Orwell’s Six Rules for Writing

Posted by Ian McKenzie
Written on June 24, 2008

Posted in Communication

I keep a copy of Mike Shea’s sheet of writing tips (pdf) in the back pocket of my Moleskine journal. The first set of tips of the page are six rules on writing from George Orwell. While I frequently break these rules, I make an effort to edit what I write against them.

  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.

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