Editing Simplified Technical English (section)

=== Writing rules ===
The writing rules cover aspects of grammar and style. The rules also differentiate between two types of texts: procedures and descriptions.  A non-exhaustive list of the writing rules includes the concepts that follow:

* Use the approved words only as the part of speech and meaning given in the dictionary.
* Make instructions as clear and specific as possible.
* Do not write multi-word nouns that have more than three words.
* Use the approved forms of the verb to make only:
** The [[infinitive|infinitive form]]
** The [[Imperative mood|imperative form]]
** The [[simple present tense]]
** The [[simple past tense]]
** The [[future tense|simple future tense]]
** The [[past participle]] (only as an adjective)
* Do not use auxiliary verbs to make complex verb constructions.
* Use the "-ing" form of a verb only as a technical noun or as a modifier in a technical noun.
* Use the [[active voice]]. In descriptive writing, one should use the passive voice only when the agent is unknown.
* Write short sentences: no more than 20 words in instructions (procedures) and 25 words in descriptive texts.
* Do not omit parts of the sentence (e.g. verb, subject, article) to make the text shorter.
* Use vertical lists for complex text.
* Write one instruction per sentence.
* Write only one topic per paragraph.
* Do not write more than six sentences in each paragraph.
* Start safety instructions with a clear command or condition.