How to write clearer, smarter, and more inclusive technical documentation with the help of Simplified Technical English (STE)?
Are you a non-native English speaker struggling to write clear and professional technical documentation? Do you find yourself second-guessing grammar, terminology, or tone of voice when creating user manuals, internal technical documentation, or software documentation?
If so, you’re not alone—and there’s a powerful solution that can transform your writing: Simplified Technical English (STE).
What is STE and why should you learn about it?
Simplified Technical English (STE) is a standardized, controlled language developed to make technical documentation clear, concise, and unambiguous—especially for non-native English speakers. Originally designed for the aerospace industry, STE is now used across sectors where precision and clarity are critical.
The official name of the standard is ASD-STE100, created by the Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD).
What does the STE standard include?
STE consists of two key components:
- Writing rules: These cover grammar, style, and terminology usage —essentially the best practices of technical writing.
- Controlled dictionary: A curated list of approved words (about 280 pages!) that are simple, clear, and typically have only one meaning and one part of speech.
Here’s an axample:
- Correct: When the motor is in operation, keep your hands away from the blade.
- Incorrect: Keep your hands away from the blade when the motor is in use.
STE prefers the word “operation” instead of using the word “use” as a noun. The word “use” is only used as a verb.
Another example: STE uses only the verb “start” and doesn’t allow the use of “begin” or “commence” at all, which makes the text easier to understand and also easier to translate.
Why STE Is a game-changer for non-native writers?
Using STE to support you in writing technical and other company content
- reduces ambiguity in instructions and descriptive content
- improves readability for global audiences
- boosts consistency across documentation
- minimizes translation errors and localization costs.
Whether you’re writing for internal teams, external users or your customers, STE helps ensure your message is understood the first time — no matter the reader’s native language.
What’s new in the 2025 update?
The STE standard was updated in January this year. From the numerous updates, we’d like to point out two major enhancements:
Use active voice instead of passive voice
STE strongly recommends using active voice in both procedural and descriptive writing. Passive voice is only allowed when the agent is unknown.
- Correct: The computer calculates the energy consumption from these values.
- Incorrect: The energy consumption is calculated from these values.
Use inclusive language
STE now prohibits gender-specific pronouns like “he” or “she.” Instead, it promotes gender-neutral constructions, such as using singular “they.”
This aligns with modern writing standards and helps create documentation that’s respectful and inclusive for all readers.
- Correct: Many companies want to make it as easy as possible for the user to find what they need, when they need it.
- Incorrect: Many companies want to make it as easy as possible for the user to find what she/he needs, when he/she needs it.
Is STE alone enough to support me in writing good-quality technical content?
STE works best when combined with your company’s style guide and terminology list. If you don’t have one, STE is a great starting point. For software documentation, we recommend pairing STE with the Microsoft Writing Style Guide for even greater clarity and consistency.
You can request the latest version of the STE standard online — completely free: Request a copy of STE.
Ready to master STE? Let’s train together!
If you’re ready to elevate your technical writing skills and make your documentation (technical or not technical) world-class, we offer customized trainings tailored to your needs. Whether you’re an individual writer or part of a documentation team, we’ll help you:
- understand and apply STE rules effectively
- build your own terminology and style guide
- write clearer, more consistent and inclusive content
- save time and reduce editing cycles.
Contact us today to plan your customized STE training and start writing with confidence! We also organize training on other topics, see our trainings and workshops site.