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-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+jim -dot- pinkham=voith -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+jim -dot- pinkham=voith -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Jan Cohen
Sent: Monday, August 06, 2007 11:13 AM
To: poshedly -at- bellsouth -dot- net; Bonnie Granat; 'techwr-l'
Subject: Re: RE: Six elementary rules for writing good english
Is it possible the introduction to George Orwell's six "never's" cited
in this thread is not part of the original article in _the Economist_?
poshedly -at- bellsouth -dot- net wrote: Methinks the George Orwell quotation(s)
were written by a gentleman using the accepted rules of grammar for his
time period (first half of the 20th century). The use of commas, for
instance, was far more common. It seems that nowadays, we (as a society)
try to get away with as little as possible, i.e., cutting back on the
use of these little buggers.
For instance, the use of a comma after "mind" (in "Keep in mind
George...") is one of those fuzzy areas of the English language. When
used as a synonym for the word "and" (for instance, in a series of
objects separated by a comma), you're correct. But sometimes, the comma
is used to underscore the importance of what was just stated. As in this
case. (Oops! an incomplete sentence!)
Man-oh-man! You can TELL it's a Monday!!
For those who haven't yet heard about or read it, get yourself a copy of
"Eats Shoots and Leaves" by Lynne Truss. It's great!!
>
> From: "Bonnie Granat"
> Date: 2007/08/06 Mon AM 10:30:03 EDT
> To: "'techwr-l'"
> Subject: RE: Six elementary rules for writing good english
>
>
> There are several errors in the paragraph that introduces the list; I
> find it hard to believe that came from The Economist.
>
> They include:
>
> - "Thought I will share..." (should be "Thought I would share..."
> (It's okay to drop the subject "I" in e-mail, but only in e-mail.)
> - "as I found them" (should be "because" I found them)
> - "..want to say, then say..." (should be "...want to say, and then
say..."
> ("then" is not a conjunction)
> - No comma should come after "mind" in "Keep in mind George...")
>
>
> Bonnie Granat
>http://www.GranatEdit.com
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:
> > techwr-l-bounces+bgranat=granatedit -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> > [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+bgranat=granatedit -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l
> > .com] On Behalf Of Raj Machhan
> > Sent: Monday, August 06, 2007 7:46 AM
> > To: techwr-l
> > Subject: Six elementary rules for writing good english
> >
> > 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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