On Wed, 3 Mar 2004, Michael Dawson -PSU wrote:
> Orwell and I disagree, in spades:
>
> 1. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are
> used to seeing in print.
> 2. Never use 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 [voice] 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.
>
The consistent use of these rules would consign almost all scientific research to the garbage can (check out a peer-reviewed physics or biology journal). --Or is this only meant to apply to "political" writing?
Miles