Simplified Technical English (STE) is a controlled form of English for technical documentation, defined by the ASD-STE100 international standard. It combines rules for writing with a dictionary that specifies approved words and their intended meanings. The current edition identified by ASD is Issue 9, dated January 15, 2025.
What does Simplified Technical English mean?
ASD describes ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English as “a controlled natural language and an international standard to write technical documentation.” In practical terms, STE gives technical writers a defined set of writing rules and controlled vocabulary, rather than simply advising them to use plain language.
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STE is not a separate language, nor is it a universal requirement for all technical documents. It is a specific standard maintained for technical documentation. Whether an organization must use it depends on the requirements that apply to its work.
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How does the standard work?
ASD-STE100 has two parts: writing rules and a controlled dictionary. Part 1 covers grammar and style; Part 2 lists approved general vocabulary and the meanings in which those words are to be used. Writers need to apply both parts: a familiar word may still be unsuitable if its meaning or usage does not match the dictionary.
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Controlled words and meanings
The dictionary limits ambiguity by selecting words and assigning specific meanings. For example, ASD gives “start” as the preferred choice instead of “begin,” “commence,” “initiate,” or “originate.” It also defines “fall” as “move down by the force of gravity,” not as “decrease.” These distinctions help make the intended meaning more explicit.
Specialist terminology
Project- or company-specific terms may be used when they are subject-specific nouns or verbs. This allowance does not remove the general requirement to follow the controlled vocabulary and writing rules.
Why was STE developed?
The project began in the late 1970s, when the European aerospace industry, with support from the Aerospace Industries Association of America, sought to make aircraft maintenance documentation easier for readers with a basic command of English. The first AECMA Simplified English Guide was released in 1986. ASD says the standard has since been used in aerospace and defense and extended into areas including information technology, industry and services, and academia. That adoption does not mean every organization or regulator requires STE.
What is the current ASD-STE100 edition?
ASD identifies Issue 9, dated January 15, 2025, as the current edition. Its publication history records Issue 9 as the point when ASD-STE100 became an international standard; the issue’s primary focus was harmonizing terminology with ISO standards. The Simplified Technical English Maintenance Group (STEMG) is responsible for the standard’s development, publication, maintenance, and management.
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For rules or dictionary entries, consult the official ASD-STE100 Issue 9 document. ASD’s official site identifies the current edition and provides background on the standard.
Where can you get the standard?
The official standard is available free of charge through ASD and the other official channels described in Issue 9. ASD provides a request process on its downloads page. Use those official channels for the current copy; the Issue 9 document cautions against unauthorized distribution through other sites or portals.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What STE does—and does not—promise
STE is a structured method for writing technical documentation with controlled vocabulary and defined rules. It should not be treated as a guarantee that every reader will understand a document or that a document will be safe. The ASD materials cited here do not establish a quantified improvement in comprehension, safety, translation cost, or writing time, nor do they assign STE a reading-grade level.
A software checker may help identify vocabulary or part-of-speech issues, but it is an aid rather than the governing reference. The official Issue 9 standard remains the source for the applicable rules and word meanings.
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