Column 1: Word (part of speech)

All words are in bold typeface.

A word in UPPERCASE letters shows that you can use this word (it is approved.) Examples:

Word (part of speech)	Approved meaning/ ALTERNATIVES	APPROVED EXAMPLE	Not approved
ABRASIVE (adj)	That can remove material by friction	DUST, WHEN MIXED WITH OIL, HAS AN ABRASIVE EFFECT
AID (n)	Help that is given	IF YOU GET THE SOLUTION IN YOUR EYES, GET MEDICAL AID IMMEDIATELY.

 

       

A word in lowercase letters shows that you must use another word or a different construction because the word is not approved in STE.

Examples:

Word (part of speech)	Approved meaning/ ALTERNATIVES	APPROVED EXAMPLE	Not approved
main (adj)	PRIMARY (adj)	THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF VALVE FAILURE IS CONTAMINATION OF THE HYDRAULIC FLUID.	The main cause of valve failure is contamination of hydraulic fluid.
build (v)	ASSEMBLE (v)	ASSEMBLE THE UNIT.	Build the unit.

The part of speech for each word is given in parentheses. Use an approved word only as the part of speech given (refer to part 1, section 1).

In the dictionary, there are eight parts of speech:

 

1.     verb (v): A word that describes a state of being or an action. Its tense (present, past, future) tells you when the action occurs.

 

2.     noun (n): A word that is the name of a person, place, object, idea, quality, or activity.

 

3.     pronoun (pron): A word that replaces a noun or noun phrase.

 

4.     article (art): A word that tells you whether a noun phrase is new (indefinite = a, an) or one that you already know (definite = the). 

 

5.     adjective (adj): A word that modifies a noun or noun phrase. It describes, for example, the type, size, color, or number of a noun or noun phrase.

 

6.     adverb (adv): A word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. It answers the questions, “how?”, “where?”, “when?”, “how often?”, and “how much?”.

 

7.     preposition (prep): A word that shows how a noun, noun phrase or pronoun is related to other parts of the sentence.

 

8.     conjunction (conj): A word or phrase that connects words, phrases, and clauses.

Forms of approved words 

Nouns:          Nouns are given only in their singular form, but the plural form of countable nouns is permitted unless a note tells you differently.

Example:

Word (part of speech)	Approved meaning/ ALTERNATIVES	APPROVED EXAMPLE	Not approved
AGENT (n)	One of a group of materials made to do a specified task	DO NOT USE THESE CLEANING AGENTS ON HOT SURFACES.

 

Verbs:            Verbs are given in the forms that are permitted (refer to part 1, section 3). Do not use verb forms that are not listed.

Example:

Word (part of speech)	Approved meaning/ ALTERNATIVES	APPROVED EXAMPLE	Not approved
ADAPT (v), ADAPTS, ADAPTED, ADAPTED	To change or adjust to that which is necessary	ADAPT THE PRESSURE CONNECTION TO THE PITOT HEAD.
		THE SYSTEM INTERFACE CIRCUITS ADAPT TO THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE CONNECTED SYSTEMS.

 

       

Adjectives:   Adjectives are given in their basic form, with their comparative and superlative forms in parentheses. Adjectives that make their comparative and superlative forms with “more” and “most” do not have these forms listed in the dictionary, because “more” and “most”“ are also listed as approved words.

Example:

Word (part of speech)	Approved meaning/ ALTERNATIVES	APPROVED EXAMPLE       Not approved
SLOW (adj) (SLOWER, SLOWEST)	At low speed	MAKE SURE THAT THE  MOVEMENT OF THE ELEVATORS IS SLOW.

 

Adverbs:       Frequently (but not always), you can make an adverb from an adjective when you attach an “-ly” ending to it. The comparative and superlative forms of adverbs are also made with "more" and "most". Thus, they are not given in the dictionary.

Examples:

Word (part of speech)	Approved meaning/ ALTERNATIVES	APPROVED EXAMPLE	Not approved
SLOWLY (adv)	In a slow manner	TURN THE KNOB SLOWLY.
briskly (adv)	QUICKLY (adv)	RUB THE SURFACE QUICKLY WITH A SOFT, DRY CLOTH.	Rub the surface briskly with a soft, dry cloth.