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A data sheet that describes how to implement a Controlled English program.

The MAXit Checker checks text against a Controlled English dictionary for consistency in global communications.


"Linguists estimate that there are nearly 20,000 distinct languages spoken on our earth."

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SMART Text Miner
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Dictionary Service Pack
Lexicon Manager
Plain English (eGov)

Writer Training Classes
Simplified English
(See aerospace page.)

What is Controlled English?

The principle of Occam’s razor states that if you simplify explanations, you improve performance, learning and knowledge discovery. Simple is better.

Procedures written in a Controlled English vocabulary create mission-critical information that is accurate, clear and concise. The simplification removes ambiguity, jargon, idioms, vague meaning and enforces a standardized language.

One PercentAn average Controlled English dictionary contains approximately 1,200  basic words. To this base, users add their special product terminology for a total of 5,500 to 8,500 terms. The SMART team can build a custom dictionary in 30 days for any product or service. Because Controlled English uses 1% percent of the English language, technical documentation is easier to read in 150 countries.

The key principle is ONE WORD - ONE MEANING.

Text Miner for Dictionary Development

textminerThe SMART Text Miner uses text analytics to discover product terminology. The SMART engineers use the text miner tool and reports to create a custom Controlled English dictionary..

Our Controlled English Clients

Consultants SMART Communications, New York has a team of linguists, data scientists, programmers and consultants who have helped many companies create a Controlled English program. We have 20+ years of experience with technical documentation.

The SMART Team has worked on documentation for products as small as a semiconductor chip at ASML (Netherlands) to a 500-ton Airbus A380 aircraft.

The SMART MAXit Checker

MaxitChecker The MAXit Checker is a sophisticated grammar and syntax checker that uses 19,000 Artificial Intelligence (AI) rules and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to analyze text. The software is a plug-in for most publishing tools, including Adobe FrameMaker, Microsoft Word and PTC Arbortext Editor. Click here for a description of the MAXit functions.

SMART Communications offers a Starter Kit that includes starter dictionaries for a product or service. The Starter Kit is ideal for proof-of-concept and is easy to expand for a corporate network. Click for information.

Terminology Management

lexmgrThe SMART Lexicon Manager is an easy-to-use software tool that allows users to manage terminology and Controlled English dictionaries for collaborative authoring. For small projects, SMART offers a Dictionary Service Pack (DSP). New terms are sent by email and the updated dictionaries are returned in 24 hours.

Technical Writer Training Classes

Training The participants use the MAXit Checker to learn how to write Controlled English in two to three days. Our instructors have many years of experience in the use of Controlled English.

Ask about our flexible, instructor-led, GoToMeeting Internet Training for two to five writers. For larger groups, we offer onsite classes. Send an email to request costs and our 2023 on-line Class Schedule.

Each participant receives a Certificate of Completion for Educational Credits. Classes qualify for job grants.