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ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English

| STE: | There are two methods to plate the ring nut (2). |
| --- | --- |
|  | (“Plate” is a technical verb, category 1 c), manufacturing processes, attach |
|  | material.) |

Spelling
Rule 1.14 Use American English spelling unless other official directives tell you
differently.
Use the spelling specified in the STE dictionary (American English spelling).
Use a different spelling only if other technical publication specifications, style guides, contracts, or
other official directives are applicable.
Examples:

| STE: | There are two methods to plate the ring nut (2). |
| --- | --- |
|  | (“Plate” is a technical verb, category 1 c), manufacturing processes, attach |
|  | material.) |

(“Fiber” is American English spelling.)

| STE: | There are two methods to plate the ring nut (2). |
| --- | --- |
|  | (“Plate” is a technical verb, category 1 c), manufacturing processes, attach |
|  | material.) |

(“Color” is American English spelling.)
If there is quoted text that has British English spelling, for example on a computer screen, do
not change the spelling. Keep the quoted text as it is. Refer to Rule 8.6 which tells you how
to use quoted texts correctly.

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ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English

## Section 2 – Multi-word nouns

Summary of the rules
Multi-word nouns

## Rule 2.1 Write multi-word nouns of no more than three words.

## Rule 2.2 When a technical noun has more than three words, write it in full.

Then, you can use one of these methods to make the technical noun clear:
- Give a shorter form of the technical noun.
- Use hyphens (-) between words that you use as one unit.
  Multi-word nouns

## Rule 2.1 Write multi-word nouns of no more than three words.

In English, you can use one or more words to describe or modify a noun.
Technical texts can contain long groups of words that have the function of one part of speech in a
sentence. Usually, these groups of words are made of nouns and/or adjectives and are the subject
or the object in a sentence. Such groups of words are known as multi-word nouns.
General examples:
Horizontal cylinder pivot bearing (a multi-word noun of 4 words)
Stainless steel corrosion protection strips (a multi-word noun of 5 words)
Actuator operating rod (a multi-word noun of 3 words)
Long multi-word nouns are not easy to understand because the words in the multi-word noun can
connect to each other differently. The main noun, or head noun of the group, is usually the last
word of the multi-word noun. When the connections between words are not clear, ambiguity
occurs. As a result, short multi-word nouns are easier to understand.
Runway light connection
(This example shows a short multi-word noun (3 words). The main noun is “connection.”)
Runway light connection resistance calibration
(This example shows a long multi-word noun (5 words). The main noun is “calibration.”)
The long multi-word noun in the example does not tell the reader the relation between “runway”
and “calibration.” The reader must understand four modifiers before the main noun “calibration.”
Long multi-word nouns can cause problems for non-native English readers because, in some
languages, the main noun comes first in the multi-word noun. When a multi-word noun has more
words, it is less clear.
To help your reader, keep multi-word nouns to a maximum of three words.

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ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English
To keep multi-word nouns short, you can use prepositions (for example, “of,” “on,” “in,” and “for”)
and explain the multi-word nouns.
Examples:

| Non-STE: | Runway light connection resistance calibration. (5 words) |
| --- | --- |
| STE: | Calibration of the resistance of the runway light connection. |
|  | (1 word, 1 word, and 3 words) |

| Non-STE: | Runway light connection resistance calibration. (5 words) |
| --- | --- |
| STE: | Calibration of the resistance of the runway light connection. |
|  | (1 word, 1 word, and 3 words) |

| Non-STE: | Runway light connection resistance calibration. (5 words) |
| --- | --- |
| STE: | Calibration of the resistance of the runway light connection. |
|  | (1 word, 1 word, and 3 words) |

| Non-STE: | Runway light connection resistance calibration. (5 words) |
| --- | --- |
| STE: | Calibration of the resistance of the runway light connection. |
|  | (1 word, 1 word, and 3 words) |

## Rule 2.2 When a technical noun has more than three words, write it in full.

Then, you can use one of these methods to make the technical noun
clear:
- Give a shorter form of the technical noun.
- Use hyphens (-) between words that you use as one unit.
  A long multi-word noun can be a long technical noun, or it can be a combination of shorter
  technical nouns. Frequently, it is not possible to divide technical nouns into smaller parts because
  they are the technical nouns that your company, industry, or subject field uses. Thus, you must
  write technical nouns as they are, in their approved form.
  Method 1 - Shorter form of technical nouns
  If a long technical noun comes from an official document (for example, an engineering drawing or
  an illustrated parts catalog), write it in full the first time that it occurs in the text. Then, if it is
  possible, explain the technical noun and in the remaining text of your document, use a shorter form
  or an approved abbreviation.
  Examples in STE:
  Before you do this procedure, engage the ramp service door safety connector pin (the pin that
  holds the ramp service door, referred to in this procedure as the “safety connector pin”).
  In this example, you write “ramp service door safety connector pin” in full. Then, after an
  explanation, you give a shorter technical noun: “safety connector pin.” This shorter technical noun
  has three words and obeys rule 2.1.
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