godsavethewriters:

From Orwell’s essay Politics and the English Language. It’s a rather meaty read but the five rules are as follows:

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.

Additional Reading:

• This article which covers Orwell’s idea in simpler writing, also drawing on a quote by Hemingway in regards to Faulkner’s criticism of his word choices.
• “The Intimate Orwell” by Simon Leys, an article reviewing Orwell’s diaries and letters.

(Source: godsavethewriters, via alexabug)