Definition: structured English

Software logic written in English-like programming syntax without regard to the actual programming language eventually used. Structured English is used to verify the business logic, which can then be coded in any programming language. Common verbs such as IF-THEN-ELSE and DO WHILE-ENDDO are used (in boldface below), although they may not be the identical words when actually coded. The following very simple example displays employees hired after 2009. See structured programming.

  START
  OPEN employee file
  DO WHILE not end of file
    GET next record
    IF year of hire is greater than 2009
     DISPLAY name, date of hire fields
     ADD 1 to employee count
    ENDIF
  ENDDO
  CLOSE employee file
  DISPLAY employee count
  EXIT