We shall meet in the place where there is no darkness.
― George Orwell, 1984
In honour of George Orwell’s birthday today, here are his Six Rules of Good Writing and some of my favourite Orwell-themed finds from Etsy.
- 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.
(from Politics and the English Language, 1946)
Vintage edition of Animal Farm from BookBW
Animal Farm pig brooch by House of Ismay
1984 Vintage Dictionary Page by GlassLion Studio