What Is Antiquated Language? (And How to Proofread It)
As people change and advance, so does language. English is no exception to that; some of its words stand the test of time, while others fall from favor and are replaced by new words. In today’s blog post, we’ll shed some light on antiquated language in English and how to proofread it.
What Is Antiquated Language?
When words in the English language lose their original popularity, they’re said to have become antiquated or archaic. This type of language is particularly common in proverbs, historical fiction, and certain parlance (e.g., religion and law). As words become antiquated, they also tend to become more niche, so reviving them is often difficult (although possible).
How to Proofread Antiquated Language
Antiquated language can still play a role in writing. It often possesses features that modern words do not (more on that below). As a proofreader, you should keep in mind four key things when dealing with antiquated language: context, correctness, acceptance, and consistency.
Context
First, shift your focus to the text surrounding the antiquated word or phrase, and try to establish its intended tone and message. Historical fiction authors will often try to get creative with words to add a flavor of history or even humor, in which case archaic language is fine. Some archaic words, such as deign and snow-broth, can also make it easier to denote a uniquely specific meaning, for which there might be no one-word alternative.
Correctness
Errors can occur when writers reappropriate antiquated language into their writing. On the one hand, if mistaken for a certain era, archaic language can mislead the reader. Imagine using icebox to talk about the early 1800s, when the icebox didn’t even exist! On the other hand, archaic words may very well follow old grammar rules; and this is where writers often slip up. As an example, you can only use cometh with a third-person singular subject, but some may try to use it with a plural.
The iceman cometh. ✔️
The henchmen cometh. ❌
Acceptance
Although an antiquated word is one that has long lost wide acceptance, you still need to check whether it’s listed by major dictionaries, such as Merriam–Webster and Oxford Dictionary, which label antiquated language as archaic. Google Ngram Viewer also comes in handy for checking archaic words. It allows you to compare the frequency of usage between different words, all the way from the 1800s onward. So, when you spot an archaic word, it’s important to know whether it’s still acknowledged.
Consistency
Consistency is a proofreader’s eternal byword. If a certain term feels out of place, check if it was used elsewhere in the document. If not, it’s best to reconcile it with the rest of the text by either removing it or changing it. Otherwise, if the term is used consistently, don’t be afraid to leave a comment and go back to your client to address this.
Becoming A Proofreader
A proofreader should be able to read between the lines. For a novice, this takes practice and, ideally, guidance. This is why you should consider our Becoming A Proofreader course. It not only covers grammar and modern usage, but it also offers expert tutoring support around the clock! And if you pass both our Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses with a distinction grade of 80% or higher, you’re guaranteed work with our partner company, Proofed. So, claim your free trial today and see what Becoming A Proofreader can do for you.
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