George Orwell’s 5 rules for effective writing

As relevant now for the web as they were in 1946 when Orwell wrote them as a journalist reflecting on political communication.

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.

A commentary on George Orwell’s 5 Rules for Effective Writing from www.pickthebrain.com

Politics and the English Language - the article by George Orwell which he concludes with his 5 rules