Controlled English (CE) is a controlled technical
vocabulary for a product or service with a set of rules for grammar, syntax and style.
The controlled vocabulary was adapted from the Simplified Technical
English (STE) Standard created by the Aerospace, Security and
Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD). This Standard
is mandated for air safety.
The SMART team expanded the STE "core" vocabulary
for other industries, including machinery, process control, oil and gas and robotics.
A typical dictionary is approximately 5,000 to 8,000 terms and
uses the same principle of ONE WORD - ONE MEANING.
All procedural instructions
benefit from the use of Controlled English to
improve documentation usability, readability, translatability and Customer Experience.
Controlled English is ideal to communicate
mission-critical information in clear, concise, technical language,
that is easy-to-read and understand.
Controlled English is a low-cost Continuous Improvement tool to avoid high-cost of human errors caused by foggy instructions.
Visit our Six Sigma page to see information about our documentation quality reports.
Click the button to view a Before and After sample page of how Nortel Networks
simplified network software instructions.
Simple Steps to create a Controlled English Program
The steps use the SMART software tools and AI services, including Text Miner, MAXit Checker
and Lexicon Manager. The SMART team offers remote and on-site writer
training to show the writers how to use Controlled English with the MAXit Checker.
An average Controlled English program can be completed in 30 days.
Text Mining services to develop a custom dictionary
Validation of special engineering terminology
Installation of the MAXit Checker software
Writer Training classes
Installation of the Lexicon Manager to manage terms
Follow-up and mentoring for acceptance
The SMART team offers a Controlled English Starter Kit that is ideal for proof-of-concept
and is easy to expand. The Starter Kit is a full license with a starter Controlled English dictionary.
Use the Contact Form to request costs or to ask questions.