ASD-STE100 overview and useful tips to getting started. ASD-STE100 improves quality, both in the aviation and defence industries, where it is often mandatory for safety reasons, and in any other technical industries. Simplified Technical English stresses on the use of unambiguous terminology where one word only has one meaning. This reduces the likelihood of using synonymous terms that can result in confusion. Optimum re-usability of technical terms on the word, phrase, and sentence levels is to be expected. This will greatly improve any product life-cycle management process. To conclude, technical documentation becomes easier for non-native speakers of the English language to understand. The resulting text is much easier to translate which is especially relevant when machine translation is part of your localisation strategy. Preparing your technical content with ASD-STE100 ensures quality at the source and prepares you for future-proof translation processes.

1. Shufra
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Simplified Technical English
(ASD-STE100)
by Ms. Shumin Chen

2.  Technical documentation is mostly
written in English
 English is the most “global” language
 However, English has a huge vocabulary
(700,000 words) and complex grammar
 Many words are redundant or ambiguous
 Consider your audience
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Why Simplified Technical English?

3. • Confusion
• High translation cost
• Translation quality
• Time-to-market
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The problems
• Ineffective training
• Damage to equipment
• Safety issues

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History of Simplified English
1970: US Federal Government
introduces Plain English for
communications with the public
1986: European Association of Aerospace (AECMA) &
the Aerospace Industries Association of America (AIA)
jointly developed Simplified English for aircraft
maintenance documentation
2004: AECMA is renamed ASD,
Simplified English becomes
Simplified Technical English
(ASD-STE100)

5. Not just an aerospace & defence standard
Although Simplified Technical English originates from the aerospace and
defence industries, it can easily be customised and applied to any other
industry, including machinery, automotive, electronics, IT and medical
equipment. Today, 60% of STE users come from outside of the
aerospace and defence sector.

6. • Set of 65 writing rules
• General vocabulary (approx. 900 words)
• List of non-approved words and approved
synonyms
• Guidelines for customer-specific terms
(Technical Names and Technical Verbs)
• Most important and universal standard for
technical English
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ASD-STE100 Specification

7.  Electronics examples:
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What is Simplified T. English? (1/3)
Connecting to a Network
The NP3250/NP2250/NP1250/NP3250W
comes standard with a LAN port (RJ-45)
which provides a LAN connection using a LAN
cable. The USB Wireless LAN Unit also
provides a wireless LAN connection. To use a
LAN connection, you are required to assign
an IP address to the projector. For setting the
NETWORK, see page 110.
NOTE: Some projectors may not have the
USB Wireless LAN Unit. If you own a
projector without the Wireless LAN Unit
installed, and need to present to the projector
via a wireless connection, the optional USB
Wireless LAN Unit must be installed.
With the LAN connection, two features are
available: Projector Control and Picture
transmission.
How to connect to a network
The projector includes a LAN port (RJ-45) which
provides a wired LAN connection. For a wireless
LAN connection, there is a USB wireless LAN unit.
To configure the network, see page 110.
Note: Some projectors do not include the USB
wireless LAN unit. You must install a USB wireless
LAN unit to use a wireless connection.
The LAN connection includes two features:
Projector Control and Picture Transmission.

8.  Medical equipment examples:
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What is Simplified T. English? (2/3)
Control panel
Both the C-arm stand and the monitor cart
have a control panel. The two control panels
always show the same screen, enabling you
to use them for system operation.
Depending on the selected function, other
controls (buttons, input boxes, displays, etc.)
will appear on the control panel screen.
The Vision Center control panel is designed
as a touch screen. For system operation, just
press the desired button or option directly on
the touch screen.
Control panel
The C-arm stand and the monitor cart each
have a control panel screen. These screens
show the same control panel. Each panel lets
you operate the system. The panels have
different controls for different functions.
The control panel is a touch screen. To
operate the system, touch the correct button
or option.

