From George Orwell’s six elementary
rules (Politics and the English language, 1946).

1. Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure
of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
2. Never use a long word when a short one
will do.
3. If it is possible to cut out a word, always cut
it out.
4. Never use the passive when 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 saying
anything barbarous (well it was 1946).