Comments on: As I Was Saying…As I Was Saying…As I Was Saying http://iwassaying.net/2008/02/05/as-i-was-sayingas-i-was-sayingas-i-was-saying/ Chatter, memories and rants. Don't stop me if you've heard this one before. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:26:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Elizabeth http://iwassaying.net/2008/02/05/as-i-was-sayingas-i-was-sayingas-i-was-saying/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Elizabeth Fri, 08 Feb 2008 03:01:43 +0000 http://iwassaying.net/?p=5#comment-2 FYI: Here are Orwell’s rules for avoiding what he calls “prefabricated phrases, vagueness, and general humbug,” i.e. doughy lumps. They seem quite basic, but it’s hard for anyone, even the man himself, to write with that much integrity, like, all the time. (i) Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. (ii) Never us 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. Love, E FYI: Here are Orwell’s rules for avoiding what he calls “prefabricated phrases, vagueness, and general humbug,” i.e. doughy lumps. They seem quite basic, but it’s hard for anyone, even the man himself, to write with that much integrity, like, all the time.

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

(ii) Never us 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.

Love,
E

]]>