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Politics and the English Language

4.39 of 5 stars 4.39 · rating details · 559 ratings · 41 reviews

A collection of short essays by George Orwell:Politics And The English LanguagePolitics Vs. Literature: An Examination Of Gulliver's TravelsThe Prevention Of LiteratureWhy I WriteWriters And LeviathanPoetry And The Microphone

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Published 1946

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Feb 14, 2011 Paquita Maria Sanchez rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: truthiness

Want to be a super-intimidated goodreader? Well, then. I suggest that you consider writing a review about a brilliant novelist's essay tearing apart modern writing for all of its cliches, stylistic ostentatiousness/wordiness resulting in (sometimes intentional) vagueness, and every other linguistic foible you could ever imagine that you and I frequently (accidentally, in our case) commit. Oh, and this essay concludes with not only a detailed map of how you should be writing (bullet points and al...more

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Mar 07, 2013 Benjamin Martens rated it 5 of 5 stars

I came to this essay with the aim of purifying myself of the sin of bad writing. On various occasions my friends have turned away their faces in alarm from my private and public words, because they are, they say, grandiose, pretentious, confused and vague: reading me is like gripping a peeled fruit with both hands and trying to get to the seed in the middle by slowly pushing one's fingers through the slimy mess congealed on the periphery: it's highly unpleasant and something you’d rather leave t...more I came to this essay with the aim of purifying myself of the sin of bad writing. On various occasions my friends have turned away their faces in alarm from my private and public words, because they are, they say, grandiose, pretentious, confused and vague: reading me is like gripping a peeled fruit with both hands and trying to get to the seed in the middle by slowly pushing one's fingers through the slimy mess congealed on the periphery: it's highly unpleasant and something you’d rather leave to a person more adventurous.

My greatest trouble with completing the purge of sinful writing is letting go of arcane words. The use of esoteric language is a pleasure, like finding oneself locked in a secret pantry stocked with goodies only you can eat. But for fear of gorging myself into bad health, or of starving others of what could be good for them, it's important I let myself out; and as with any pleasurable experience, letting go of the object of pleasure can be a trial. The poet Rabindranath Tagore wrote that princely vestments are expensive shackles that prevent a person from getting dirty and doing any hard work. Likewise, the use of complex words might seem to require the power of a kingly intellect, but they result in the writer and reader being at a disconnect and not understanding each other--and if a writer is not understood it’s as well as if he’d not been read at all. Going about without your rich clothing might make you feel a little naked and shameless, but your being will be so much more forcefully comprehended for it.

In connection with politics and, as Orwell talked about, a rejection of orthodoxy group-speak, being easily understood has its obvious benefits. If you always shoot for the words which will be most readily understood by people on all sides, political conversations are less likely to devolve into the arrangement of fisticuffs and partisan castle-building. That is, instead of relying on stock phrases whose meaning might be known only by those who speak similarly, you should taboo your words and simplify all terminology into strings of commonplace words. For example, the political euphemisms Orwell mentions, such as 'pacification,' should be simplified to mean, e.g., 'the use of precautionary measures to quell violent resistance,' or, more simply, as 'killing rebels.'

Words that have multiple definitions and which are used often, such as 'democracy,' should be made taboo because discussions can take place where many people are talking about a nominal democracy with each person thinking of an entirely different thing. Each person should make clear what they mean by 'democracy,' by defining it before discussion begins as, say, 'government of, by, and for the people,' as 'majority rules,' as a 'benevolent dictatorship,' or as 'socialism' (because some people really do make the two concepts synonymous, and it’d be important to have that knowledge out). Of course, political mavericks who stray from party policy and smile off cue when they feel like it are actually very rarely found in politics, but if writing were clear, and intentions embodied in a written word that was pure, politicians would not be looked upon as glib quockerwockers whose tongues are silver as their suits.

There are only a few things wrong with this essay. First, Orwell doesn’t always commit to his rule of abstaining from the use of dying metaphors and pretentious diction, such as when he uses ‘flyblown,’ which is a term I can make no sense of, and in the line, "making the results presentable by sheer humbug," which to the reader unfamiliar with a particular work of Dickens, will, I assume, like me, be left in the dark to poke around for meaning with the butt-end of an aged firefly. But one can’t blame Orwell for being humanly incapable of crawling out of his mind and into another's. I take especial issue with the last of his six rules for good writing: can you provide an example of what it means for something to be "outright barbarous"? Is it something other than pitfalls you’ve helped us overstep throughout this essay? Under what circumstances should we think your rules bad?

