Politics and the English Language

Muddy thinking leads to muddy language, and muddy language in turn leads to even muddier thinking.

That's the central claim from Politics and the English Language.

Orwell writes that political language has become a tool for evading truth rather than revealing it. Politicians and writers use dying metaphors, inflated words, and empty abstractions to avoid stating positions clearly.

It is not just linguistic incompetence, Orwell says; it's intellectually and morally corrosive. Bad writing makes it easier to defend the indefensible (Orwell's example: British Imperialism) because vague language lets you avoid confronting what you're actually saying.

The essay, written in 1946, reveals how verbal manipulation works in practice. Bureaucratic constructions erase responsibility ("unfortunate incidents occurred" instead of "police shot protesters"). Sanitized language disguises violence ("relocation" for forced deportation). Canned phrases replace genuine thought ("stand shoulder to shoulder" instead of explaining actual policy). Through real examples from political writing of his era, Orwell proves that foggy language isn't accidental—it's a deliberate tool.

Orwell provides six concrete rules for clear writing: prefer short words over long ones, cut unnecessary words, use active voice instead of passive, choose familiar words over fancy ones, never use a metaphor you've seen in print, and break any rule before saying something barbarous. These aren't just style tips—they're tools for honest thinking.

And here is how students in the following majors can benefit from reading this 11-page essay.

Politics:

The essay teaches how to spot deception in speeches, government documents, and news coverage.

History:

It reveals how regimes use language to rewrite reality and justify atrocities.

Linguistics:

It demonstrates the real consequences of how we use words.