The ASD-STE100 dictionary is the vocabulary part of Simplified Technical English. It tells writers which words they can use, with which meaning, and as which part of speech. Together with the writing rules, it makes technical text clear for every reader, also for readers whose first language is not English.
This page explains how the ASD-STE100 dictionary works. It is not the dictionary. We do not publish the official word list. The full and current dictionary is part of the official ASD-STE100 specification. Get the official specification →
What is the ASD-STE100 dictionary?
ASD-STE100 has two parts: the writing rules and the dictionary. The writing rules control how you build sentences. The dictionary controls which words you use.
The dictionary is a controlled vocabulary. It is much smaller than a general English dictionary. Each entry shows if a word is approved or not approved. For words that are not approved, the dictionary usually shows an approved word that you can use instead.
The aim is simple: one word, one meaning. When a reader sees a word in an STE text, the word always has the same meaning.
Approved words
An approved word in ASD-STE100 is a word that you can use in STE text, with the meaning and the part of speech that the dictionary gives.
Approved words are usually short, common English words. Many readers know them from basic English. This is intentional. A reader with limited English can understand a text that uses only these words.
Approved meanings
An approved word is approved with one meaning. Many English words have more than one meaning. In STE, you use only the approved meaning.
Example: In general English, a word like "check" can mean "examine", "stop something" or "a payment document". In STE-style writing, a word is kept to one specific sense, so the reader never has to guess which one you mean. Check the official dictionary for the approved meaning of each word.
Approved parts of speech
A word can be a noun, a verb, an adjective or another part of speech. In STE, an approved word is approved as a specific part of speech.
For example, a word can be approved as a noun but not as a verb. Then you can write "Make a test of the circuit" with the noun, but you must not use the same word as a verb if the dictionary does not allow it. This keeps sentence structure predictable.
Why a familiar English word can still be unsuitable
Many words that are not approved are normal, correct English. They are not wrong. They are only less suitable for technical instructions. Common reasons:
The word has many meanings. The reader can choose the wrong one.
There is a simpler word with the same meaning. One simple word is easier than two words for one thing.
The word is formal or rare. Readers with limited English may not know it.
The word is often used in idioms. Idioms are hard to translate and easy to misunderstand.
These are typical examples of how STE-style writing replaces complex words. They are our own examples. They do not show the official dictionary status of a word. Check the official dictionary for the approved word.
Typical STE-style alternative: Use a specific verb: help, let, make easier
Technical names
A technical name is a word or a group of words that identifies a specific thing in your field: a part, a tool, a material, a system or a location. Examples: "torque wrench", "hydraulic reservoir", "circuit breaker", "sealant".
Technical names are usually not in the dictionary, because every industry has its own. STE gives categories of technical names that you can use. If a word belongs to one of these categories, you can use it as a technical name.
Good practice:
Use the name from your official source, for example the parts catalogue or the drawing.
Use the same name each time. Do not call the same part a "bracket" in one step and a "support" in the next.
Do not use a technical name as a verb. Write "Apply sealant", not "Seal the joint", if "seal" is not an approved verb with that meaning.
Technical verbs
A technical verb is a verb that has a specific technical meaning in your field, for example a manufacturing or machining process. STE gives categories of technical verbs. Use them only with their technical meaning and only when no approved verb has the same meaning.
Technical verbs are an exception, not a shortcut. If an approved verb is sufficient, use the approved verb.
Synonyms and consistency of terminology
STE avoids synonyms. If you use two different words for the same thing, the reader can think that there are two different things.
Inconsistent
Consistent
"Remove the panel. … Install the cover." (Is the cover the same as the panel?)
"Remove the panel. … Install the panel."
"Turn the knob. … Set the dial to 3."
"Turn the knob. … Set the knob to 3."
Make a terminology list for each project. Write the technical names, the approved words that you use often and the words that writers must not use. Share it with all writers and translators.
How the dictionary and the writing rules work together
The dictionary and the writing rules are one system. The dictionary gives you the words. The writing rules tell you how to use them in sentences.
For example, the dictionary can approve a verb, and the writing rules tell you which tenses of that verb you can use. The rules also tell you how to handle technical names and technical verbs that are not in the dictionary.
Write a first draft. Focus on the content and the correct order of steps.
Check your verbs first. Verbs carry the instructions. Replace verbs that are not approved.
Check the other words. Look up words that you are not sure about. Use the approved meaning and part of speech.
Mark your technical names. Make sure that each one fits a permitted category and that you use it consistently.
Run a quick check. Use the STE Checker to find long sentences, passive voice and complex phrases.
Review with the official specification. For final decisions, the official dictionary is the only reference.
ASD-STE100 Dictionary FAQ
+−Is the ASD-STE100 dictionary available online for free?
The dictionary is part of the official ASD-STE100 specification. See our ASD STE 100 PDF page for where to get it from the official source.
+−Does this site publish the official STE word list?
No. This site explains how the dictionary works and gives its own examples. It does not copy the official dictionary.
+−Can I use a word that is not in the dictionary?
Yes, if it is a technical name or a technical verb that fits one of the permitted categories. Other words that are not approved should be replaced with approved words.
+−Why is a normal English word not approved?
Usually because it has many meanings, because a simpler word has the same meaning, or because readers with limited English may not know it.
Check your technical text with the free STE Checker.