<!-- section: RULES | pages: 73-76 | verified: true -->

# Page 73 of 434

ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English
Example:

| Non-STE: | The circuits are connected by a switching relay. (Passive) |
| --- | --- |
| STE: | A switching relay connects the circuits. (Active) |

Method 2
Change an infinitive verb to an active verb.
Example:

| Non-STE: | The circuits are connected by a switching relay. (Passive) |
| --- | --- |
| STE: | A switching relay connects the circuits. (Active) |

STE: The computer calculates the energy consumption from these values. (Active)
The construction "are used by" gives no important information here. Thus, you can use the verb
"calculate" to write the sentence in the active voice.
Method 3
In procedural writing, change the verb to the imperative ("command") form.
Examples:

| Non-STE: | The circuits are connected by a switching relay. (Passive) |
| --- | --- |
| STE: | A switching relay connects the circuits. (Active) |

| Non-STE: | The circuits are connected by a switching relay. (Passive) |
| --- | --- |
| STE: | A switching relay connects the circuits. (Active) |

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ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English
Method 4
When the agent (the person or thing that does the action) is not given in the sentence, you can use
the pronouns "you" or "we" as subjects in the active form. If the agent is the reader, use "you." If the
agent is your company, or organization, use "we."
Examples:

| Non-STE: | On the ground, the valve can be opened with the override handle. (Passive) |
| --- | --- |
| STE: | On the ground, you can open the valve with the override handle. (Active) |

| Non-STE: | On the ground, the valve can be opened with the override handle. (Passive) |
| --- | --- |
| STE: | On the ground, you can open the valve with the override handle. (Active) |

or

| STE: | This type of fuel does not contain additives. |
| --- | --- |

When you find complex sentences in the passive voice that include auxiliary verbs, decide if you
want to write a procedural sentence or a descriptive sentence.
Examples:

| Non-STE: | On the ground, the valve can be opened with the override handle. (Passive) |
| --- | --- |
| STE: | On the ground, you can open the valve with the override handle. (Active) |

| STE: | This type of fuel does not contain additives. |
| --- | --- |

| Non-STE: | On the ground, the valve can be opened with the override handle. (Passive) |
| --- | --- |
| STE: | On the ground, you can open the valve with the override handle. (Active) |

| STE: | This type of fuel does not contain additives. |
| --- | --- |

(Descriptive sentence)

| Non-STE: | On the ground, the valve can be opened with the override handle. (Passive) |
| --- | --- |
| STE: | On the ground, you can open the valve with the override handle. (Active) |

| STE: | This type of fuel does not contain additives. |
| --- | --- |

| Non-STE: | On the ground, the valve can be opened with the override handle. (Passive) |
| --- | --- |
| STE: | On the ground, you can open the valve with the override handle. (Active) |

| STE: | This type of fuel does not contain additives. |
| --- | --- |

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ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English
How to describe an action
Rule 3.7 Use an approved verb to describe an action, not a noun or other parts of
speech.
There can be different solutions to give the same information in STE. If there is an approved verb
that describes an action, use the approved verb. Verbs describe actions more clearly than nouns or
other parts of speech.
Examples:

| Do not write: | The ohmmeter gives an indication of 450 ohms. |
| --- | --- |
| WRITE: | The ohmmeter shows 450 ohms. |

| Do not write: | The ohmmeter gives an indication of 450 ohms. |
| --- | --- |
| WRITE: | The ohmmeter shows 450 ohms. |

In the examples, all sentences are in STE but those with direct verbs describe the action more
clearly.
If a word is not approved as a verb in the dictionary, do not use it as a verb. Use a different sentence
construction to give the same information.
Example:

| Non-STE: | Check the laptop battery. |
| --- | --- |
| STE: | Do a check of the laptop battery. |

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ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English
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