The following rules were defined by English novelist George Orwell (Eric Blair). They are the most concise aids to better writing that have ever been produced:
Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech that 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 voice 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.
McGovern, Gerry, et. al. 2002. The Web Content Style Guide. Pearson Education Ltd. ISBN 0 273 65605 8.
