ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English (STE) is a controlled natural language designed to enhance the clarity and readability of technical documentation, particularly for non-native English speakers. Originally developed in the 1980s by the European Association of Aerospace Industries (AECMA) for aircraft maintenance manuals, it has expanded into various sectors including defense, automotive, and medical devices. The standard consists of specific writing rules—such as sentence length limits and active voice preferences—and a dictionary containing approximately 900 approved words with restricted parts of speech to prevent ambiguity.
- It is often used alongside plain language and other style guides rather than as a total replacement.
- The maintenance group (STEMG) relies on user feedback to update rules and vocabulary.
- It is often used alongside plain language and other style guides rather than as a total replacement.
- The maintenance group (STEMG) relies on user feedback to update rules and vocabulary.
