How to Use Archaisms
If you were writing a story which takes place hundreds of years ago, you would want to make characters speak in the language of that time, and that would require a lot of research to do correctly (and it is important that you do that correctly!) The same is true if you are writing a story including legal or religious language, which is often archaic.
- Write a normal sentence.
- Research to find archaic and appropriate phrases.
- Replace the modern phrase with an archaic one.
Example 1
For example, imagine you want to dramatically describe how hard you have worked.
Normal Sentence:
I hope that all my hard work will pay off.
In order to give this sentence an old-fashioned mood, use an archaism:
Sentence with an Archaism:
I hope that the fruits of my labor will serve me well.
Notice, that this also makes you sound pretentious.
Example 2
For a second example, imagine you are trying to be funny while describing a friend who is in trouble:
Normal Sentence:
She’s in trouble!
Sentence with an Archaism:
She’s a damsel in distress!
Using the archaism “damsel in distress” is funny because it contrasts with your normally modern and casual language, and makes the girl’s situation sound more dramatic.
When to Use Archaisms
Archaisms by definition, are not normally used. It is inappropriate or funny to use archaisms in most circumstances, as you would not be understood by most people. On the other hand, you can use them if you are writing in one of those areas of activity that uses them (mainly law and religion). Or, if you are writing fiction that happens in the past or to creating a world or feeling of ages past, such as the world of the Lord of the Rings (a medieval fantasy). In those cases, it is very important that you research the way those people really spoke or might speak.
You can also use archaisms in a modern context for many other purposes. If you put archaisms into a modern character’s speech, they may sound aristocratic, pretentious, or conservative. And if you put archaisms into the speech of a young American character, they will sound both pretentious and funny. Archaisms are usually what we call “high-style” and can be used to create many effects in literature.