# Plain writing for narration and on-screen text

Narration is heard once, at the narrator's pace. The viewer cannot re-read a sentence, so write it to be understood in one pass. These rules are a softened version of ASD-STE100, the controlled English of aircraft maintenance manuals.

## Rules

1. One idea per sentence. One instruction per step, in the order the viewer does them.
2. Start an instruction with the verb: "Click Save." Not "The Save button should be clicked."
3. Keep sentences to 20 words or fewer. Keep a scene to one topic.
4. Use active voice and simple tenses. Avoid "-ing" forms and "has been."
5. Use the same word for the same thing every time. If it is "the dashboard," never call it "the home screen" later.
6. Prefer short common words: use, start, before, about, help, end, get, make sure. Avoid utilize, commence, prior to, approximately, facilitate, in order to.
7. Keep noun clusters to 3 words or fewer. "Invoice export button" is fine; "monthly invoice batch export settings panel" is not.
8. Put the warning before the step it protects, and say the risk: "Do not close the tab yet. The upload stops."
9. Name exact things: the button's label, the menu, the field, the time. Never "the usual place."
10. Keep the articles ("the," "a"). Telegraphic text is harder to follow, not easier.

Contractions, a friendly opening line, and an occasional longer descriptive sentence are fine. The hard rules are 1, 2, 5, 8 and 9.

## For video

- Say the words the screen shows. If the button says **Export CSV**, the narrator says "Export CSV."
- On-screen text is a label, not a paragraph: 2–6 words where possible. The narrator explains; the screen shows.
- Numbers: say them the way people say them ("about two thousand", "nine thirty"), and show them as digits on screen.
- End with a short recap of 2–4 points.

## Before and after

> In order to facilitate the export process, users should first ensure that the appropriate date range has been selected, after which the export can be initiated via the button located in the top-right corner.

> Pick the date range first. Then click **Export CSV**, at the top right.

## Rewrites

Rewording never removes a fact. Every number, name, step and warning in the original must still be in the rewrite. Compare the two versions fact by fact.