In English, a verb and one or more prepositions sometimes go together to make a “phrasal verb”. This phrasal verb then has a meaning which is different from the meanings of its parts. Phrasal verbs often have two meanings, the original, more concrete meaning, and a more abstract one, too.

Examples:

Non-STE: Put out the cat.

(Concrete meaning: “Put the cat outside of the house.”)

Non-STE: Put out the fire.

(Abstract meaning: “Extinguish the fire.”)

To prevent such ambiguity, it is not permitted in STE to use approved words together to make a new phrase that has a different, more abstract meaning.

Examples:

Non-STE: After you put out the fire, close the valve on the fire extinguisher.

STE: After you extinguish the fire, close the valve on the fire extinguisher.

“Put” and “out” are approved words in STE. In the example, “put out” has a different meaning from the approved meanings for “put” and “out” given in the dictionary. The word “extinguish” has the approved meaning “To stop burning” and it is the word most usual in technical documentation.

Non-STE: This compound can give off poisonous fumes.

STE: This compound can release poisonous fumes.

“Give” and “off” are approved words in STE. In the example, “give off” has a different meaning from the approved meaning for “give" and "off" given in the dictionary. Here you must think of another word that has the same meaning. “Release” has the approved meaning “to make free”, “to let go”. And it is also possible to use this word in this context as a replacement for “give off”.

You will not usually find phrasal verbs listed as “not approved” in the dictionary. Remember, when you re-write a sentence in STE, always make sure that the new sentence is still good standard English.