These problems are few and mostly superficial. The power of Orwell’s advice is evident in this essay: the writing is clear, his images are vibrant and unique (“and yet his words, like cavalry horses answering the bugle, group themselves automatically into the familiar dreary pattern” Wow!), and one comes away with a store of practical advice that can be quickly put into practice. This is an excellent resource, one I’ve dog-eared for future reference when I feel the mould of postmodern sociological writing creep again into the virgin corners of my writer's mind. (less)

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Jun 28, 2012 Jane rated it 4 of 5 stars

"language as an instrument for expressing and not for concealing or preventing thought"

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Jun 02, 2013 Sam Quixote rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This pamphlet-sized publication contains George Orwell’s superb 1945 essay “Politics and the English Language” and his 1941 review of Adolf Hitler’s book “Mein Kampf”.

What seems at first a pedantic viewpoint of railing against bad language, grammar, and so on, like a 1940s version of Lynne Truss, becomes far more complex and thoughtful - while still being accessible to the general reader. Orwell objects to the bad use of the English language firstly as a writer himself and then moves onto a dif...more This pamphlet-sized publication contains George Orwell’s superb 1945 essay “Politics and the English Language” and his 1941 review of Adolf Hitler’s book “Mein Kampf”.

What seems at first a pedantic viewpoint of railing against bad language, grammar, and so on, like a 1940s version of Lynne Truss, becomes far more complex and thoughtful - while still being accessible to the general reader. Orwell objects to the bad use of the English language firstly as a writer himself and then moves onto a different kind of misuse of language - political language which deliberately utilises over-complicated words in an effort to mask its true intent.

At its worst, bad language, such as political language, can be used to manipulate events and ideas from sounding less heinous and corrupt than they are - he uses the example of the Soviet regime’s practice of murdering dissenters to remain in power.

“Political language - and with variations this is true of all political parties, from Conservatives to Anarchists - is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.” (p.20)

Orwell also sets out his rules for good writing which centres around his idea of simplifying language to make what you are trying to say more clear and understood to the reader.

The book review of “Mein Kampf” is interesting in itself, but also serves to underline Orwell’s point in the essay preceding it. Hitler manipulates language for self-serving purposes and ends which hide his true intent of bloody murder and a dearth of real thought. He also makes several intelligent observations, one of which is that Hitler was elected on a platform that was the opposite of Soviet Russia’s utopian ideals, revealing “the falsity of the hedonistic attitude to life” (p.23) that the West assumed was the object of most peoples’ lives.

Reading Orwell is like mentally breathing in fresh air on a crisp morning. The writing is superbly clear and direct, the ideas are fresh - still after so much time - and inspiring, and these essays are a reminder of why Orwell is such a revered figure in literature. Christopher Hitchens said it best: “Orwell told the truth”. Read some truth today.(less)

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May 01, 2013 Mark Rice rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Don't be put off by the word 'politics' in the title. This guide deals with language - spoken or written - and how to express oneself clearly in words. Orwell's rules of writing are as relevant today as they were when he wrote them, perhaps even more so in this age of grammatical vandalism. Using examples of vacuous political writing, Orwell critically shreds them, driving home the importance of clarity and specificity in language. To make his points, Orwell critiques shambolic political prose,...more

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Dec 15, 2012 Erwin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: educate-kids

Be specific. Illustrate your point. Compare these two passages.

Ecclesiastes:

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Modern English:

Objective consideration of contemporary phenomena compels the conclusion that success or failure in competitive activities exhibits no tendency to be commensurate w

...more

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May 23, 2011 Ethan Clark rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Ethan by: Poynter Online

Shelves: essays

I've always considered George Orwell to be a great author with his classic tales of Animal Farm and 1984, so I was pleased to discover other works of literature written by him today. At Poynter Online's behest, I looked up one of his brief essay to see just what exactly the dystopian novelist was warning against.

