Orwell's Rules Orwell's Rules

Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Never us 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 phrase, scientific word, or jargon if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Never us 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 phrase, scientific word, or jargon if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

Edward Tufte's Presentation Rules Edward Tufte's Presentation

Rules Rules
Show up early: Something good is bound to happen. Show up early: Something good is bound to happen.
Lay out the problem:who cares about it and what the solution is. Lay out the problem:who cares about it and what the solution is.
When presenting complicated material, follow PGP (particular/general/particular). When presenting complicated material, follow PGP (particular/general/particular). Evil Metaphors and Phrases
Evil Metaphors and Phrases
When you talk, TALK: avoid the obvious reliance on notes. When you talk, TALK: avoid the obvious reliance on notes. on steroids
on steroids
Give everyone in your audience a piece of paper. Give everyone in your audience a piece of paper. think outside the box
think outside the box
Match the information density in your presentation to the highest resolution newspapers. Match the information density in your presentation to the highest resolution newspapers. longpole in the tent
longpole in the tent
Avoid overhead projectors. Keep the lights up in the room. Avoid overhead projectors. Keep the lights up in the room. stove pipe
stove pipe
Never apologize. Never apologize. the long and short of it is
the long and short of it is
Use humor, but make it relevant and never irritating. Use humor, but make it relevant and never irritating. the fact (of the matter) is
the fact (of the matter) is
Use gender-neutral speech. Use gender-neutral speech. reinvent the wheel
reinvent the wheel
Practice intensely beforehand. Practice intensely beforehand. open a can of worms
open a can of worms
Meetings have a very low rate of information transfer. Meetings have a very low rate of information transfer. talk off line
talk off line
Take questions, but NEVER condescend to the questioner. Take questions, but NEVER condescend to the questioner. herding cats
herding cats
Keep in mind that most questions arise from personal concerns. Keep in mind that most questions arise from personal concerns. same sheet of music
same sheet of music
Express enthusiasm about your material, but only if your enthusiasm is real. Express enthusiasm about your material, but only if your enthusiasm is real. at the end of the day
at the end of the day
Finish early. Finish early. to be honest with you
to be honest with you
on a weekly basis on a weekly basis
Orwell's Questions Orwell's Questions touch base
touch base
What am I trying to say? What am I trying to say? building bridges
building bridges
What words will express it? What words will express it? teach how to fish
teach how to fish
What image or idiom will make it clearer? What image or idiom will make it clearer? keep the plates spinning
keep the plates spinning
Is this image fresh enough to have an effect? Is this image fresh enough to have an effect? run it up the flag pole
run it up the flag pole
Could I put it more shortly? Could I put it more shortly? sooner rather than later
sooner rather than later
Have I said anything that is avoidably ugly? Have I said anything that is avoidably ugly? lessons learned
lessons learned
synergy synergy
Strunk and White: Principles Of Composition Strunk and White: Principles Of Composition zero tolerance
zero tolerance
Choose a suitable design Choose a suitable design self licking ice cream cone
self licking ice cream cone
Use the active voice Use the active voice not ready for prime time
not ready for prime time
Put statements in positive form Put statements in positive form showstopper
showstopper
Use definite, specific, concrete language Use definite, specific, concrete language barking up the wrong tree
barking up the wrong tree
Omit needless words Omit needless words holding feet to the fire
holding feet to the fire
Place yourself in the background Place yourself in the background the cart before the horse
the cart before the horse
Write naturally Write naturally goat rope
goat rope
Write with nouns and verbs Write with nouns and verbs ground truth
ground truth
Revise and rewrite Revise and rewrite devil is in the details
devil is in the details
Do not overwrite Do not overwrite break down barriers
break down barriers
Avoid qualifiers Avoid qualifiers food fight
food fight
Do not affect a breezy manner Do not affect a breezy manner bear fruit
bear fruit
Use orthodox spelling Use orthodox spelling sense of urgency
sense of urgency
Do not explain too much Do not explain too much dog in the fight
dog in the fight
Do not construct awkward adverbs Do not construct awkward adverbs with all due respect
with all due respect
Avoid fancy words Avoid fancy words utilize (prefer use)
utilize (prefer use)
Avoid dialect Avoid dialect low hanging fruit
low hanging fruit
Avoid mixing languages Avoid mixing languages slippery slope
slippery slope
Prefer the standard to the offbeat Prefer the standard to the offbeat straw man
straw man
work in a vacuum work in a vacuum
Evil Passive Verbs: Evil Passive Verbs: grease the skids
grease the skids
is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been, I'm, is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been, I'm, let a thousand flowers bloom
let a thousand flowers bloom
it's, he's, here's, she's, that's, there's, they're, it's, he's, here's, she's, that's, there's, they're, red herring
red herring
we're, what's, who's, you're we're, what's, who's, you're leaning forward in the saddle
leaning forward in the saddle
ahead of the curve ahead of the curve
Heinlein's Rules Heinlein's Rules crawl, walk, run
crawl, walk, run
You Must Write You Must Write cookie cutter
cookie cutter
Finish What You Start Finish What You Start
You Must Refrain From Rewriting, Except to Editorial Order You Must Refrain From Rewriting, Except to Editorial Order
You Must Put Your Story on the Market You Must Put Your Story on the Market
You Must Keep it on the Market until it has Sold You Must Keep it on the Market until it has Sold
Start Working on Something Else Start Working on Something Else