While I found the start of this article rather confusing even misleading from the title. I was too sure where the start was coming from. The evolution of English and how it changes over the centuries from say Shakespeare's time to the modern times with current slang. However the further I read I began to understand the building blocks he was trying to establish. However I think he contradicts himself by saying a good writer should get straight to the point of what he is trying to say and ask him/her -self if they did in fact get there the shortest way.
Here is my take on the fastest way to get to his point. Politics and politicians are to blame for the current poor use of the English language. This stems from the fact that politicians do not like to be pinned to absolutes and the best way not to get pinned in is to be as vague as possible in your speeches and answers to direct question. To not seem like one is doing that they fill it full of "incorrectly used metaphors or pretentious diction"
References:
Orwell, G "Politics and the English Language", 1946
