warning · Section 1: Words
Rule 1.12: You can use technical verbs from approved categories
A word not in the STE dictionary may be used as a technical verb only if it fits one of the 4 approved technical-verb categories listed in technicalVerbCategories (each with its official definition, subcategories, examples, and source page) — and only when no approved dictionary verb already expresses the same instruction clearly.
This rule needs human judgement. A checker can flag candidates; it cannot decide.
What a checker looks for
Usually a deviation, and context can excuse it.
- Flag a non-dictionary verb used as a technical verb when an approved dictionary verb would express the same instruction just as clearly (e.g. 'detect broken wires' should be 'find broken wires' unless the specific technical sense — a scanner detecting objects — is intended).
- Flag a technical-sounding verb that does not clearly belong to any of the 4 approved technical-verb categories.
- Flag a general or unclear technical verb used where a more specific, correct technical verb exists for the context (e.g. 'machine the hole' should be the specific process verb 'ream').
What this rule does not cover
- A technical verb that fits an approved category and has no suitable dictionary-approved substitute for that specific technical sense is compliant.
How to fix it
If an approved dictionary verb expresses the same instruction, use it instead of the technical verb. If a technical verb is genuinely needed, use the specific correct one for the process, not a vague substitute.
Constraints on the fix
- Do not lose precision about which physical process is being instructed.
Examples
Not STE: If you detect broken wires, repair them.
STE: If you find broken wires, repair them.
Not STE: Machine the hole until it has a diameter of 8.00 +/- 0.003 mm.
STE: Ream the hole until it has a diameter of 8.00 +/- 0.003 mm.
Approved categories
The technical verbs in their related categories are only examples (source: ASD-STE100 Issue 9, page 1-1-15). Rule 1.12 does not give a full list of all possible technical verbs.
Manufacturing processes
Terms that give instructions and information to remove, add, attach, or change material, or change its surface finish or shape.
- a. Remove material — drill, grind, mill, ream, unsolder
- b. Add material — flame, insulate, remetal, retread
- c. Attach material — braze, crimp, solder, weld
- d. Change the mechanical strength, the structure, or the physical properties of a material — anneal, cure, decay, freeze, heat-treat, magnetize, normalize, vaporize
- e. Change the surface finish of a material — buff, burnish, dress, passivate, plate, polish
- f. Change the shape of a material — blend, cast, extrude, spin, stamp
Computer processes and applications
Terms that give instructions and information for input/output processes, user interface and application processes, and system operations.
- a. Input and output processes — click, digitize, enter, press, print, swipe, tap, type
- b. User interface and application processes — clear, close, copy, cut, delete, deselect, disable, drag, drag and drop, enable, encrypt, erase, filter, highlight, invalidate, maximize, minimize, navigate, open, paste, save, scroll, sort, store, tweet, validate, zoom in, zoom out
- c. System operations — abort, boot, communicate, debug, download, format, install, load, manage, process, reboot, update, upgrade, upload
Instructions and information for applicable subject fields
Terms that give instructions and information in engineering/mathematical/scientific, medical, civil/military, navigation, automotive/railway, and energy/oil/gas contexts.
- a. Engineering, mathematical, and scientific — bisect, compensate for, convert, detect, float, modulate, radiate, transform, sink
- b. Medical — disinfect, intubate, operate, prescribe, sanitize, sterilize
- c. Civil and military operations — aim, arm, detect, disable, dry-motor, enable, explode, fire, inhibit, intercept, lase, load, lock on, unlatch, unload, wet-motor, parachute
- d. Navigation — approach, descend, deviate, fly, hover, land, maintain, navigate, retrim, take off, trim, respond, taxi
- e. Automotive and railway — accelerate, brake, couple, crank, crash, decouple, dispatch, drift, inflate, park, qualify, steer
- f. Energy, oil, and gas — compress, distill, drill, emit, extract, inject, pump
Law and regulations
Terms that give instructions and information only for legal and regulatory texts. For example, contracts, warranty texts, certificates, standards and specifications, and legal papers.
Precedence
If there is an approved verb in the dictionary that accurately gives the instruction or the information, use the approved verb instead of a technical verb. Do not use a technical verb if it is possible to write the same sentence with words that are approved in the dictionary.
Related rules
Where this fits in AI governance
A rule a checker can test is a rule a model can be held to. The same discipline, on the governance side of this site.
- Hallucination
An approved word used in an unapproved sense is the controlled-language version of a plausible wrong answer. - Misinformation and confabulation
The register entry for text that reads correctly and is not. - Output validation guardrails
A controlled language is a checkable output constraint. This is the control that treats model output as something to be checked rather than trusted.
Source
ASD-STE100 Issue 9, Section 1 - Words, page 1-1-13.
This page is commentary and does not reproduce the standard. About this rule pack.