The Degredation of English

Orwell states that attempting to stimulate the reader by using dead metaphors is incorrect, so he subtly offers an alternative by changing his sentence structures. For example, he uses colons, dashes, or semi-colons periodically throughout the essay. Orwell specifically explains each flaw in the English language today in detail in the middle portion of the essay, giving fourteen examples of dead metaphors, and even more examples of false verbal limbs, pretentious diction, and meaningless words. Thus, Orwell's diction changes to be more precise and clear as to explain each detail to the reader, and impart as much textual knowledge as possible. Also, through his diction, he imparts his sense of loathing for thoughtless writing to the reader. Orwell uses words like "stuff- (491) and "specimens- (491) to point out bad writing, as if it is not writing at all. At the end of his essay, he creates six simple rules to follow in order to write more thoughtfully. His tone and diction soften to make the reader amenable to learning. Orwell combines the perfect amount of harshness and kindness in his tone and diction to indicate the importance of his topic to the reader while also educating the reader. .
             Orwell continually suggests that the political writing trends of today separate thought from writing. Orwell uses a humorous tone to exemplify his point. He ridicules politicians by suggesting that they rarely think when he says, "And this reduced state of consciousness, if not indispensable, is at any rate favorable to political conformity- (487). He further suggests that modern writing in general is created without thought by stating, "prose consists less and less of words chosen for the sake of their meaning, and more and more of phrases tacked together like the sections of a prefabricated hen-house- (483). Here, his critical diction is used to create a tone of dire need to improve upon modern writing.