Principles of Good Writing — Orwell’s Rules (HSC SSCE English Advanced): Revision Notes
Principles of Good Writing — Orwell's Rules
Understanding Orwell's six rules
George Orwell's six rules for good writing form the practical core of Politics and the English Language. These principles transform his essay's abstract criticism into a concrete toolkit that writers can use to revive clear, honest language. The rules demand rigorous self-discipline and counter the linguistic vices Orwell diagnoses throughout his essay. For HSC students studying Module C, these rules provide essential guidance for mastering purposeful craft in your own writing.
Each rule targets a specific flaw in modern English prose while promoting ethical, precise communication. Together, they reveal an interconnected logic that can elevate your writing from mediocre to excellent.
These six rules aren't just abstract principles – they're practical tools you can apply immediately to your own writing. Each rule builds on the others, creating a comprehensive system for clear, honest communication.
The six rules explained
Rule 1: Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print
What this means: Avoid clichéd expressions that appear constantly in writing. These are called dying metaphors – phrases like "stand shoulder to shoulder," "swan-song," or "toe the line" that were once vivid and imaginative but have been overused until they became meaningless.
Why it matters: Stale phrases signal lazy imitation rather than genuine thought. When you rely on worn-out expressions, your writing loses its power to create mental images for readers. Orwell insists that writers should invent fresh comparisons drawn from personal observation to restore concreteness and vitality to their prose.
Example from the essay:
Orwell mocks the phrase "lightning conductor" (instead of "lightning rod"), urging writers to dig deeper and find fresh, more precise equivalents that truly communicate their meaning.
How to apply it: Before using any comparison or figure of speech, ask yourself: Have I seen this phrase many times before? If yes, search for a new way to express the same idea using your own observations and imagination.
Rule 2: Never use a long word where a short one will do
What this means: Choose simple, short words over complicated, lengthy ones. Latinate polysyllables (words derived from Latin with many syllables) like "expedite" or "constitute" inflate the writer's ego but hinder communication. Anglo-Saxon monosyllables (short, Germanic-origin words) like "speed up" or "form" cut through the fog of pretentious language.
Why it matters: This rule democratises language by stripping away pretentious diction. Long words often serve only to make the writer appear intelligent rather than to communicate clearly. Shorter words mirror the directness of thought itself.
Examples of simplification:
- Replace "commence" with "start"
- Replace "expedite" with "speed up"
- Replace "constitute" with "form" or "make"
The challenge: Orwell acknowledges that fashionable writing styles favour grandeur and complexity. However, brevity honours the spirit of clear communication and supports Rule 3 by naturally reducing excess.
Rule 3: If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out
What this means: Verbosity (using more words than necessary) breeds vagueness. Audit every word in your writing ruthlessly, eliminating unnecessary fillers and padding.
Why it matters: Economy enhances force. When you remove unnecessary words, your remaining words carry more weight and meaning. Your sentences become sharper and more powerful.
Common fillers to eliminate:
- "due to the fact that" → cut to "because"
- "in a very real sense" → delete entirely
- "the majority of" → cut to "most"
- "at this point in time" → cut to "now"
Orwell's proof: Throughout his essay, Orwell applies this rule surgically in his rewrites, sometimes halving sentence lengths while preserving full meaning. This demonstrates that economy truly does enhance force.
Connection to other rules: This rule interlinks with Rule 2 – choosing shorter words inherently trims excess and reduces wordiness.
Rule 4: Never use the passive where you can use the active
What this means: The passive voice obscures agency (who is doing the action), whilst the active voice assigns clear responsibility.
Why it matters: Passive constructions are a favourite tool of politicians and bureaucrats for evading responsibility. Active voice clarifies causality and adds vigour to your prose.
Key examples:
- Passive (obscures responsibility): "Mistakes were made"
- Active (assigns responsibility): "I made mistakes"
- Passive (hides the actor): "Bombs were dropped"
- Active (clarifies agency): "Government bombs fell" or "The government dropped bombs"
When to break it: Orwell acknowledges that the passive voice can occasionally be used for emphasis or specific rhetorical effects. However, he mandates active voice as the default choice, as it aligns with sincerity and clear communication.
Rule 5: Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent
What this means: Jargon and foreign phrases like "a priori," "de facto," "achieve 100% synergisation," or "phenomenon" alienate readers and create barriers to understanding.
Why it matters: This rule rejects elitism in language. Using specialised or foreign terms when simpler English words exist creates an artificial hierarchy between writer and reader. Accessible English combats the use of meaningless words that obscure rather than clarify.
