Comments on: Politics and the English Language http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/politics-and-the-english-language/ Reflections of a working writer and reader Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:06:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: kimbofo http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/politics-and-the-english-language/#comment-21623 kimbofo Tue, 09 Jan 2007 20:15:11 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/politics-and-the-english-language/#comment-21623 When I got my first journalism job in the UK back in 1998 my news editor gave me a copy of Orwell's rules to keep on my desk for reference and I have followed them religiously ever since. Now, as a mentor for newbies, I hand out the same set of rules, because I truly believe they help writers and sub-editors alike compose tighter, easier-to-understand copy. My favourite rule is 'never use a long word when a short word will do' and I am often heard muttering this when I have to proof pages filled with waffle!! <strong>jb says</strong>. It's always good to have someone around who lives with these concepts in the real world. When I got my first journalism job in the UK back in 1998 my news editor gave me a copy of Orwell’s rules to keep on my desk for reference and I have followed them religiously ever since. Now, as a mentor for newbies, I hand out the same set of rules, because I truly believe they help writers and sub-editors alike compose tighter, easier-to-understand copy. My favourite rule is ‘never use a long word when a short word will do’ and I am often heard muttering this when I have to proof pages filled with waffle!!

jb says. It’s always good to have someone around who lives with these concepts in the real world.

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