Orwell’s Six Rules:

back in the 1940′s George Orwell, one of the most popular and widely read writers of the 20th century, wrote that 6 rules should apply to the use of language when writing fiction. He stated that the writer must;

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 barbarous.

Today we think this advice still holds true.

So why not write out Orwell’s Six Rules in your writing notebook and try to apply them in everything you do…