Six writing rules George Orwell taught me
Clear prose doesn’t just reflect clear thought - it forces it
At school, I was a slow reader and writing was a struggle. One of the first books I chose to read was George Orwell’s 1984. Its themes gripped me, especially the invention of Newspeak which revealed how language can shape, and even limit, thought.
I didn’t realise it then, but George Orwell was above all a political writer, fiercely committed to the integrity of language. For him, clarity wasn’t a stylistic preference; it was essential for clear thinking. As early as 1946, he warned that the decay of the English language was a creeping tragedy, bound up with political decline. Vague, bloated or euphemistic language, he argued, didn’t just confuse. It concealed truth, manipulated thought and eroded moral clarity.
But George Orwell didn’t stop at diagnosis. In his essay Politics and the English Language, he exposed the roots of linguistic decay and laid out practical tools to fight it. His six writing rules greatly influence my writing.
1. Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Overused phrases like toe the line or leave no stone unturned have lost their impact through repetition. Writers should strive to invent fresh imagery or, better still, say things directly.
Instead of tip of the iceberg say a small part of a much larger problem.
2. Never use a long word where a short one will do.
Clear communication beats inflated vocabulary.
Don’t say utilise when use will do.
Use “help” instead of “facilitate” and “buy” instead of “procure”.
3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
Most prose is bloated. Tight writing respects the reader’s time and keeps ideas sharp.
Bloated: Due to the fact that…
Trimmed: Because…
4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.
The active voice makes writing more dynamic and clear.
Passive: The meeting was led by Jane.
Active: Jane led the meeting.
5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
Complex or technical language obscures meaning to sound impressive. Good writing should be accessible.
Instead of: In vitro solution leveraging scalable architecture
Try: A lab-made fix that works at scale
6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
This is the safety valve: rules should serve clarity, not become dogma. If following them makes your meaning less clear or your tone less human, break them.
Clarity and honesty trump perfection.
Other resources
Literature - George Orwell video by The School of Life
Improving My Writing post by Phil Martin
Three Self Editing Tips post by Phil Martin
If thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought. - George Orwell
Discovering George Orwell’s six writing rules not only improved my prose, but also my thinking. Apparently, Animal Farm isn’t just about some talking animals.
Have fun.
Phil…
I disagree with everything