For a moment during the paper, it felt as if Orwell were speaking directly to me as he addressed the declining state of the English language. Condemning passive voice and the complicati...more

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Feb 16, 2013 Alan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It’s difficult for me to review ‘Politics and the English Language’, because reading it has made me so much more aware of the pretentious follies of modern English writing that I’m scared to fall into the traps that Orwell discusses here. This pamphlet (and at 24 small pages, “pamphlet” is a more accurate noun to use than “book”) reprints George Orwell’s essay on writing. Less in depth than Strunk and White’s classic style guide, but quicker to the point and, frankly, far more enjoyable, I think...more It’s difficult for me to review ‘Politics and the English Language’, because reading it has made me so much more aware of the pretentious follies of modern English writing that I’m scared to fall into the traps that Orwell discusses here. This pamphlet (and at 24 small pages, “pamphlet” is a more accurate noun to use than “book”) reprints George Orwell’s essay on writing. Less in depth than Strunk and White’s classic style guide, but quicker to the point and, frankly, far more enjoyable, I think this is as good as you’re going to get on the subject. While it was originally published in 1945, the vast majority of white Orwell writes is as relevant now as ever, if not more so, as ignorance is now the “order of the day” (a tired old term which Orwell, I’m sure, would have been none too pleased to have seen me use) in the mass media. Orwell sums up the situation surrounding the state of the English language thus:

“A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is happening to the English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.”

He continues, “Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which can spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble.” The rest of the essay is Orwell’s lesson to us about what we shouldn’t do, more so than what we should do. He uses typical examples to illustrate how full of clichés and pretention English writing has become. The discerning reader who takes these matters to heart will find it difficult to read a newspaper article again without being critical of the language being used.

The political side of ‘Politics and the English Language’ becomes apparent later on, as Orwell quickly discusses how politicians of all colours and affiliations use these clichés and formulas to fool the public. But this is not a “political text”. Rather, it is an essay about the English language, and politics is but one aspect which permeates through it.

This edition of ‘Politics and the English Language’ also contains a short review Orwell wrote of ‘Mein Kampf’ in 1940. It’s not so much a review of the book as much as it is a discussion on his thoughts of Adolf Hitler, which is probably all the better. A fascinating insight and I’m glad it was thrown in at the back.

A great read, over all. If only more people would read this, we could be a lot more proud of our newspapers and other supposedly “respectable” publications. But, now that it’s finally in print again, and at only 99p and coming in at just over 20 pages, there isn’t really any excuse for anyone who cares about English to not read this. Reminds me of why I got into linguistics in the first place.(less)

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Feb 25, 2010 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

You know when you stumble onto a passage in writing that articulates your thoughts for you better than you are able? In fact, helps those thoughts to grow to adult height? This essay was one of those for me, in its entirety.

It discusses our chronic lack of clarity in writing and the muddled and vague thinking unclarity props up. Now working in development, the essay feels like some combination of vaccination, antidote and prescription sunglasses.

An excerpt:
"Now that I have made this catalogue...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Wolf rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Words.

This is George Orwell's essay on how we use them and how they are abused. How politicians, academics, journalists and you and me not only fail to get our message across through them but conceal our meaning behind them, from others and from ourselves. Everyone should read it.

It is very short - only 20 pages. It is very easy to read. It will make you think. It will help you to spot poor thinking in others and it will help you to write and speak clearly.

Use of language is often called 'Orwell...more

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Jul 08, 2011 Carlo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Carlo by: Laura

Shelves: essays, politics, language, non-fiction

Orwell describes how language can affect thought. The essay is full of examples about how vague expressions convey much more unclear meanings than "simple" expressions, and how frequently used phrases can even do the thinking for you.

I believe what Orwell is talking about is true for more than just politics and for more than just the English language. Fictional and non-fictional writings are also suffering from the use of bad language. The two languages that I speak fluently (i.e. Armenian and...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Jonathon Murphy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: essays, language

(2013 Penguin Books edition)

Not really a book as such, but a 25-page pamphlet containing one essay and one book review. The essay concerns the decline of written English and the connection with the society that uses it: "[The English language] becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts." Included are Orwell's rules of good writing, which I should really give to some of my students! (Although I...more

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Apr 05, 2013 Cameron rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Orwell's short and amusing essay attacks the bad habits found in "modern English", such as pretentious words and meaningless metaphors. This pointless language is the kind you find in political writing and speech, where it is preferable to paint with broad strokes rather than fill in the definite detail. Foolish thoughts bring about ugly and inaccurate language, which in turn encourages foolish thoughts. Orwell holds that the process is reversible, if enough people would interest themselves in t...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Dan Sumption rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, language, politics

This essay is very short (20 pages, plus another 4 for the included review of Mein Kampf), but clearly explains how certain types of bad writing come to be, why they are bad, and how to avoid them. Before reading this pamphlet I had heard of Orwell's "six rules", but they make much more sense in the context of this essay. After having read it, I remembered so many things I had struggled to write clearly about in the past, and my failings became far clearer. I am certain that in the future I will...more

