George Orwell’s 6 rules for writers

  Posted by Annie Colbert

In 1946, George Orwell laid out his theories on writing in an essay titled “Politics and the English Language.” Orwell criticized the use of complicated language and promoted clear, simple prose whenever possible. The essay concluded with six rules summarizing Orwell’s opinion.

1. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
2. Never use a long word where a short one will do.
3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.
5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

Via Lists of Note.

Improve your writing.

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