ASD-STE100 Standard Guide

The Complete Reference for Simplified Technical English

Master the ASD-STE100 standard with our comprehensive guide. Learn the rules, understand compliance requirements, and implement Simplified Technical English in your technical documentation.

ASD-STE100 Standard rules and Simplified Technical English guidelines

How ASD-STE100 Works

A visual guide to the components that make technical writing clear and consistent

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Controlled Vocabulary

~930 approved words for technical communication, eliminating ambiguity and ensuring consistency across all documentation.

Examples: Use "start" not "initiate", "help" not "assist"
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Writing Rules

60+ precise rules governing sentence structure, grammar, and style to ensure maximum clarity and readability.

Key Rules: Max 20 words/sentence, active voice, simple tenses
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Quality Assurance

Automated checking tools and manual review processes ensure complete compliance with all ASD-STE100 requirements.

Our Tool: Real-time analysis with detailed violation reports

ASD-STE100 Implementation Process

1. Analyze Text
→
2. Check Vocabulary
→
3. Apply Rules
→
4. Validate Compliance

Table of Contents

Standard Overview

Core Rules

Implementation

What is ASD-STE100?

ASD-STE100 is the international standard for Simplified Technical English (STE). The ASD-STE100 standard provides a comprehensive set of writing rules and guidelines designed to make technical documentation clearer, more consistent, and easier to understand for both native and non-native English speakers.

Key Fact

The ASD-STE100 standard is used by major aerospace companies worldwide, including Boeing and Airbus making it the de facto standard for technical communication in the aerospace industry.

ASD-STE100 Standard Components

Writing Rules

Specific guidelines for sentence structure, grammar, and style that ensure clarity and consistency in technical writing.

Word Rules

Controlled vocabulary with approved words and their specific meanings, plus rules for creating technical terms.

Dictionary

Comprehensive list of approved words with definitions and usage examples for technical documentation.

ASD-STE100 History & Development

1980s

Origins

ASD-STE100 originated from the need to standardize technical documentation in the aerospace industry, where clear communication is critical for safety.

1986

First Specification

The first ASD-STE100 specification was published, establishing the foundation for Simplified Technical English in aerospace documentation.

2000s

Global Adoption

Major aerospace manufacturers worldwide adopted ASD-STE100, making it the international standard for technical communication.

Present

Digital Era

Modern tools like My STE Buddy provide automated ASD-STE100 compliance checking, making it easier than ever to implement the standard.

Why Use ASD-STE100?

Global Communication

ASD-STE100 breaks down language barriers, making technical documentation accessible to international teams and non-native English speakers worldwide.

Safety & Accuracy

Clear, unambiguous instructions reduce the risk of errors and misunderstandings in critical technical procedures and maintenance tasks.

Cost Reduction

Standardized vocabulary and structure significantly reduce translation costs and time-to-market for international technical documentation.

User Experience

Simplified language and consistent structure make technical documents easier to read, understand, and follow for all users.

Industry Standard

ASD-STE100 compliance is required by many aerospace contracts and is recognized as the gold standard for technical communication.

Consistency

Standardized rules ensure consistent documentation across different authors, departments, and organizations within your company.

ASD-STE100 Core Rules

Writing Rules

Sentence Length

  • Maximum 20 words for procedural sentences
  • Maximum 25 words for descriptive sentences
  • One instruction per sentence

Active Voice

  • Use active voice whenever possible
  • Make the subject perform the action
  • Avoid passive constructions

Complex Tenses

  • Avoid complex verb forms
  • Use simple present, past, and future
  • No perfect or continuous tenses

Noun Clusters

  • Maximum 3 consecutive nouns
  • Use prepositions to separate nouns
  • Clarify relationships between concepts

Articles & Pronouns

  • Use articles (a, an, the) consistently
  • Avoid ambiguous pronouns
  • Be specific and clear

Conditional Statements

  • Use simple if/then structures
  • Avoid complex conditionals
  • Make conditions clear and explicit

Word Rules

Approved Dictionary

  • Use only approved ASD-STE100 words
  • Each word has one specific meaning
  • No synonyms or alternative meanings

Technical Names

  • Use manufacturer's exact technical names
  • Include part numbers when necessary
  • Be consistent with terminology

Word Creation

  • Follow specific rules for new words
  • Use approved prefixes and suffixes
  • Maintain consistency across documents

Forbidden Words

  • Avoid unapproved vocabulary
  • No slang or colloquialisms
  • Eliminate ambiguous terms

Sentence Rules

Sentence Structure

  • Use Subject-Verb-Object order
  • Keep related words together
  • Minimize subordinate clauses

Instructions

  • One instruction per sentence
  • Use imperative mood for procedures
  • Start with action verbs

Punctuation

  • Use simple punctuation marks
  • Avoid semicolons and colons
  • Use bullets for lists

Paragraph Structure

  • One topic per paragraph
  • Use clear topic sentences
  • Maintain logical flow

ASD-STE100 Impact & Benefits

Real-world results from implementing Simplified Technical English

40%

Faster Reading

Technical documents written in ASD-STE100 are read 40% faster than traditional technical writing, improving productivity across all teams.

60%

Translation Savings

Standardized vocabulary reduces translation costs by up to 60%, making global documentation programs more cost-effective.

50%

Fewer Errors

Clear, standardized writing reduces misunderstandings and procedural errors by 50%, improving safety and compliance.

30%

Faster Training

Simplified documentation reduces training time by 30%, accelerating onboarding and skill development programs.

Trusted by Leading Organizations

Boeing
Airbus
Rolls-Royce
Lockheed Martin
BAE Systems

Used by aerospace manufacturers, and technical organizations worldwide

Implementing ASD-STE100

Getting Started

1. Learn the Rules

Familiarize yourself with ASD-STE100 writing and word rules. Start with the most critical rules for your documentation type.

2. Analyze Current Content

Use tools like My STE Buddy to identify compliance issues in your existing documentation and understand common problems.

3. Create Guidelines

Develop internal style guides and templates based on ASD-STE100 rules to ensure consistency across your organization.

Compliance Checking

Automated Analysis

Use automated tools to check for ASD-STE100 compliance, including sentence length, word approval, and grammar rules.

Manual Review

Combine automated checking with human review to ensure context and meaning are preserved while maintaining compliance.

Continuous Monitoring

Implement regular compliance checks throughout the documentation lifecycle to maintain ASD-STE100 standards.

Best Practices

Team Training

Provide comprehensive ASD-STE100 training for all technical writers and content creators in your organization.

  • Regular training sessions
  • Practice exercises
  • Peer review processes

Tool Integration

Integrate ASD-STE100 checking tools into your existing workflow for seamless compliance monitoring.

  • API integration
  • Workflow automation
  • Real-time checking

Quality Metrics

Establish measurable quality metrics to track ASD-STE100 compliance improvements over time.

  • Compliance scores
  • Error reduction rates
  • Time savings metrics

Ready to Implement ASD-STE100?

Start analyzing your technical documentation for ASD-STE100 compliance today with our professional analyzer tool.

Try ASD-STE100 Analyzer Compliance Guide