The chase, if you'll forgive the worn metaphor: > But one can often be in doubt about the effect of a word or a phrase, and one needs rules that one can rely on when instinct fails. I think the following rules will cover most cases: i. Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. ii. Never use a long word where a short one will do. iii. If it is possible to cut a word…
> iv. Never use the passive where you can use the active.
One example i see quite often is: "X has been widely criticized for Y", with no mention of either the critics or the argument.