Love this list! To me it’s also saying “less is more”. You don’t need to do overdo the use of language to get the point across. Keep it simple as long as you know how to craft a theme/argument
Orwell’s rules are not only for writing. They touch the deeper act of naming.
We are always naming things, not just on the page but in life. Each time we define, describe, or classify, we either illuminate reality or obscure it. Naming is where invisible pattern meets visible matter.
When language slips into jargon, it hides that meeting point.
This is also the problem with many scientific categories. They sound precise but often float above lived experience, disconnected from how things actually appear and work in daily life. The biblical view saw names as bridges between heaven and earth: Orwell saw plain words as bridges between thought and truth.
Both remind us that words are not decorations but symbols. They must be clear enough to let reality shine through.
As you note, to speak or write well is therefore to resist confusion. Orwell’s rules defend against the fog that arises when language no longer names things accurately. In that sense, they are a small restoration of Adam's original task in the garden.
Orwell’s rules are not only for writing. They touch the deeper act of naming.
We are always naming things, not just on the page but in life. Each time we define, describe, or classify, we either illuminate reality or obscure it. Naming is where invisible pattern meets visible matter.
When language slips into jargon, it hides that meeting point.
This is also the problem with many scientific categories. They sound precise but often float above lived experience, disconnected from how things actually appear and work in daily life. The biblical view saw names as bridges between heaven and earth: Orwell saw plain words as bridges between thought and truth.
Both remind us that words are not decorations but symbols. They must be clear enough to let reality shine through.
As you note, to speak or write well is therefore to resist confusion. Orwell’s rules defend against the fog that arises when language no longer names things accurately. In that sense, they are a small restoration of Adam's original task in the garden.
The scourge of passive voice is everywhere now. Almost every mainstream news article prefers it, as do everyday email communications. It is surely a reflection of our culture’s overwhelming preference to ignore blame or shame. Quite fascinating.
Great advice for writing with clarity and brevity. That said, the sciences require language so unique that looking up terms is essential for understanding and knowing the correct spelling. The difference in writing can come down to pairing the topic with the consumer. It seems Orwell’s gift was to connect the consumer with intelligible discourse between writer and reader. This he achieved as evidenced by his enduringly popular longevity.
Love this list! To me it’s also saying “less is more”. You don’t need to do overdo the use of language to get the point across. Keep it simple as long as you know how to craft a theme/argument
Fully agree, I hope my writing achieves this, but it's something I have to practice
For the top 1% club
Orwell’s rules are not only for writing. They touch the deeper act of naming.
We are always naming things, not just on the page but in life. Each time we define, describe, or classify, we either illuminate reality or obscure it. Naming is where invisible pattern meets visible matter.
When language slips into jargon, it hides that meeting point.
This is also the problem with many scientific categories. They sound precise but often float above lived experience, disconnected from how things actually appear and work in daily life. The biblical view saw names as bridges between heaven and earth: Orwell saw plain words as bridges between thought and truth.
Both remind us that words are not decorations but symbols. They must be clear enough to let reality shine through.
As you note, to speak or write well is therefore to resist confusion. Orwell’s rules defend against the fog that arises when language no longer names things accurately. In that sense, they are a small restoration of Adam's original task in the garden.
Calling things by their true names.
Orwell’s rules are not only for writing. They touch the deeper act of naming.
We are always naming things, not just on the page but in life. Each time we define, describe, or classify, we either illuminate reality or obscure it. Naming is where invisible pattern meets visible matter.
When language slips into jargon, it hides that meeting point.
This is also the problem with many scientific categories. They sound precise but often float above lived experience, disconnected from how things actually appear and work in daily life. The biblical view saw names as bridges between heaven and earth: Orwell saw plain words as bridges between thought and truth.
Both remind us that words are not decorations but symbols. They must be clear enough to let reality shine through.
As you note, to speak or write well is therefore to resist confusion. Orwell’s rules defend against the fog that arises when language no longer names things accurately. In that sense, they are a small restoration of Adam's original task in the garden.
Calling things by their true names.
This list is helpful in legal writing, too.
Nobody has time to process convoluted sentences, especially judges and colleagues.
The scourge of passive voice is everywhere now. Almost every mainstream news article prefers it, as do everyday email communications. It is surely a reflection of our culture’s overwhelming preference to ignore blame or shame. Quite fascinating.
Good stuff!
Great advice for writing with clarity and brevity. That said, the sciences require language so unique that looking up terms is essential for understanding and knowing the correct spelling. The difference in writing can come down to pairing the topic with the consumer. It seems Orwell’s gift was to connect the consumer with intelligible discourse between writer and reader. This he achieved as evidenced by his enduringly popular longevity.