Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Simplified English writing agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The simplified-english skill tells your agent to write user-facing comments, plans and documents in ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English. This is a controlled writing style from the aerospace and defence industry that uses short sentences, one instruction per sentence and approved words with one meaning each. This guide explains what the skill changes, how to install it, how to ask for it and where it works best.
Simplified English Writingpaperclipai/paperclip · MIT Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download the ZIP. Get the simplified-english ZIP file from this page.
- 2Unzip into a skills folder. Unzip the file into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or into .claude/skills/ inside a project.
- 3Or upload in the Claude apps. Open Settings, then Capabilities, then Skills, and upload the skill.
- 4Ask for user-facing output. Request a status update, plan or document and say who will read it.
- 5Review the draft. Check that procedure sentences have 20 words or fewer and each sentence gives one instruction.
What the simplified-english skill makes the agent do
An agent skill is a set of written instructions that an AI agent loads when a task matches it. This skill applies to text the agent writes for people to read: comments, plans and documents.
The source defines the core rules. Procedures use sentences of 20 words or fewer. Descriptions use sentences of 25 words or fewer. Each sentence gives one instruction. The agent uses the active voice, the present tense and articles such as "the" and "a".
- Use approved words with one meaning each, and avoid synonyms and jargon.
- Write positive instructions and avoid vague qualifiers.
- Keep each paragraph to one topic.
- Prefer house word choices such as "start" over "initiate" and "use" over "utilize".
Install the simplified-english skill
Download the ZIP file for the skill from this page. Then choose one of the two install methods below.
For a personal setup, unzip the file into ~/.claude/skills/. For a single project, unzip it into the .claude/skills/ folder inside that project.
In the Claude apps, you can instead upload the skill under Settings, then Capabilities, then Skills.
- Personal: ~/.claude/skills/
- Project: .claude/skills/ inside your project folder
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Trigger the skill with natural requests
You do not need a special command. Ask for the output in plain terms, and say that the text is for readers. The skill applies when the task involves user-facing comments, plans or documents.
Name the content type and the audience when you can. This helps the agent choose the right level of detail.
- Write a status update for non-technical stakeholders about the login fix.
- Draft a setup guide for new users in simplified English.
- Write the project plan for the billing migration so the sales team can follow it.
- Rewrite this procedure so each step is one instruction.
Check the output and what the skill needs
Read the first draft against the core rules. Look for sentences over 20 words in procedures and over 25 words in descriptions. Check that each sentence holds one instruction.
The skill requires nothing listed. It does not run scripts and does not use the network.
- Requires: nothing listed
- Runs scripts: no
- Uses network: no
- Files included: SKILL.md
Know when not to use it
The strict rules flatten voice. Do not use this skill for creative or marketing copy where tone, humour or varied style matters.
The word limits can also force oversimplification. Avoid it when a task needs full technical detail or nuance.
What people use it for
- Status updates from engineers to non-technical managers.
- Step-by-step setup guides for end users.
- Project plans that a wide range of teams must follow.
- Rewriting existing procedures so each step is one clear instruction.
Frequently asked questions
Is the simplified-english skill free?
The source lists the licence as MIT. It does not state prices, so check the directory page for any cost details.
What does the simplified-english skill require?
The source lists no requirements. It does not run scripts and does not use the network.
Where do I install the simplified-english skill?
Unzip the downloaded ZIP into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or into .claude/skills/ in a project. In the Claude apps, upload it under Settings, then Capabilities, then Skills.
What is ASD-STE100?
ASD-STE100 is a controlled writing style called Simplified Technical English. It comes from the aerospace and defence industry and uses short sentences, approved words and one meaning per word.
Does the skill make writing easier for non-native speakers?
The source says the goal is text that is easy to understand the first time it is read, including by non-native speakers. The controlled rules support that goal.
Can I use this skill for marketing copy?
The source says not to use it for creative or marketing copy where tone, humour or varied style matters, because the strict rules flatten voice.
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Our verdict
Use this skill if you are an engineer, product or writing team that needs plain, step-by-step user-facing documents. Pick a different approach for creative, marketing or highly nuanced technical writing, where the strict word limits will hurt the result.
Download the skill