Force LLMs to Write Like Boeing Manuals with ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English
Agent Skill to Force Docs in ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English
I built an agent skill that forces large language models to write documentation using ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English. This aerospace standard eliminates ambiguity so tired mechanics cannot misread instructions. By applying strict rules like active voice and short sentences, the tool reduces violations by over 70% across multiple models. It works with Claude Code, Cursor, and VS Code Copilot to replace vague marketing fluff with clear, actionable technical writing.
Clearly is an opinion. No sentence over 20 words is a spec. Agents follow specs.
- dan_sbl
I took one of the examples ("Leveraging sqlpipe's robust...") and just prefixed it with this:
> Rewrite this using ASD-STE100 simplified technical English:
And you get a good-enough result, it seems? Maybe add another sentence or two for guidance, but what's with needing these giant skills, when ASD-STE100 was surely in the training material?
- tajd
On a related note I wrote a skill to apply the economist style guide to LLM generated writing https://github.com/TAJD/economist-style-guide-plugin
Tends to produce relatively well structured prose that’s easy to edit.
- abeyer
STE Misapplication issues and limited adoption
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplified_Technical_English#M...
- jpease
I like the idea, but not sold on the skill.
But did lead to me finding https://vale.sh and its various available linters. Might give that a try.
- hsaliak
Seems to be doing too much, a 1 line in the system prompt is all you need. And it works well enough.
“Output tokens are precious, be succinct in your responses. Use ASD-STE100 simplified technical english”
- bayesnet
It’s ironic that the README has all the tells of being LLM-written:
> 53 numbered rules, 9 sections, written in 1983 by people whose readers die when a sentence is ambiguous. The ones doing the heavy lifting: …
Not really a promising tell for a writing skill, IMO.
- summarity
Gotta love how the very first example in Issue 9 of the standard is already self-defeating:
> "Test" is an approved noun, but not an approved verb.
> STE: Test B is an alternative to test A.
So much for clear - unless you know the STE specific rule, the sentence is unambiguously ambiguous.
Direct access btw since the official site gates downloads with a Google form: https://www.asd-ste100.org/assets/files/ASD-STE100_ISSUE9.pd...
- garkotipankaj
Agent skills work... sometimes - depends on the agent's mood really.
I tried to solve this in a rather opposite way.
https://github.com/computerreinvention/trie
The documentation is updated and recording the intent behind all changes is enforced by a commit-gate. At the symbol level.