# Page 105 of 434

**Page 1-8-3**

**Issue 9 2025-01-15**

**Part 1 - Writing Rules**

**ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English**

##### **6. To explain words or a part of a sentence**

##### **Examples in STE:**

<mark>Increase the pressure slowly (not more than 10 psi each minute).</mark>

<mark>Make sure that the BLEED pushbutton switch is released (the ON legend is off).</mark>

##### **7. To include an alternative**

##### **Example in STE:**

<mark>Open the left (right) access panel L42 (R42).</mark>

### **Word count**

#### **Rule 8.4 In a vertical list, a colon (:) has the same effect on word count as a period and shows the end of a sentence.**

In a vertical list, a colon (:) divides the first part of the sentence from the subsequent items in the vertical list. This colon has the effect of a period (full stop). Thus:

- In procedural sentences, you can use a maximum of 20 words before the colon.

- In descriptive sentences, you can use a maximum of 25 words before the colon.

Each item in a vertical list that comes after the colon counts as a new sentence. Thus, the limit for each item in a vertical list is:

- 20 words for procedural sentences

- 25 words for descriptive sentences.

##### **Example in STE:**

||To extinguish a possible fire, portable fire extinguishers are installed|
|---|---|
|in these areas:||(13 words)|
|-<br>The cockpit||(2 words)|
|-<br>The cabin||(2 words)|
|-<br>The cabin sub-compartment||(3 words)|
|-<br>The crew rest compartment.||(4 words)|

# Page 106 of 434

**Page 1-8-4**

**Part 1 - Writing rules**

**Issue 9**

**2025-01-15**

**ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English**

#### **Rule 8.5 When you put text in parentheses, it counts as one word in that sentence.**

When you count words for sentence length, text in parentheses counts as one word of that sentence. But the words that you put between parentheses also make a new sentence. Thus, count them in that different sentence.

##### **Example in STE:**

<mark>Make sure that the EMER pushbutton switch is released (the EMER legend is off).</mark>

(This sentence has 10 words, because the text in parentheses counts as one word. The sentence in parentheses has 5 words and counts as a different sentence.)

If there is an identifier in parentheses (a number, a letter, or an alphanumeric identifier), this identifier counts as one word in the sentence. Abbreviations in parentheses also count as one word.

##### **Examples in STE:**

||Remove the safety pin (10).||(5 words)|
|---|---|
|Installation of a Business Class (B/C) Seat||(7 words)|
|Hardware and Software Configuration Check of the<br>In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) System||(11 words)|

||**Rule 8.6**|**Count each of these elements as one word:**<br>**- Numbers**<br>**- Numbers together with units of measurement**<br>**- Abbreviations**<br>**- Alphanumeric identifiers**<br>**- Quoted text**<br>**- Titles, headings, and text on placards and labels**<br>**- Proper nouns of individuals, groups, organizations,**<br>**and geopolitical entities.**||
|---|---|

When you count words for sentence length, count each of these as one word:

##### **1. Numbers**

##### **Examples in STE:**

||Do steps 13 thru 16 a minimum of three times.||(10 words)|
|---|---|
|(“13” and “16” are numbers and each of them counts as one word.)||
|The spar box has twenty-one ribs.||(6 words)|
|(“Twenty-one” is a number and counts as one word.)||

# Page 107 of 434

**Page 1-8-5**

**Issue 9 2025-01-15**

**Part 1 - Writing Rules**

**ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English**

Do not count numbers that identify paragraphs or work steps. These numbers are usually part of the document numbering systems.

##### **2. Numbers together with units of measurement**

Units of measurement usually follow their related number (for example, 10 mA). When you write a number together with its unit of measurement, count them as one word.

##### **Examples in STE:**

||Make sure that the temperature in the room is 10 °C.||(10 words)|
|---|---|
|Make sure that the temperature in the room is 10 degrees Celsius.||(10 words)|
|The unit weighs 20 kg.||(4 words)|
|The unit weighs 20 kilograms.||(4 words)|
|The resistance must be 10||(5 words)|
|The resistance must be 10 ohms.||(5 words)|

##### **3. Abbreviations**

In technical texts, you can use abbreviations (also acronyms and initialisms) to make sentences shorter and easier to read. But these abbreviations only help the reader if the reader knows their meanings. Each abbreviation counts as one word.

##### **Examples in STE:**

||The maintenance team does a test of this system each day at 10 a.m.||(13 words)|
|---|---|
|(“a.m.” is an abbreviation and counts as one word together with its number.)||
|During this safety check, obey NASA protocols.||(7 words)|
|(NASA is an abbreviation (acronym) and counts as one word.)||
|For remote access, use the VPN.||(6 words)|
|(VPN is an abbreviation (initialism) and counts as one word.)||

##### **4. Alphanumeric identifiers**

An alphanumeric identifier is a combination of letters and numbers that identifies something. Each alphanumeric identifier counts as one word.

##### **Examples in STE:**

||Examine the No. 1 bearing installation.||(5 words)|
|---|---|
|(“No. 1” is an alphanumeric identifier and counts as one word.)||
|Tag circuit breaker 36L7.||(4 words)|
|<br>(“36L7” is an alphanumeric identifier and counts as one word.)||

# Page 108 of 434

**Page 1-8-6**

**Part 1 - Writing rules**

**Issue 9**

**2025-01-15**

**ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English**

##### **5. Quoted text**

Quoted text is usually given in quotation marks (“...”) Words between quotation marks count as one word in a sentence. In some sentences, or parts of the document, uppercase letters or differences in font can also show quoted text. Such text also counts as one word.

##### **Examples in STE:**

||Touch the “Service Overview” arrow to select the function page.||(9 words)|
|---|---|
|(“Service Overview” is quoted text and counts as one word.)||
|Release the SHORT-CIRCUIT TEST switch.||(4 words)|
|(SHORT-CIRCUIT TEST is quoted text and counts as one word.)||
|C = (A - B) - 0.063 mm||(1 word)|
|(In STE, a formula is quoted text and counts as one word.)||

##### **6. Titles, headings, and text on placards and labels**

In some texts, there are words or groups of words that you cannot change. These are:

- Titles and headings

- Text on placards (for example, a warning notice in a work area or public place)

- Text on labels (for example, warning and caution labels that are attached to objects).

##### **Examples in STE:**

Before you start a repair, refer to the Structural Repair Manual for the applicable safety procedures and precautions. (16 words)

(“Structure Repair Manual” is the title of the document and counts as one word.)

<mark>Refer to Testing and Fault Isolation, page block 1001. (6 words)</mark>

(“Testing and Fault Isolation” is the title of a section in a manual and counts as one word.)

<mark>Refer to Requirements after Job Completion for the applicable procedures. (7 words)</mark>

(“Requirements after Job Completion” is a heading in a data module and counts as one word.)

This procedure is for the inspection of SSI No. 57-21-16, “Outer wing bottom skin lower surface spanwise skin joints at stringer 13 and stringer 20 between Rib 12 and Rib 27 excluding areas covered by flap track fairings 3, 4, and 5.” (9 words)

(“This procedure is for the inspection of” has 7 words. “SSI No. 57-21-16” is the reference number of the Structurally Significant Item (SSI) and counts as one word. The subsequent text given in quotation marks is the title of the SSI. It is not in STE, and it is not possible to change it. Thus, this text counts as one word. As a result, the full sentence has a total of 9 words.)

“Interior hazards exist to such a degree that interior operations may be conducted only after full examination, and with extreme caution.” (1 word)

(The text given in quotation marks is not in STE. It comes from a placard, and it is not possible to change it. It counts as one word.)