9.  Aerospace & Defence examples:
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What is Simplified T. English? (3/3)
Rigging the elevator trim control system
a. Loosen travel stop blocks on trim tab cables and
disconnect actuator screw from link to trim tab.
b. Check cable tension and readjust turnbuckle if
necessary. Resafety turnbuckle. If chains and/or
cables are being installed, permit actuator screw to
rotate freely as chains and cables are connected, set
cable tension with turnbuckle, and safety the
turnbuckle.
c. Rotate trim control wheel full forward (nose down),
making sure pointer does not restrict trim wheel
movement. If necessary to re-position pointer where it
will not restrict trim wheel movement, proceed as
follows:
(1) Remove control pedestal cover. Refer to
paragraph 11-5.
(2) Loosen nut at trim wheel pivot shaft.
(3) Loosen screws securing chain guard (see figure 9-
4) far enough that trim wheel can be removed.
How to adjust the elevator trim control system
a. Loosen the travel stop block on the trim tab cables.
b. Disconnect the actuator screw that connects the link to
the trim tab.
c. While you install chains or cables, let the actuator screw
turn freely.
d. Adjust the turnbuckle to set the correct cable tension.
Safety the turnbuckle.
e. Turn the trim control wheel fully forward (nose down). If
you must move the pointer to let the trim wheel move
freely:
(1) Remove the control pedestal cover. See paragraph 11-
5.
(2) Loosen the nut on the pivot shaft of the trim wheel.
(3) Loosen the screws that hold the chain guard (see figure
9-4).

10. STE training outline & delivery
Day 2 – Writing workshop
 STE writing rules applied
Exercises & review
 Writing/rewriting instruction
Addressing quality improvement
issues through consistent and
standardised writing methodologies
 Rewriting exercise & review
With own documents
 Use of checker software
 Q & A
 Certificate hand-out
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Day 1 – Classroom training
 Overview of ASD-STE100
Its development & status
 Explanation of specification
Structure & how to use it
 STE writing rules
Set of 65 writing rules
 Vocabulary review
List of approved words
List of approved synonyms
Guidelines for customer-specific
terms: Technical names & verbs

11. • Reduced text volume
(typically 25%)
• Reduced translation
cost (typically 35%):
- less text to translate
- better yield from
translation memory
• Fewer change cycles
• Improved efficiency
• Less downtime
• Less cost caused by
communication issues
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Cost savings you can expect
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
140%
160%
Terms Translatability Volume
Standard English
Simplified English

12. STE is cross-industry
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Automotive
• Patria
• Rheinmetall MAN
Military Vehicles
• Sandvik
• SEAT
• Volkswagen
Aviation
• Air Arabia
• Boeing
• Embraer
• Eurocopter
• FAA
• GMF AeroAsia
• Goodrich
• Lufthansa Systems
• Rolls-Royce
Electronics
• ABB
• Creative
• Huawei
• Philips
• Rohde & Schwarz
• Samsung
IT
• Check Point
• Cisco
• Microsoft
• Radisys
• Watchguard
Machinery
• Black & Decker
• Finn-Power
• HOMAG
• Shikoku Kakoki
• Tetra Pak

13. FAQ (1/3)
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1) Does STE help writers who have only a limited
knowledge of English?
Although STE was designed to make it easier for readers to more
easily understand technical documentation, we found that writers with
English as a second language also benefit from the guidance given in
the ASD-STE100 specification, and especially hands-on training.

14. FAQ (2/3)
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2) Do I really need to buy checker software &
implementation software as well?
No, in most cases there is no need for this. Training, although only
around 10-15 percent of the cost of such supposed “full
implementation”, achieves 75% of the benefits and results of a training-
only approach.

15. FAQ (3/3)
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2) Can you recommend an STE checker tool that helps our writing team
conform to STE writing rules after STE training?
No tool automatically corrects sentences to comply with Simplified Technical
English. Checker tools help their users write according to STE principles,
suggesting revisions and corrections during the writing process.
Our recommended tool of choice is the Acrolinx ASD-STE100 solution
module. Do send us your enquiries and requirements for us to arrange for an
online demonstration of this highly customisable STE checker software.
For maximum benefits, you should attend a Simplified Technical
English training workshop before you start using a checker tool. The
tool cannot replace the writer, although it can certainly assist him!

16. Implementation
• Training
• Dictionary building
• Writing / editing
• Consultancy
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17. Training
• Training is necessary to learn the rules, how to apply
them in practice and how to avoid common pitfalls
• 2 - 3 days on-site or shared classes worldwide
• Dedicated training group size up to 12 participants
• Use of checker software (optional)
• Approaches towards writing, rewriting, updating
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18. Dictionary building
• Terminology (Technical Names and Technical Verbs) is
company-specific and must be established in addition to
the general vocabulary
• We can do text mining on existing documentation to
find company-specific terms
• Average size of custom dictionary is approx. 2000 words
• STE only allows the use of approved (i.e. documented,
unique and unambiguous) words:
one word – one meaning
• Customer can maintain dictionary
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19. STE implementation & consultancy
STE editing & proofreading services
Technical writing
Translation
Multilingual documentation
DITA & S1000D solutions
Our services
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20. Thank you
For more information, please visit
www.shufra-consultancy.com
or contact us at
info@shufra-consultancy.com
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