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One of the worst things about Orwell's prescriptivist tone is how he steadfastly refused to assume that any of his advice applied to himself. And that's a good
by grabcocque 10y ago
One of the worst things about Orwell's prescriptivist tone is how he steadfastly refused to assume that any of his advice applied to himself. And that's a good thing. His advice if followed would make anyone a less interesting, more lumpen and bland writer. Thankfully Orwell payed no attention to his own advice when writing.
Do as he does, not as he says, in this case.
- vixen99 10y agoHe followed his 6th rule: 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.
- yrro 10y agoThankfully! Rule 5, if taken too far, results in the dialect of English used in tabloid newspaper headlines.