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"Damage" is approved as a noun, but not as a verb.
There are a small number of words that are approved as more than one part of speech and have
more than one meaning. These words are important and frequently occur in technical English.
The word "flush," for example, frequently occurs in technical texts as a verb (with the approved
meaning "to remove something or to operate with a flow of liquid"). The same word can also occur
as an adjective (when it refers to a condition where one surface fully touches a different surface).
Examples:

| STE: | Flush the pipes with a disinfectant solution. |
| --- | --- |
|  | ("Flush" is a verb here.) |

| STE: | Flush the pipes with a disinfectant solution. |
| --- | --- |
|  | ("Flush" is a verb here.) |

But because the verb and the adjective have different positions and contexts, it is easy to see their
function.

## Rule 9.3 When you use two words together, do not make phrasal verbs.

In English, a verb and one or more prepositions can go together to form a "phrasal verb." This
phrasal verb has a meaning that is different from the meanings of its parts. Phrasal verbs usually
have two meanings: the original, more concrete meaning, and a more general and abstract
meaning.
General examples:
Put out the cat.
(Concrete meaning: "Put the cat outside of the house.")
Put out the fire.
(Abstract meaning: "Extinguish the fire.")
To prevent ambiguity, it is not permitted in STE to use approved words together to make a new
phrase (phrasal verb).
Examples:

| STE: | Flush the pipes with a disinfectant solution. |
| --- | --- |
|  | ("Flush" is a verb here.) |

"Put" and "out" are approved words in STE. In the example, "put out" has a different meaning from
the approved meanings for "put" and "out" given in the dictionary. The word "extinguish" has the
approved meaning "to stop burning" and it is the word that is most usual in technical
documentation.

| STE: | Flush the pipes with a disinfectant solution. |
| --- | --- |
|  | ("Flush" is a verb here.) |

"Give" and "off" are approved words in STE. In the example, "give off" has a different meaning from
the approved meaning for "give" and "off" given in the dictionary. Here you must think of a different

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word that has the same meaning. "Release" has the approved meaning "to make free," or "to let
go." And it is also possible to use this word in this context as a replacement for "give off."
You will not usually find phrasal verbs listed as "not approved" in the dictionary. When you write a
standard English sentence in STE, always make sure that the new sentence is grammatically
correct. And make sure that you use the approved words with the meaning that they have in the
dictionary.
Only a small number of phrasal verbs (for example, "put on" and "come on") are approved in the
dictionary. They all have a restricted meaning.
Consistent style

## Rule 9.4 When you select terminology or wording, always use a consistent style.

In procedures, you will frequently give the same information again and again. For example, most
procedures give instructions on how to remove or install components or parts. When you select
terminology or wording for a work step, use the same terminology or wording each time that type of
work step occurs. The reader will identify the terminology or wording and will quickly understand
the action. Different terminology or wording can cause confusion and delays.
Example:
These two sentences each give the same instruction and each correctly obeys the rules of STE.

| STE: | Lubricate the two bolts with a small quantity of oil. |
| --- | --- |
| STE: | Apply a small quantity of oil to the threads of the two bolts. |

If you use these two sentences in different work steps to give the same instruction, you do not help
the reader. Select one sentence or sentence style and then use it again and again when the
context (and meaning) is the same.

| STE: | Lubricate the two bolts with a small quantity of oil. |
| --- | --- |
| STE: | Apply a small quantity of oil to the threads of the two bolts. |

3. Install the two bolts (10) in the body (9).
4. Torque-tighten the two bolts to 4 Nm.
5. Put the transducer (11) on the body assembly (9).
6. Apply a small quantity of oil to the threads of the four bolts (12).
7. Attach the transducer (11) to the body assembly (9) with the four bolts (12).
8. Torque each of the four bolts (12) to 0.8 Nm.
  STE: 1. Put the housing (8) in its installation position on the body assembly (9).
2. Apply a small quantity of oil to the threads of the two bolts (10).
3. Install the two bolts (10) in the body assembly (9).
4. Torque each of the two bolts to 4 Nm.
5. Put the transducer (11) on the body assembly (9).
6. Apply a small quantity of oil to the threads of the four bolts (12).
7. Attach the transducer (11) to the body assembly (9) with the four bolts (12).
8. Torque each of the four bolts (12) to 0.8 Nm.
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In the non-STE text, you can see that there are different wordings:
- Different terms for item (9) ("main body", "body", and "body assembly")
- Different wordings for tightening the bolts ("torque" and "torque-tighten")
- Different sentences for the work steps about lubrication ("lubricate the XX bolts" and "apply
  a small quantity of oil to the threads of the XX bolts.")
  In the STE text, each time that the same item occurs, it has the same noun, and the same context
  always has the same wording. This makes the text clear and easy to read. The reader reads one
  work step at a time and does the applicable task. To understand the content quickly and do each
  work step correctly, it is important that the wording does not change.
  In descriptive writing, the reader must understand the text as a unit. Thus, it is important to use
  words and sentences correctly and give a logical structure to the text. This method makes the text
  easier to read and understand.
  General recommendations
  The general recommendations (GR) in this section are not STE rules. They can help you prevent
  typical errors that writers make.
  GR-1 The conjunction "that"
  In English, you can use the conjunction "that" to connect new information (in a subordinate clause)
  to a main clause. You can use this conjunction after verbs. For example: "make sure," "show," and
  "recommend."
  Native English speakers frequently do not use "that" when they speak, and this style also occurs in
  writing. But this conjunction helps the reader understand where the end of the main clause and the
  start of the subordinate clause is. Thus, use the conjunction "that" as much as possible to prevent
  ambiguity.
  This conjunction also helps with translation because, in many other languages, it is not possible to
  omit the equivalent word.
  Examples:
  Do not write: Make sure the valve is open.
  WRITE: Make sure that the valve is open.
  Do not write: The manufacturer recommends you prepare the mixture in an area with good
  airflow.
  WRITE: The manufacturer recommends that you prepare the mixture in an area with good
  airflow.
  Do not write: The gauge shows the reservoir is full.
  WRITE: The gauge shows that the reservoir is full.

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GR-2 The preposition "with"
In STE, the preposition "with" has three approved meanings. It is a function word that shows
"association or relationship," "help or sharing," or "a means or instrument." In some sentences, this
word can cause ambiguity. For example, the sentence: "Install the panel with the green fasteners"
can have different meanings:
- Install the panel that has green fasteners.
- Install the panel together with the green fasteners.
- Use the green fasteners to install the panel.
  Usually, the context of the sentence will give the reader sufficient information to know which
  meaning is correct.
  But when you use the word "with," read your sentence again. Make sure that your sentence does
  not cause ambiguity, that there are no errors, and that the meaning of the sentence does not
  change.
  Examples:
  Do not write: Lift the aircraft at the maximum takeoff weight with passengers.
  WRITE: Lift the aircraft at the maximum takeoff weight (passenger weight included).
  The context (or experience) tells you that you will not ask the passengers to help you lift the
  aircraft. Because the sentence can have two different meanings, one interpretation makes it a joke.
  Do not write: Make sure that the lever does not touch the stop (1) with hydraulic pressure
  supplied.
  WRITE: When you supply hydraulic pressure, make sure that the lever does not touch the
  stop (1).
  (Write the condition first.)
  When you want to use a different sentence construction to replace the word "with", make sure that
  you show the primary action verb in the work step.
  Do not write: Use tool TS9867 to seal the opening.
  WRITE: Seal the opening with tool TS9867.
  This sentence is clear because it gives the tool number. In STE, you must give the
  primary action verb which is "seal" and not "use."
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