Use George Orwell’s six rules to improve your financial writing

George Orwell wrote an essay (Politics and the English Language) in 1946 where he explained his six rules for clear writing.

I’m sure he did not have accountants I’m sure he did not have accountants and auditors in mind when he wrote his rules but they are as relevant to writing about money as any other subject.

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.

When you’re writing a finance report don’t use clichés and pretentious language.