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ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English

## Rule 1.11 Do not use different technical nouns for the same item.

When you select a technical noun, do not use a different technical noun in other parts of your text
to refer to the same item.
Example:

| Non-STE: | 1. Make sure that the servo control unit is in the open position. |
| --- | --- |
|  | 2. Do the operational test of the actuator. |
|  | 3. Disconnect the control unit from the test rig. |
| STE: | 1. Make sure that the actuator is in the open position. |
|  | 2. Do the operational test of the actuator. |
|  | 3. Disconnect the actuator from the test rig. |

In the non-STE example, “servo control unit,” “actuator,” and “control unit” refer to the same item.
Use the technical noun that is approved in your company, industry, or subject field. If, as in the
example, the technical noun is “actuator,” then always use this technical noun in your text.
Technical verbs

## Rule 1.12 You can use verbs that you can include in a technical verb category.

A technical verb is a verb term that refers to a specified concept or process and is applicable to a
subject field.
The dictionary does not include technical verbs because there are too many, and each subject field
uses different technical verbs for their texts.
You can find many of these technical verbs in your company glossary or terminology database.
STE gives you a list of categories, with examples, to help you:
- Select technical verbs to put in your company glossary or terminology database.
- Use technical verbs correctly.
  Technical verbs must obey the same rules as other approved verbs in STE. Refer to section 3.
  You can use technical verbs in procedural and descriptive texts if you can include them in one or
  more of these four categories.
1. Manufacturing processes
  Terms that give instructions and information to:
a) Remove material:
  drill, grind, mill, ream, unsolder
b) Add material:
  flame, insulate, remetal, retread
c) Attach material:
  braze, crimp, solder, weld

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d) Change the mechanical strength, the structure, or the physical properties of a
  material:
  anneal, cure, decay, freeze, heat-treat, magnetize, normalize, vaporize
e) Change the surface finish of a material:
  buff, burnish, dress, passivate, plate, polish
f) Change the shape of a material:
  blend, cast, extrude, spin, stamp
2. Computer processes and applications
  Terms that give instructions and information for:
a) Input and output processes:
  click, digitize, enter, press, print, swipe, tap, type
b) User interface and application processes:
  clear, close, copy, cut, delete, deselect, disable, drag, drag and drop, enable, encrypt,
  erase, filter, highlight, invalidate, maximize, minimize, navigate, open, paste, save, scroll,
  sort, store, tweet, validate, zoom in, zoom out
c) System operations:
  abort, boot, communicate, debug, download, format, install, load, manage, process, reboot,
  update, upgrade, upload
3. Instructions and information for applicable subject fields
  Terms that give instructions and information in these contexts:
a) Engineering, mathematical, and scientific
  bisect, compensate for, convert, detect, float, modulate, radiate, transform, sink
b) Medical
  disinfect, intubate, operate, prescribe, sanitize, sterilize
c) Civil and military operations
  aim, arm, detect, disable, dry-motor, enable, explode, fire, inhibit, intercept, lase, load,
  lock on, unlatch, unload, wet-motor, parachute
d) Navigation
  approach, descend, deviate, fly, hover, land, maintain, navigate, retrim, take off, trim,
  respond, taxi
e) Automotive and railway
  accelerate, brake, couple, crank, crash, decouple, dispatch, drift, inflate, park, qualify, steer
f) Energy, oil, and gas
  compress, distill, drill, emit, extract, inject, pump
4. Law and regulations
  Terms that give instructions and information only for legal and regulatory texts. For example,
  contracts, warranty texts, certificates, standards and specifications, and legal papers.
  acknowledge, comply with, communicate, conform to, describe, enforce, explain, meet (a
  requirement), inform, modify, notify, omit, regulate, sign, supersede, understand, waive (for
  inspection and requirements)
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ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English
The technical verbs in their related categories are only examples. Rule 1.12 does not give a
full list of all possible technical verbs.
If there is an approved verb in the dictionary that accurately gives the instruction or the information,
use the approved verb. Do not use a technical verb if it is possible to write the same sentence with
the words (verbs and other related words) that are approved in the dictionary.
Examples:

| Non-STE: | If you detect broken wires, repair them. |
| --- | --- |

(“Detect” is not approved and cannot be a technical verb in this context.)

| STE: | If you find broken wires, repair them. |
| --- | --- |

But you can write:

| STE: | If you find broken wires, repair them. |
| --- | --- |

(“Detect” is the correct technical verb in this context.)
If you must use technical verbs, use only technical verbs that are correct in your context. Do not
use technical verbs that are general or not clear.
Example:

| Non-STE: | If you detect broken wires, repair them. |
| --- | --- |

| STE: | If you find broken wires, repair them. |
| --- | --- |

Do not use a technical verb if it is not necessary. If it is possible, use a verb that is approved in the
dictionary and an applicable technical noun.
Examples:
“Clamp” is a technical noun, category 1, official parts information. Do not use “clamp” as a technical
verb.

| Non-STE: | If you detect broken wires, repair them. |
| --- | --- |

| STE: | If you find broken wires, repair them. |
| --- | --- |

“Grease” is a technical noun, category 4, materials, consumables, and unwanted material. Do not
use “grease” as a technical verb.

| Non-STE: | If you detect broken wires, repair them. |
| --- | --- |

| STE: | If you find broken wires, repair them. |
| --- | --- |

“Wire” is a technical noun, category 1, official parts information. Do not use “wire” as a technical
verb.

| Non-STE: | If you detect broken wires, repair them. |
| --- | --- |

| STE: | If you find broken wires, repair them. |
| --- | --- |

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Words that are not approved but that can be technical verbs
The dictionary includes some words that, although not approved, can be technical verbs if you can
put them in the specified categories.
Examples:

| STE: | Enter your password. |
| --- | --- |
|  | (“Enter” is a technical verb, category 2 a), computer processes and applications, |
|  | input and output processes.) |

| STE: | Enter your password. |
| --- | --- |
|  | (“Enter” is a technical verb, category 2 a), computer processes and applications, |
|  | input and output processes.) |

| STE: | Enter your password. |
| --- | --- |
|  | (“Enter” is a technical verb, category 2 a), computer processes and applications, |
|  | input and output processes.) |

| STE: | Enter your password. |
| --- | --- |
|  | (“Enter” is a technical verb, category 2 a), computer processes and applications, |
|  | input and output processes.) |

## Rule 1.13 Do not use technical verbs as nouns.

In English, words that look the same do not always have the same function in a sentence. Use
technical verbs only as verbs, not as nouns.
Example:

| STE: | Enter your password. |
| --- | --- |
|  | (“Enter” is a technical verb, category 2 a), computer processes and applications, |
|  | input and output processes.) |

Example:

| STE: | Enter your password. |
| --- | --- |
|  | (“Enter” is a technical verb, category 2 a), computer processes and applications, |
|  | input and output processes.) |

Words that can be technical verbs and technical nouns
In some contexts, the same word can be a technical verb and a technical noun. This condition
occurs when you can put this word in a technical verb category (rule 1.12) and in a technical noun
category (rule 1.5).
Examples:

| STE: | Enter your password. |
| --- | --- |
|  | (“Enter” is a technical verb, category 2 a), computer processes and applications, |
|  | input and output processes.) |

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