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Cut clichés the Orwell way
In 1946, George Orwell wrote one of his most compelling works. No, not Animal Farm. Not 1984.
Rather, it was Politics and the English Language. I’ve linked the title in case you want to read the whole piece (and really you should if you’re interested in writing), but in the interest of time I’ll cut to the chase.
Orwell was a master wordsmith. He understood well how to use the English language. Orwell tightened his own message to a few salient points:
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.
My historical methods professor, Dr. Rick Rohrs at Oklahoma State, introduced me to Orwell’s essay in a graduate course in 1988. He called every dead metaphor, cliché, and overworked phrase an “Orwell.” I’ve continued that…
