English writing style: Difference between revisions
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(Created page with "== George Orwell == * Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. * Never use a long word where a short one will do. * If it...") |
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* Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent. | * Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent. | ||
* Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous. | * Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous. | ||
== Murder Your Darlings == | |||
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Quiller-Couch Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch:] "Whenever you feel an impulse to perpetrate a piece of exceptionally fine writing, obey it — whole-heartedly — and delete it before sending your manuscripts to press. Murder your darlings." | |||
Faulkner: "Kill your darlings." | |||
[[Category:Editing]] | [[Category:Editing]] | ||
Revision as of 08:46, 15 November 2021
George Orwell
- Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
- Never use a long word where a short one will do.
- If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
- Never use the passive where you can use the active.
- Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
- Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
Murder Your Darlings
Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch: "Whenever you feel an impulse to perpetrate a piece of exceptionally fine writing, obey it — whole-heartedly — and delete it before sending your manuscripts to press. Murder your darlings."
Faulkner: "Kill your darlings."