Six Guidelines to Writing

Eric Blair aka George Orwell wrote an essay "Politics and the English Language" in 1946. Sadly he died 4 years later at the age of 47, but this wisdom is used still as a guide for modern writers.
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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 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.

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I just love the last point he makes. In his paper he says much about writers, mainly politicians, who use words to manipulate and obfuscate, but here he recognises the overarching importance of humanity and civility. He knew the power of words.