What is this?
This is an Agent Skill that makes an LLM write and check text in Simplified Technical English (STE), the ASD-STE100 controlled language used by the aerospace and defense industries for manuals. It ships the SKILL.md rules, the approved word list, and a Python check tool.
This is an Agent Skill that makes an LLM write and check text in Simplified Technical English (STE), the ASD-STE100 controlled language used by the aerospace and defense industries for manuals. It ships the SKILL.md rules, the approved word list, and a Python check tool.Is this a Claude-only skill, or can I use it with any LLM?It is built as a Claude Skill but is portable: for other LLMs you just copy the text of SKILL.md into the system prompt, and optionally add the substitutions and word-list files for better results.
It is built as a Claude Skill but is portable: for other LLMs you just copy the text of SKILL.md into the system prompt, and optionally add the substitutions and word-list files for better results.How do I install it for Claude?Clone the repository into your Claude skills folder (~/.claude/skills/), then tell Claude to write or check text in STE, or invoke it directly by typing /simplified-technical-english.
Clone the repository into your Claude skills folder (~/.claude/skills/), then tell Claude to write or check text in STE, or invoke it directly by typing /simplified-technical-english.What do I need to run the check tool?Just Python 3 — the stecheck.py script has no other dependencies and runs on a file path or standard input.
Just Python 3 — the stecheck.py script has no other dependencies and runs on a file path or standard input.Does the check tool catch every STE violation?No. It flags things like overlong sentences, passive voice, unapproved words, and contractions, but it cannot tell if a word is used with its approved meaning, so a human who knows STE still has to review important text. It's also not an official ASD document and can't guarantee full compliance with the real specification.
No. It flags things like overlong sentences, passive voice, unapproved words, and contractions, but it cannot tell if a word is used with its approved meaning, so a human who knows STE still has to review important text. It's also not an official ASD document and can't guarantee full compliance with the real specification.Who is this really for?Technical writers and teams producing aerospace/defense manuals or any documentation that needs to follow the ASD-STE100 controlled-language standard, plus anyone who wants LLM output in short, clear, easy-to-translate English.
Technical writers and teams producing aerospace/defense manuals or any documentation that needs to follow the ASD-STE100 controlled-language standard, plus anyone who wants LLM output in short, clear, easy-to-translate English.Does it run on Windows and Linux as well as Mac?Yes — it's a Python script and a markdown-based skill, so it runs anywhere Python 3 and Claude's skill folder are available, not tied to a specific OS.
Yes — it's a Python script and a markdown-based skill, so it runs anywhere Python 3 and Claude's skill folder are available, not tied to a specific OS.How many approved words does the word list contain?The references/word-list.md file lists 869 approved words that the skill and check tool allow.
The references/word-list.md file lists 869 approved words that the skill and check tool allow.What does the check tool actually flag?It flags sentences with too many words, paragraphs over six sentences, unapproved verb forms and passive voice, semicolons, contractions, unapproved helping verbs, and words outside the approved list, reporting each error with its rule number.
It flags sentences with too many words, paragraphs over six sentences, unapproved verb forms and passive voice, semicolons, contractions, unapproved helping verbs, and words outside the approved list, reporting each error with its rule number.Where do the writing rules come from?They come from ASD-STE100 Issue 7 (2017), the official Simplified Technical English specification maintained by ASD; the skill reproduces 53 of its writing rules in references/writing-rules.md.
They come from ASD-STE100 Issue 7 (2017), the official Simplified Technical English specification maintained by ASD; the skill reproduces 53 of its writing rules in references/writing-rules.md.Can I see an example of the rewrite in action?Yes, examples/before-after.md shows text before and after the STE rewrite, e.g. turning 'Prior to commencing the installation, it should be ensured...' into 'Before you start the installation, examine all the components for damage.'
Yes, examples/before-after.md shows text before and after the STE rewrite, e.g. turning 'Prior to commencing the installation, it should be ensured...' into 'Before you start the installation, examine all the components for damage.'What are similar projects?asd-ste100-skill, im-not-ai, iso-24495-skill, Humanizer-zh, stop-slop, linkedin-agent-skill, yomiyasu, bigpeng-hot-gzh
asd-ste100-skill, im-not-ai, iso-24495-skill, Humanizer-zh, stop-slop, linkedin-agent-skill, yomiyasu, bigpeng-hot-gzhWhich topics is it in?technical-writing, aerospace, linter, english, writing, claude-skill, translation, prompt-engineering, skill, skills, command-line, documentation
technical-writing, aerospace, linter, english, writing, claude-skill, translation, prompt-engineering, skill, skills, command-line, documentation