Marvin Olasky, George Orwell, and Sheridan Baker on Writing

From Marvin Olasky; goes right to the core of good writing:

Here’s slightly overstated advice from George Orwell, and if you follow it 99 percent of the time you can find the joy of exceptions: “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 word 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.” (Essayist Sheridan Baker noted similarly, “Never use a long word when you can find a short one…. Pick up every sentence in turn, asking ourselves if we can possibly make it shorter.”)

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October 3, 2011 | Filed Under Writing | 1 Comment 

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