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Subject:Six elementary rules for writing good english From:"Raj Machhan" <raj -dot- machhan -at- gmail -dot- com> To:techwr-l <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Mon, 6 Aug 2007 17:15:30 +0530
Hi all,
George Orwell has captured the essence of good English writing in these six
rules. These are as relevant today as they were during Orwell's time.Thought
I will share these with you as I found them especially applicable to
technical documentation:
Clarity of writing usually follows clarity of thought. So think what you
want to say, then say it as simply as possible. Keep in mind, George
Orwell's six elementary rules ("Politics and the English Language", 1946):
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 out a word, 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.
Best
Raj
Courtesy: The Economist
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