Talking Squid recommends six rules for authors that, based on George Orwell’s rules for writers, aim to be succinct, robust, and practical without tying the writer’s hands. We ask that all contributions meet the same standards, even anonymous comments.

1. Never post anything libelous, defamatory, or slanderous.
2. Use wit, not venom, to criticise. Attack ideas, not personal characteristics. If you are not sure, sleep on it. No message has to be posted right now.
3. Check the spelling and grammar before posting.
4. Speak for yourself. Do not cut and paste large blocks of text. Do not post a link without comment. Do not crosspost from elsewhere.
5. Never post personal news of minor importance.
6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright tedious. Except Rule One.

And don’t forget Orwell’s rules for writers from “Politics and the English Language”:

1. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
2. Never use a long word where a short one will do.
3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.
5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.