Clarity is not writing simply. It is letting the reader know what to do next.

ASD-STE100 is a controlled natural-language standard for technical documents. It includes 53 writing rules and a controlled dictionary. This article borrows selected principles for AI output; it is neither certification training nor a claim that generated text meets the standard.

01 / SOURCEUse the idea, respect the boundary.

Controlled language reduces ambiguity where misunderstanding is costly. It does not make facts correct, replace subject knowledge, or justify changing legal meaning for brevity.

02 / SIX RULESSix rules you can apply directly to AI

Rule 1

One sentence, one main action or judgment; split complex conditions into a list.

Rule 2

Name the actor, action and deadline; prefer active expression.

Rule 3

Use one name for one object; do not switch terms freely.

Rule 4

State conditions before the action and result.

Rule 5

Replace vague timing or quantity with a date, number or confirmation item.

Rule 6

Give each step an observable completion signal.

03 / COPY THISTurn the rules into a writing constraint.

Rewrite this as instructions that an ordinary person can execute.

Use one main action per sentence. Name the actor. Keep one term for one object. State conditions before actions. Mark missing dates, quantities and thresholds as confirmation items. Number the real sequence and give every step an observable completion signal. Do not invent facts or hide exceptions, risk, or uncertainty.

Output: purpose, prerequisites, numbered steps, completion check, and items to confirm.

BEFORERelevant people should improve the materials promptly and submit them properly.

AFTERThe case lead completes missing checklist items by Friday 12:00, uploads them to “Pending review”, and confirms the status reads “received”.

04 / VERIFYDo not let AI certify itself

Ask AI to produce a table of each original sentence, ambiguity, missing actor/condition/completion signal, proposed revision and any invented fact. It finds review targets; it does not prove factual accuracy. Recheck names, numbers, deadlines, citations and professional judgment against originals.

05 / LONG-TERM RULEUse stable rules with a scope.

Once effective, place these rules in project instructions for operational guides and help documents. State the scope so brand copy, interviews and narrative writing are not all flattened into short lists.

Do not claim ASD-STE100 compliance unless a formal review uses the complete standard.

Sources

ASD-STE100 official site.
STEMG: About STE.
ASD-STE100 Issue 9; verified July 26, 2026.

Clear writing still starts with a clear work order.

AI work order