A collection of notes on Writing.
I have only made this letter longer because I have not had the time to make it shorter.
Blaise Pascal, The Provincial Letters
writing knowledge
- Never use a long word where a short one will do.
- If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
- Never use the passive where you can use the active.
- Never use a foreign or scientific word, if you can think of an English equivalent.
- Never use a figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
- Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
