6 Simple Rules for Better Writing
George Orwell was passionate about improving the use of the English language.
For example why say:
"While freely conceding that the Soviet regime exhibits certain features which the humanitarian may be inclined to deplore, we must, I think, agree that a certain curtailment of the right to political opposition is an unavoidable concomitant of transitional periods, and that the rigours which the Russian people have been called upon to undergo have been amply justified in the sphere of concrete achievement."
When you can say:
"I believe in killing off your opponents when you can get good results by doing so."
I often find that the blogger mindset tends to be more concise as George Orwell recommended with these six simple rules:
-B
For example why say:
"While freely conceding that the Soviet regime exhibits certain features which the humanitarian may be inclined to deplore, we must, I think, agree that a certain curtailment of the right to political opposition is an unavoidable concomitant of transitional periods, and that the rigours which the Russian people have been called upon to undergo have been amply justified in the sphere of concrete achievement."
When you can say:
"I believe in killing off your opponents when you can get good results by doing so."
I often find that the blogger mindset tends to be more concise as George Orwell recommended with these six simple rules:
| i. | Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. |
|---|---|
| ii. | Never use a long word where a short one will do. |
| iii. | If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. |
| iv. | Never use the passive where you can use the active. |
| v. | Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent. |
| vi. | Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous. |
-B

1 Comments:
At 8:05 PM ,
piken said...
Should that first one be "Never use a simile ... that you *aren't* used to seeing in print"?
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