Examples of simplification:
- "a priori" → "beforehand"
- "de facto" → "in fact"
- "achieve 100% synergisation" → "work together fully"
- "phenomenon" → "happening"
- "cinéma vérité" → "truthful films"
The principle: Always favour plain English equivalents that ground your discourse in language accessible to all readers.
Rule 6: Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous
What this means: No dogma – the rules serve meaning, not rigidity. If following any of these rules would create awkward, unclear, or genuinely terrible writing, violate the rule to preserve clarity.
Why this matters: This capstone rule ensures flexibility and prevents mechanical, robotic prose. If Rule 1 would force you to create an awkward alternative to a well-understood cliché, it's better to reuse the cliché than to write nonsense.
The balance: These rules are guidelines, not absolute laws. They should improve your writing, not constrain it beyond reason. Use your judgement to determine when breaking a rule serves your meaning better than following it.
The philosophy behind the rules
Orwell's bidirectional thesis
Orwell's rules enact his central argument: corrupt language corrupts thought, but disciplined craft can reverse this process. The rules transform writing from a passive act into an active moral choice. By following these principles, writers can resist the political and social forces that degrade language.
The pre-writing ritual
Orwell advocates interrogating yourself before and during writing:
Questions to ask yourself:
- What am I trying to say?
- What words express it?
- What image clarifies?
- Is the imagery fresh?
- Is this the plainest English?
This ritual turns writing into a conscious, ethical act rather than an automatic process.
Performative proof
Orwell doesn't just state these rules – he demonstrates them throughout his essay. He rewrites passages riddled with linguistic vices, such as transforming a 29-word passage from Hogben into the biblical clarity of "I returned, and saw vanity under the sun."
By applying his own rules mid-essay and acknowledging when he returns to earlier examples, Orwell models humility and demonstrates that these principles work in practice.
Rhetorical structure of the rules
Mnemonic rhythm
The numbered format with repeated anaphora ("Never... Never... Never...") creates a memorable rhythm. This structure ironically mirrors the cadence of political slogans whilst subverting their manipulative purpose. The repetition helps you remember the rules whilst the content teaches you to resist propaganda.
Strategic placement
Orwell presents these rules after diagnosing the problems in modern English prose. This placement leverages the momentum built by his examples and analysis, funnelling critique into practical action. The list's symmetry echoes his earlier discussion of four linguistic vices, reinforcing a sense of completeness.
HSC syllabus connections (2026)
Module C relevance
Orwell's rules directly support key HSC English Advanced outcomes:
- EA12-5: Demonstrates sophisticated language craft through precise, purposeful writing choices
- EA12-2: Reimagines texts through transformation and adaptation
These rules are perfect for responding to Module C prompts such as "Craft a persuasive piece on language reform, applying Orwell's principles."
Assessment application
You can create an audit matrix for your own writing:
Creating an audit matrix:
- Score each draft (1-6) according to how well it follows each rule
- Aim for 80% compliance across all rules for Band 6 quality
- Identify patterns in your weaknesses and target specific rules for improvement
Exam strategies
Paper 2 integration
Weave the rules into meta-commentary within your responses. For example:
Meta-commentary in action:
"Per Rule 4, using active voice exposes agency and responsibility, which is precisely why politicians favour passive constructions."
This demonstrates perceptive control and reflexive application – qualities markers reward highly.
Practice techniques
Rewriting exercises:
- Take excerpts from syllabus texts (such as Atwood) and rewrite them applying Orwell's rules
- Compare your version to the original, noting what changes and what stays
Timed trials:
- Write 750 words, then edit down to 650 using Rule 3
- Track how economy improves force and clarity
Thesis development:
Craft arguments that engage with Orwell's principles:
"Orwell's rules liberate voice from orthodoxy by prioritising clarity over convention."
Demonstrating mastery
Markers reward students who show reflexive application – using rule-honed prose whilst simultaneously demonstrating awareness of the rules themselves. Your confident application of these principles signals sophisticated craft and deep engagement with Module C concerns.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Avoid dying metaphors – stale phrases signal lazy thinking; invent fresh comparisons from personal observation
- Favour short words over long ones – brevity cuts through pretentious fog and democratises language
- Cut ruthlessly – every word must earn its place; verbosity breeds vagueness
- Use active voice – assign responsibility clearly rather than obscuring agency through passive constructions
- Replace jargon and foreign phrases – accessible English combats elitism and meaninglessness
- Break rules when necessary – meaning trumps dogma; never sacrifice clarity for mechanical rule-following