Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Never use a long word where a short one will do.
If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
Never use the passive where you can use the active.
Never use a foreign phrase, scientific word, or jargon if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
La ultima, especialmente, vale oro.
Nunca sigas una regla tan ciegamente que no te des cuenta cuando estas pisando las tierras de lo ridículo, ilógico o injustificable.
Yo incluso la volvería una máxima genérica:
«Break any rule sooner than doing anything outright barbarous».
Con «outright barbarous» siempre siendo algo indeseable, claro.
como el comentario anterior tambien me parece que la ultima vale oro!