Orwell's argument is that today's English is very much like political writing. Political writing is the same, it has some variation between parties but generally it is the same. English is decaying by the uses of words and phrases that lack real meaning and by its incorrect use. Many of this words and clichés have been so overused that they lack the real meaning they were intended to have. According to Orwell: "What is above all needed is to let the meaning choose the word, and not the other way around."
Irony is shown when Orwell ends the paragraph of Operators Or Verbal False Limbs with so on and so forth after criticizing these type of phrases. Another case of irony is when he starts to use political writing after saying it to be a bad way of writing.
Dying Metaphors: Dying Metaphors are worn out metaphors which have lost their initial meaning. These are used to save people the time and trouble of creating a new phrase.
Pretentious Diction: Pretentious Diction are words and phrases in writing that are used to show higher knowledge in the subject. The use of scientific words to show that you are a scientist when you can use normal words is an example.
Meaningless Words: Words that have no real meaning and are overused. These words lack a concrete and clear meaning that can mislead the reader. One example of this is democracy because it doesn't have a concrete meaning it is more a collection of meanings.
- Use words that have concrete meaning.
- Avoid using already used metaphors.
- Be original.
- Use short words instead of lengthy ones.
- Use common English.
- Cut out unneeded words.
- Use active voice.
- Use phrases and words that are precise.
- Let the meaning choose the word, not the other way around.
- Avoid using foreign words, scientific words and jargons.
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