Topics / Standards and assurance
Clear technical English helps people read. It does not prove the requirement.
Use controlled language to reduce ambiguity in documentation, then separately check that the statement expresses the right behavior and has supporting evidence.
Know what ASD-STE100 addresses.
ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English is a controlled natural language for technical documentation. The maintenance group lists Issue 9, published in January 2025. Its purpose is readability and consistent interpretation, especially for readers with different English proficiency.
Source: ASD-STE100 maintenance group. Scope and edition reviewed 3 October 2026.
That is different from a formal requirement language or a proof of implementation correctness. Consult the actual rules and vocabulary for an STE assessment. The example below illustrates clarification, not certified STE conformance.
Fix the missing decision before polishing the sentence.
Illustrative example
“Retry the operation promptly if necessary.”
Shorter words will not tell the engineer when a retry is necessary, how many attempts are permitted or what deadline applies. First agree on the failure condition, retry limit and preserved effect. Then write the instruction clearly and consistently.
- Use one term consistently for the same concept.
- Identify the actor, action and condition.
- Replace vague timing with an agreed measurable rule.
- Separate instructions that make different promises.
- Check the wording with the intended reader.
Keep wording and behavior connected.
Proof can retain the approved requirement and its implementation and verification links. A wording change may alter scope even if a formula or test remains unchanged, so review the meaning of the delta.
Use language checks as writing assistance. They cannot decide what the product should do or establish that a test proves it. Those decisions and observations belong in the engineering record.
Try it on your software
Bring a requirement that sounds clear but causes disagreement.
We can separate the language problem from the missing product decision.