penpot/.opencode/skills/ste/references/word-substitutions.md

Word substitutions and one-meaning rulings

Compiled from public secondary sources (STEMG/ASD public pages, TechScribe, Acrolinx, training materials). This is a working approximation, not the official ASD dictionary. When a word is not listed here and feels formal or Latin-derived, prefer the shortest common alternative.

Unapproved → approved

Do not use	Use instead
utilize, leverage, employ	use
commence, initiate, begin, originate	start
terminate, cease, conclude	stop, end
ensure, verify, confirm, validate, check	make sure (that), examine
perform, conduct, execute, carry out	do
facilitate, assist	help
obtain, acquire, procure	get
sufficient, adequate	enough
approximately	about
prior to	before
subsequent to, following (prep.)	after
adjacent to	near
accomplish	do
additional, supplementary	more
attempt	try
require, necessitate	need, must
mandatory	necessary
indicate, signify	show
observe (=watch)	look at, examine
rotate	turn
deactivate	turn off, set to off
activate, energize (unless technical verb)	turn on, start
toxic	poisonous
in order to	to
via, by means of	through, with
due to, owing to	because of
in the event of/that	if
accessible	(rewrite: "you can get access to")
remainder	rest
demonstrate	show
modify, alter	change
construct, fabricate, build	assemble, make
retain	keep
locate (=find)	find
depress (a button)	push, press
proceed	continue, go

One meaning, one part of speech (canonical rulings)

• close — verb only: to move to a position that stops flow, or to operate a circuit breaker. The adjective is unapproved → use near ("do not go near the propeller").
• test — noun only: "do a test," never "test the system."
• check — do not use as a verb for verification → "make sure that" or "examine."
• follow — means only "come after." For rules and steps use obey: "Obey the safety instructions."
• fall — means only "move down by gravity." For quantities use decrease. Never the season.
• oil — noun only. "Oil the bearing" → "Put oil on the bearing" / "Lubricate the bearing."
• right — direction only, never "correct."
• clear — "without blockage." "Wheels are clear of the ground" → "wheels do not touch the ground."
• help — verb only; the noun is aid ("with the aid of a mirror").
• above / below — physical position only. For quantities: more than / less than.
• about — two approved senses: "approximately" and "on the subject of." Use carefully.
• turn — the general verb for rotation; "turn on / turn off" for power state is standard.
• level — approved as noun and adjective (documented exception to the one-POS rule).

Frequent-offender function words

• should / would / could / may / might — never. Requirement → must. Possibility → can. Future → will.
• etc. — delete, or write the full list.
• e.g. / i.e. — "for example" / "that is."
• any / appropriate / applicable / relevant as hedges — replace with the specific thing meant.
• there is / there are openers — rewrite with a real subject: "There are three bolts on the panel" → "The panel has three bolts."