The Simple Way is Always the Best Way

As I was reading the essay by Orwell I thought about my British Lit class. One of the issues we discuss in class is the acceptance of the English language by the so called civilized world.  We have learned that the English language was considered barbaric and only to be used by the uneducated. It took champions like Chaucer to gain acceptance of the language from the rest of Europe not only as a spoken language but written as well.

I was fascinated by Orwell's argument that the English language was in decline. How can a language still growing be in decline? A language that just 600 years ago was largely unknown and rarely used has grown to be the most widely spoken language in the world. There is almost no where in the world that a person can go and be unable to find someone or more likely many people who do not speak English, however I do understand what he is trying to say.

When people attempt to write sometimes they will use overly complicated words that they do not understand or predictable phrases that require no effort on the part of the writer. He argues that some writers will attempt to use Greek or Latin based words where simple English words would work. I agree with him in this argument. When I write it can come across as overly simplistic with some seeing it as not at the correct intellectual level for a university student and perhaps they are correct.

I decided to go back to school for so many reasons and  becoming a better writer is at the top of that list but until I become an expert in this language I think I will stick with Orwell’s advice from the end of his essay, “(i) Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. (ii) Never us a long word where a short one will do.”