# George Orwell's Six Rules for Writing 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 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. %% # Note-Making Principles: ## One Idea per Note - What is the idea? ## Written in Clear Language as if to a General Audience - Will future you understand this? ## Your Own Understanding - Write your own views in your own words ## An Explanation, Not a Description - It should answer the question “why” not just “what” ## How Does it Link to Your Existing Problems and Ideas? - What problems does it solve in your mind? - Why exactly are you interested in writing about this? ## What Further Questions Does This Note Spark? ## When Will I Ever Need This Knowledge in the Future? - In what context will I want to be able to access this information - (use this to determine keywords that make sense.) %%