English for global manufacturers: technical English made easy

A free lesson about Simplified Technical English

A few years ago, I taught a few lessons to a group of employees at a manufacturing company to improve their technical English skills. They were experienced professionals, most of whom had been working in the surface finishing industry for decades — that’s my niche as a technical translator and writer. 

While those folks were experts in their field, many felt hesitant when dealing with technical manuals in English.

In one of the sessions, we worked through a particularly dense passage from a coating machine manual. It was full of passive voice, wordy sentences, and terms that could easily be replaced with simpler words. I remember one technician saying,

“Does this really need to be so hard?”

In my mind, that moment simply sums up what Simplified Technical English is all about. We reworked the text using STE principles, and the technicians were amazed at how much clearer the instructions became.

This experience hit home the idea that language shouldn’t be a barrier to doing one’s job well.

Yes, knowing English is still relevant

I know, AI and machine translation are a thing.

But they’re not that good yet.

So, in case you’re wondering: yes, in today’s globalised economy, company staffs who are somewhat fluent in technical English are still crucial for the smooth functioning of international industries, even in the manufacturing sector.

Non-native English-speaking employees in production companies can face significant challenges when encountering complex technical manuals or safety procedures in standard English. Learning technical English, particularly Simplified Technical English (STE), means they can understand technical instructions more easily, reducing mistakes and improving overall communication.

Even when their overall language knowledge is not excellent.

Even if they struggle to have a conversation with a native speaker.

Even when they lack confidence in their skills.

Technical English and Simplified Technical English

Technical English is a specialised language form used in specific contexts (or industries), from manufacturing and engineering to IT and aerospace. It’s designed to convey complex technical information clearly and precisely. Unlike everyday English, technical English is much more specific and uses terminology relevant to the field. It also avoids idioms and ambiguous expressions that might confuse non-native speakers.

For example,

“Start the machine carefully”

is pretty vague: we could “translate” it into technical English as

“Turn the machine on by pressing the green button on the control panel.”

Needless to say, this level of specificity is vital in preventing errors, especially in high-stakes environments like manufacturing.

Now, Simplified Technical English is a controlled subset of technical English designed to be even more understandable, particularly for non-native English speakers. It was initially developed in the 1980s for the aerospace industry to ensure that maintenance instructions could be clearly understood and followed by people who did not speak English as their first language. Today, STE is used across various industries.

It helps minimise confusion and ensures that instructions are easy to follow.

Learning STE

Let’s dive into it, then!

How can you or your employees master Simplified Technical English even if your overall level doesn’t go beyond B2 and, deep down, you’re sure you’d mess it all up when ordering fish & chips on the Brighton pier?

1. Start with Basic Technical Vocabulary

Begin by learning the essential terms used in your field. Focus on words and phrases commonly used in manuals, safety guidelines, and machinery instructions.

2. Learn the Rules of STE

Understanding the rules of Simplified Technical English is essential. STE has clear guidelines that make technical documents more readable.

a) Use short sentences: Sentences should be no longer than 20 words for instructions and 25 words for descriptions.

• Example:
  “Don’t operate the machine if the red light is on.” (Instead of: “It is not recommended to operate the machine in cases where the red light is switched on.”)

b) Use active voice: Avoid passive voice because it can be unclear who should perform the action.

• Example:
  “The technician cleans the filter” (Instead of: “The filter is cleaned by the technician”).

c) Avoid complex grammar: Use simple tenses and avoid gerunds (words ending in ‘-ing’).

• Example:
  “Check the system daily.” (Instead of: “The system requires checking daily.”)

d) Avoid ambiguity: Always be specific to avoid misunderstanding.

• Example:
  “Turn the knob clockwise” (Instead of: “Turn the knob”).

e) Use approved words: “STE has a dictionary of approved words. Use these wherever possible.”

• Example:
  Use “start” instead of “initiate” and “close” instead of “terminate.”

f) Limit sentence complexity: “Each sentence should express only one idea.”

• Example:
  “Switch off the machine. Then disconnect the power supply.” (Instead of: “Switch off the machine and disconnect the power supply.”)

3. Practice with real-life materials

One of the best ways to learn is by practising with the materials workers use every day. Companies can provide manuals, technical guides, and safety instructions written in STE. Workers can practice reading these documents and ask questions about any unclear terms.

4. Encourage communication in English

In the workplace, encouraging the use of English during daily tasks can help reinforce what employees have learned. Simple actions like labelling machinery in English, using English during meetings, or even having bilingual safety signs can create a more immersive learning environment.

Why is learning technical English useful?

Many manufacturing companies operate internationally and have to communicate with suppliers, clients, or partners from other countries. Manuals, safety procedures, and other technical documents are often written in English as a lingua franca.

By learning technical English, employees can communicate more effectively, work more efficiently, and reduce risks in the workplace. That is especially important for safety in manufacturing environments involving machinery, chemicals, or other dangerous equipment. It’s easy to see how misunderstanding a procedure due to poor language comprehension can lead to costly errors or, worse, serious injuries.

STE takes the complexity out of technical English, making it easier to understand essential documents. Some other key benefits of adopting it include consistency (because STE uses a limited vocabulary and consistent sentence structures, all documents are written in the same straightforward way), lower training costs (since STE is easier to understand, training staff to use technical manuals written in STE is faster and more cost-effective: employees don’t need to spend as much time learning technical terms or struggling through complex grammar), and facilitated translation (sorry, that’s the translator in me, but I have to point out that if a manual needs to be translated into different languages, STE makes the process easier. The clearer structure and simpler vocabulary reduce translation costs and ensure the translation is more accurate).

How companies can support learning

Employers can play a significant role in helping their employees learn and apply technical English. Here are a few ways they can support this process:

• Offer training programs: Companies can offer in-house technical English or STE training courses. This investment improves communication and boosts safety and productivity.

• Provide access to learning resources: Employers can provide workers with access to technical English textbooks, online courses, or mobile apps that help them study during their downtime.

• Create a learning culture: Companies should encourage continuous learning by promoting the importance of technical English in day-to-day operations. Regular workshops, for instance, can keep workers engaged and motivated.

In a nutshell

In summary, for manufacturing staff working outside English-speaking countries, learning technical English — especially Simplified Technical English — offers numerous benefits. It improves communication, reduces errors, increases safety, and enhances workplace efficiency. With clear, easy-to-understand instructions, employees can operate machinery safely and communicate effectively, even across language barriers.

Chiara Foppa Pedretti © 2025