5 Rules For Editing

Are you writing memos, reports, essays, articles, or any other work you share with others?

If yes! Then improving your writing skills is the most important thing you could do for professional growth. Writing in a clear and straightforward way takes practice, unlearning bad habits, and the advice in this Byte!

George Orwell's Rules for Writing and Self Editing:

1. Never use a metaphor, simile, or another figure of speech that 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. 😅

Let's test it!

Never use a metaphor, simile, or another figure of speech that you are used to seeing in print. They will be ignored or confusing to non-native speakers.

Examples!

• read between the lines

• play your cards right

• it's an uphill battle

• better safe than sorry

• you can't judge a book by its cover

• bring to the table

• low-hanging fruit

• the grass is always greener on the other side

  Can you think of any others?

Quiz: Let's test this:

A) How can I convey the hindrance to information absorption by utilizing complex grandiose nomenclature?

B) How can I explain how hard it is for people to learn when you use big words?

Unnecessary Text

• Wordy: For what it’s worth, I thought the movie was terrific.

• Concise: I thought the movie was terrific.

• Wordy: Needless to say, we won’t be returning to that restaurant. 

• Concise: We won’t be returning to that restaurant.

Repetitive Text

• Wordy: I personally would prefer to test the software before buying it. 

• Concise: I would prefer to test the software before buying it. 

• Wordy: The lost phone is blue in color. 

• Concise: The lost phone is blue. 

Extra Words

• Wordy: There were four candidates vying for the position. 

• Concise: Four candidates were vying for the position.

• Wordy: Make sure you approach the conversation in a careful way. 

• Concise: Make sure you approach the conversation carefully.

Sentences in the active voice have a strong, direct, and clear tone. Here are some short and straightforward examples of active voice:

Passive

• Bananas are adored by monkeys.

• The money was counted by the cashier.

• The squirrel was chased by the dog.

Active

• Monkeys adore bananas.

• The cashier counted the money.

• The dog chased the squirrel.

When reviewing your work or others remember to: