One word, one meaning.

1. Watch the fix

The clip starts with a bad instruction. It has 41 words in one sentence. Then the clip applies four rules, one at a time. Each rule shows on the right. Watch the word count go down.

2. Learn the name

This lesson calls it STE. STE started in aerospace maintenance. Many people who read those manuals do not speak English as their first language. A wrong guess can cause an accident. STE makes sure that each reader gets the same meaning.

3. Learn the four rules

Rule 1. Use one word for one meaning. Give each thing one name. Use that name every time. Do not change to a different word for the same thing. STE also has a dictionary of approved words, and each approved word has one meaning. Use "start," not "commence." Use "before," not "prior to."

The bad instruction uses three names for one part: "filter element," "element" and "cartridge." The reader cannot know if they are one part or three. The fix uses "filter element" every time.

Rule 2. Tell the reader who does the action. Write commands. Use the active voice.

Do not write "The bowl may be unscrewed." Write "Unscrew the bowl."

Rule 3. Write one instruction in each sentence. Put the steps in a numbered list. Keep each step to 20 words or fewer.

Rule 4. Tell the reader how to check the result. Some steps do not show a result. After each of these steps, tell the reader what to look for.

"Release the pressure" does not show a result. So the next step says: "Make sure that the gauge shows 0 bar."

4. Compare the two versions

The new version has more sentences. But each sentence is short, and each sentence has one job. The reader does not have to guess.

5. Use STE with your agent

Andrej Karpathy gave this tip: ask your AI agent to write in STE. Agents know STE well, and STE text is easy to read. Full STE can be too strict. If so, ask for "80% of the way to STE."

Do these steps:

1. Copy the prompt below.
2. Paste the prompt into your agent.
3. Replace "[paste here]" with your text.
4. Send the prompt.
5. Check the result against the four rules.

Rewrite the text below about 80% of the way to ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English (STE).
- Give each thing one name. Use that name every time.
- Write procedures as numbered commands in the active voice.
- Write one instruction in each step. Keep each step to 20 words or fewer.
- Use words that have one meaning ("start," not "commence").
- After a step that shows no result, add a step that tells the reader how to check it.
Then list each name that you made the same, and the words that you removed.

Text:
[paste here]

6. Check what you learned

Find an instruction that you wrote recently. Then do these steps:

1. Find each thing that has two names. Give it one name.
2. Find each sentence that is not a command. Change it to a command.
3. Find each sentence with two instructions. Make two steps.
4. Count the words in each step. Make sure that each step has 20 words or fewer.
5. Find each step that shows no result. Add a check.

This page uses STE. Each step on this page has 20 words or fewer. Each thing on this page has one name.