Some simple guidelines to help write english essays /blogs better.
I had to write this up quoting George Orwell’s guidelines which i just read.
I have given examples to help you out. Please print it out, if it helps.
Himalayan times, English Daily in Nepal is is often hilarious to read because of the way their editors write their english. It needs some serious rescuing!
thehimalayantimes
this is the one of their headlines “Defence still a bone of contention.”
Here are simple rules on the way to writing better english.
i. Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
bad: I “stood shoulder to shoulder with” with tenzing.
better: I stood ‘besides” tenzing.
bad: I would like to take the pleasure in announcing our refreshing redesign of Exoticbuddha and humbly look forward to your grateful feedback.
good: Look at our ‘refreshing” redesign of exoticbuddha and I appreciate your feedbacks.
bad: I would appreciate it if you could understand our concerns and pay us in due time.
good: Thank you for paying your bills on time.
ii. Never use a long word where a short one will do.
bad: Nepal is a beautiful place with lots of adventures, treks and cultural wonders; i.e such as……
good: Nepal is a beautiful place. It is full of adventures, treks and cultural wonders. Places like…..
iii.If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
bad: On the other hand, i think he might just be right.
good: I think he might just be right.
bad: I like him very much so.
good: I like him.
iv.Never use the passive where you can use the active.
passive (bad): Mount Everest was climbed by tenzing and hilary on 1953.
active: Tenzing and Hilary climbed Everest on 1953.
bad (passive) : the bill should be paid on time. Otherwise you will be kept in our black list.
good (active): Please pay the bill on time. Otherwise we will keep you in our black list.
passive: You will find a lot of restaurants are run by local people in sherpa villages.
active: Local people run most restaurants in sherpa villages.
v. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
bad: The spring water in mustang tastes like “amrit”
bad: The “H2O”in mustang tastes……
bad: the spring water in mustang tastes like “virgin”
good: The spring water in mustang tastes like “nectars from paradise.”
good The spring water in mustang is “heavenly”
vi. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
these rules don’t work always. if you feel, something’s not right when applying these rules. .break them!
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