From Politics and the English Language (1946), George Orwell's six rules for writing:
Quote:
"Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print".
"Never use a long word where a short one will do".
"If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out".
"Never use the passive voice where you can use the active".
"Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent".
"Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous".
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I think they're a good starting point for solid no-nonsense prose but following them wouldn't seem to allow for very much fun and games, technical trickery or deliciously florid verbosity. John Updike and Vladimir Nabokov (who was, if I remember right, derisive of Orwell) would have (had) trouble sticking to them.