The golden rule for good writing is not a rule of grammar. It is true that there are rules of grammar, as in music there are rules of harmony, and that they are important, but one can no more write good English merely by keeping these rules than one can compose good music. The golden rule for good writing concerns not merely the arrangement of words but the choice of them. Only the right words can convey the right meaning: the secret is to pick those words and to use them and them only. For the 'right' words have a happy knack (a clever way) of arranging themselves for you. But, first, you must have something to say. Matthew Arnold once said: 'Have something to say and say it as clearly as you can. That is the only secret of style.' There is much truth in those words, especially in relation to the sort of writing where emotional appeal plays no part. We can turn to the member of the General Post Office who, by composing the notice 'Postal officials are neither bound to give change nor authorized to demand it.' used thirteen words hardly less efficiently to warn customers of what must have been as intractable (difficult to deal with) dilemma. Every word is exactly right no other word would do as well each is pulling its weight: none would be dispensed with. As was said of Milton' s prose. 'Fewer words would not have served the turn, more would have been superfluous.' The author's purpose is to persuade us that in order to write well, we should ______ .