Why do some Joomla posts get shared and ranked, while others disappear online? The secret isn’t better SEO or more plugins. It’s better writing.

Good content starts with clear communication, and no one championed clarity better than George Orwell. In his 1946 essay Politics and the English Language, Orwell offered six simple and timeless writing rules that are incredibly relevant for today’s Joomla website owners and content creators.

Whether you’re writing a blog, an article, or even product copy in Joomla, applying these principles can make your content easier to read, more engaging, and more likely to be shared. Let’s look at how each of Orwell’s rules applies directly to your Joomla content strategy.

Rule 1: Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.

Avoid clichés. When you write “think outside the box” or “take it to the next level,” your readers tune out. These overused phrases feel lazy and uninspired.

In Joomla content:
When describing your services, plugins, or templates, don’t say “cutting-edge” or “next-generation.” Instead, use concrete examples:

“Our Joomla template loads in under 1 second and adapts perfectly to any screen size.”

Fresh, specific descriptions make your writing memorable and sound more credible.

Pro Tip: Use Joomla’s built-in Custom Fields or Tags feature to add specific details that replace generic language. This not only improves SEO but helps readers find truly relevant content.

Rule 2: Never use a long word where a short one will do.

Long, complicated words don’t make you sound smarter they make your readers work harder. Online audiences want fast, clear information. They have short attention spans.

In Joomla content:
Avoid words like “utilize” or “commence.” Instead, write “use” or “start.” This is especially important in your Joomla menu titles, module descriptions, and meta tags.

Remember: shorter words make for better UX (user experience). They load faster on the brain just like a lightweight Joomla site loads faster on the web.

Pro Tip: Many of your readers may not be native English speakers. Using fewer long words will help your reader understand.

Rule 3: If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

Online readers scan, not read. The tighter your writing, the longer they’ll stay.

In Joomla content:
Before publishing, cut every word that doesn’t add meaning. For example:

❌ “Our team is dedicated to providing top-quality Joomla development services that are designed to help you grow your online business.”
✅ “We build fast, secure Joomla sites that help your business grow.”

Pro Tip: Use Joomla’s Read More break strategically. It forces you to focus your introduction and makes your article preview concise and invites users to click and read the rest.

Rule 4: Never use the passive voice where you can use the active.

Passive voice hides the subject and weakens your message. “The form was submitted by the user” is less direct than “The user submitted the form.”

In Joomla content:
Write in the active voice, especially in calls to action and headlines:

“Download our free Joomla template today” sounds far more engaging than “Our free Joomla template can be downloaded here.”

Rule 5: Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

Every industry has jargon, but using too much of it alienates readers. You want to sound knowledgeable, not confusing.

In Joomla content:
If you’re writing a tutorial, avoid developer-heavy jargon unless your audience is entirely technical. Don’t say:

“Enable cache to improve front-end rendering efficiency.”

Instead say:

“Turn on cache in Joomla to make your site load faster.”

Rule 6: Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

This final rule is perhaps the most interesting and the most important. It’s the rule that breaks the other rules.

By “barbarous,” Orwell meant something awkward, ugly, confusing, or unnatural. It's writing that feels forced, stiff, or hard to read. His point was simple: it’s better to break a rule than to torture the English language.

In other words, Orwell didn’t want writers to become robots. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s communication. His six rules are meant to guide you toward clarity, not to trap you in rigid formulas.

In Joomla content:
If breaking a rule helps your message resonate or better match your brand voice, do it. For example, maybe you bend the rule about avoiding clichés because it fits your tone:

“We really do think outside the box — and inside Joomla.”

That’s okay! The key is intention. Don’t follow a rule so strictly that your writing stops sounding human.

Pro Tip: Read your Joomla articles out loud before publishing. If a sentence sounds awkward or too formal, it’s probably “barbarous.” Rewrite it in a way that feels natural and conversational. Your readers (and your analytics) will thank you.

So yes, Orwell’s last rule breaks the others, but for a good reason: clarity and connection always come first. Write for your reader, not for the rulebook.

How to Apply Orwell’s Rules in Joomla

• Use clear, active language in all your content.
• Edit ruthlessly. Less is more.
• Use Joomla’s SEO features (titles, tags, custom fields) to make concise, keyword-rich writing even more powerful.
• Always write for people first. Google’s algorithms now prioritize clarity and user experience.

The Takeaway

When you write with Orwell’s rules in mind, you don’t just create better prose, you create better user experiences. Joomla gives you the tools to publish beautiful, dynamic websites; Orwell gives you the mindset to fill them with content worth reading.

Great Joomla content should inspire action not just inform. When your readers find your writing clear, useful, and human, they’ll do what every content creator dreams of: they’ll bookmark your site and come back for more.

As George Orwell might say: Good writing is clear thinking made visible. In today’s digital world, clarity is your most powerful SEO tool.