical noun. The word “ream” is a technical verb.

The dictionary also gives a selection of words that are not approved, with examples that show how to use alternative words.

In the context of ISO 1087:2019, “subject fields” refer to specific domains or areas of knowledge that have specialized vocabularies.

Technical nouns and technical verbs are usually included in your company glossary or terminology database. Always refer to these sources, and to the specified rules in this section, for the correct selection of words.

### Part of speech

### Rule 1.2 Use approved words from the dictionary only as the specified part of speech.

In the dictionary, each approved word has a specified part of speech. When you use an approved word, make sure that you use it only as the specified part of speech.

#### Examples

“Test” is an approved noun, but not an approved verb.

> **STE:** <mark>STE: Test B is an alternative to test A.</mark>

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> **Non-STE:** _Test the system for leaks._
> **STE:** Do the leak test of the system.
> _or_
> **STE:** Do a test for leaks in the system.

“Dim” is an approved adjective, but not an approved verb.

> **STE:** <mark>STE: A dim light comes on.</mark>
> **Non-STE:** _<mark>Non-STE: Dim the lights.</mark>_
> **STE:** <mark>STE: Set the lights to the dim position.</mark>

Some words are approved as more than one part of speech. For example, “clean” is an approved verb and an approved adjective. The position of the word in the sentence shows its function (and its meaning) because verbs and adjectives have different positions.

> **STE:** <mark>STE: Clean the inner surface of the container.</mark> (“Clean” is a verb here.)
> **STE:** <mark>STE: Make sure that the area is clean.</mark> (“Clean” is an adjective here.)

“Acceptable” is an adjective that is not approved. The dictionary gives three approved alternatives that have the same part of speech. You can use one of these alternatives to replace the word “acceptable” in the sentence with a word-for-word replacement.

> **Non-STE:** _<mark>Non-STE: A value of 2 mm is acceptable.</mark>_
> **STE:** <mark>STE: A value of 2 mm is permitted.</mark>

“Operable” is an adjective that is not approved. The dictionary gives an approved alternative that has a different part of speech: “operate” as a verb. Thus, you must use a different sentence construction.

> **Non-STE:** _Make sure that the valve isoperable._
> **STE:** Make sure that the valve canoperate.

When you replace a word, always make sure that the approved alternative you select does not change the meaning of the sentence. If the meaning changes, select a different word or use a different sentence construction.

<mark>Each word in the dictionary has its part of speech in parentheses, abbreviated as specified in</mark> the introduction to the dictionary.

If a word that you want to use is not in the dictionary:

- Find that word in an English dictionary.
- Find which is the best synonym that is approved in the STE dictionary.
- Use the approved STE word or find a different sentence construction with other approved words.

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### Approved meaning

### Rule 1.3 Use approved words only with their approved meanings.

Each approved word in the dictionary has a specified approved meaning. Some of these words can have more restricted meanings compared with their meanings in standard English. Always use the approved words only with their approved meanings.

#### Examples

The approved meaning of the verb “follow” is “come after, go after.”

> **STE:** <mark>STE: Do the procedures that follow:</mark>

> **STE:** <mark>STE: Follow the green lights to the nearest staircase.</mark>

You cannot use the verb “follow” with other meanings that are not approved.

> **Non-STE:** _<mark>Non-STE: Follow the safety instructions.</mark>_

In this sentence, always use “obey” with the approved meaning “to do that which the procedures or instructions tell you.”

> **STE:** <mark>STE: Obey the safety instructions.</mark>

### Forms of verbs and adjectives

### Rule 1.4 Use only the approved forms of verbs and adjectives.

The dictionary gives each approved verb together with its approved forms. The dictionary also gives the approved adjectives in their base form, together with their comparative and superlative forms in parentheses where applicable.

#### Example - Verbs:

**<mark>REMOVE (v), REMOVES, REMOVED, REMOVED</mark>**

This word tells you that you can use the approved verb “remove” as follows:

| Infinitive/Imperative forms | Simple present tense | Simple past tense | Past participle form (as an adjective) |
|---|---|---|---|
|  | (To)Remove/Remove | Remove(s) | Removed | Removed |

The past participle form of the verb is usually the same as the simple past tense. Thus, the dictionary gives it two times.