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Mar 23, 2011 Mariel rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: smithies

Recommended to Mariel by: Paquita Maria Sanchez

He may be on to something here.
I don't know enough about what everybody else is doing (my world is small). Living, dead, romantic- those words don't mean less to me. I'm in words training wheels. Feeling around in the dark. I'm not up to power. It's hard to find the right word when I'm forgetting words unless in context. How do I do context then? It's hard!
My ex told me once that "love" is not bandied about in Spanish as it in English. I take it for granted that it is understood I love pizza, f...more

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Jan 19, 2013 Tim rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A must-read essay by Orwell for anyone interested in the English language and politics (or political language) and how it is often abused, sometimes unconsciously. And it's only 20 pages, so it's not gonna kill you to get through it. The edition I bought, which came out at the beginning of 2013, is just a pamphlet published by Penguin containing only this essay plus a nice short review of Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' written by Orwell in 1940.

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Jun 06, 2013 Nisreen rated it 5 of 5 stars

One of the greatest essays I have ever read about the relation between language and politics. A must-read for writers, and any one interested in deconstructing political discourse.
Orwell's precise, clear and simple language is an example of how theoretical and political discourse should be rather than the meaningless and pretentious endless formations of misused jargon we encounter nowadays in newspapers and books.

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Jul 19, 2010 Jonathan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Orwell read my mind with this one. I have always hated political jargon for its vagueness. Orwell's idea of precise diction also applies to other fields. Diction is the only reason that we can't reach an agreement in fields like natural philosophy and economics. I don't like all of his work, but this was one of the best essays that I've ever read.

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Mar 04, 2013 Michael Mills rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As an editor and writer, Orwell makes me feel inadequate. The rot in language, he argues, is not neologism, Americanism or anything else about which people write letters to the Telegraph. It is a reliance on shorthand where thought is needed. The man's just scribbled "lacks application" at the bottom of everything I've written.

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Jan 24, 2012 Tai the Lioness rated it 5 of 5 stars

Uhhh there is no way in hell, I'm writing a review over a classic Writers essay on Why the English language is deteriorating! Read it! Be a better Writer/Reader. I doubt you will enjoy reading it. I know I wanted to gauge my eyes. However, It is thought provoking and helpful

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Jan 09, 2013 Tony rated it 4 of 5 stars

The essay has much to recommend it. I won't endorse every one of his preferences, but I've found myself ranting similarly against authors' and editors' resort to common but less precise figures of speech.

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Sep 02, 2012 Michael Page rated it 5 of 5 stars

If your interested in the craft of writing and politics this book of essays is a must read. Orwell lists his guide to good writing which should still be seen by writers as a gospel in this essay.

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Apr 06, 2013 Aline rated it 5 of 5 stars

Short and to the point. Won't be able to listen to 'management speak' or politician's speeches without a smirk ever again. Send Cameron a copy someone, for God's sake!

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Jan 09, 2011 Megan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: grammar-english-books

Anyone who writes, reads, or cares about the meaning of words needs to read this. It's freely available online, so you have no excuses not to read it immediately.

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Aug 17, 2012 Phil Beardmore rated it 4 of 5 stars

I always use the George Orwell test on any piece of writing. It's so easy to lapse into the habits Orwell describes in this essay.

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Apr 28, 2012 Joanna b rated it 5 of 5 stars

This should be compulsory reading (with a test afterwards) for anyone entering parliament.

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Jan 26, 2013 Steph Mulrine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I think I will read this again and again throughout the course of undertaking my PhD.

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May 12, 2009 Thomas rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: random-intrest, classics

Genius essay, if I said anymore, I would fall into the group Orwell is insulting.

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Jan 12, 2012 Kayria added it

Very thought provoking in a good way. Definitely recommend it.

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Apr 12, 2012 Reed rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: philosophy-ethics-politics

I would recommend this for anyone - especially college students.

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About George Orwell

Eric Arthur Blair, better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist. His work is marked by keen intelligence and wit, a profound awareness of social injustice, an intense opposition to totalitarianism, a passion for clarity in language, and a belief in democratic socialism.

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“A scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes, will ask himself at least four questions, thus: 1. What am I trying to say? 2. What words will express it? 3. What image or idiom will make it clearer? 4. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?” — 301 people liked it

“The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one’s real and one’s declared aims, one turns as it were instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish spurting out ink.” — 34 people liked it

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