Revisiting rules on writing

George Orwell, author of Animal Farm and 1984, in his essay "Politics and the English Language", had six rules of writing that I revisit periodically.

Published in 1946, the essay, particularly the six rules, remains useful and relevant.

i. Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.

ii. Never use a long word where a short one will do.

iii. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

iv. Never use the passive where you can use the active.

v. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

vi. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

The essay is where he famously said:

Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.

Still true today, don't you think?