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 saying anything outright barbarous.
learn or die. greg