since you mentioned yesterday the 6 rules George Orwell advises to follow for Politics and the English Language,I decided to take a look at George Orwell's article “Politics and the English Language” and see how relevant it is to me. i found this article was both instructive and meaningful, and George Orwell was absolutely a great writer.
George Orwell criticizes that many individuals use language improperly. he points out the disgusting and inaccurate use of language in contemporary English prose and political area is not just a pain of empty language, but more importantly, will lead to vagueness, even lead to some wrong place, because of deliberate manipulation of meaning in political writing and contemporary English prose. He concludes that language can corrupt thoughts. Then he supports his argument with a solution of 6 simple advices( because the advices are so good, I'd like quote them here)
1. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
2. Never us 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.
It is great article, bear. very educational for me. even though my english writing skill is very limited, I can still feel Orwell's words are very inspriational. i aslo like the words by Orwell very much: "we have to let the meaning choose the word and not the other way around." If we follow Orwell's advice, I sure we can make our english writing more expressional and presentable.
his words also remind me of the phrase, "write to express, not to impress." . still remember, bear?
"語言是為人民服務的。" i don't know why i put your famous quote here? :)
George Orwell criticizes that many individuals use language improperly. he points out the disgusting and inaccurate use of language in contemporary English prose and political area is not just a pain of empty language, but more importantly, will lead to vagueness, even lead to some wrong place, because of deliberate manipulation of meaning in political writing and contemporary English prose. He concludes that language can corrupt thoughts. Then he supports his argument with a solution of 6 simple advices( because the advices are so good, I'd like quote them here)
1. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
2. Never us 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.
It is great article, bear. very educational for me. even though my english writing skill is very limited, I can still feel Orwell's words are very inspriational. i aslo like the words by Orwell very much: "we have to let the meaning choose the word and not the other way around." If we follow Orwell's advice, I sure we can make our english writing more expressional and presentable.
his words also remind me of the phrase, "write to express, not to impress." . still remember, bear?
"語言是為人民服務的。" i don't know why i put your famous quote here? :)
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