How to Avoid Anachronism: Keeping History Accurate.

Imagine a Roman centurion checking his smartphone, or a medieval knight debating economic policy with the jargon of a modern-day CEO. The clanging sound in your mind isn’t just a misstep; it’s an anachronism – a chronological inconsistency that jolts your audience out of the historical world you’re trying to build.

For writers, historical accuracy isn’t just about getting dates right; it’s about crafting a believable, immersive experience. Anachronisms shatter that illusion, undermining your credibility and diminishing your narrative’s power. This isn’t just about historical fiction; it applies to fantasy with historical analogs, or even contemporary stories referencing the past. Avoiding these temporal glitches is paramount to creating resonant, authentic stories. This guide provides actionable strategies, delving deeply into the nuances of historical accuracy, offering concrete examples, and equipping you with the tools to meticulously craft worlds that stand the test of time.

Understanding the Enemy: Types of Anachronism and Their Impact

Before we can combat anachronism, we must identify its various forms and understand the damage each can inflict. It’s more than just a wrong date; it’s a subtle intrusion of the present into the past, or vice versa, that shatters verisimilitude.

Technological Anachronism: The Obvious Offenders

These are often the easiest to spot and the most jarring. They involve the introduction of technology, inventions, or tools that simply didn’t exist in the historical period you’re portraying.

• Example: A character in 17th-century Boston using a “flashlight” to navigate a dark alley.
  • Correction: Flashlights, as battery-powered devices, were invented much later. Stick to candles, lanterns, or torches. Describe the quality of light – flickering, smoky, casting deep shadows.
• Example: A medieval monarch dictating a “tweet” to his scribe.
  • Correction: This is extreme for illustrative purposes, but highlights the point. The concept of instant, widespread communication as we understand it is entirely modern. Consider messengers, town criers, or official decrees nailed to a post.
• Actionable Strategy: Create a timeline of key inventions and their widespread adoption. Don’t just know when something was invented; know when it became commonplace and accessible. For instance, while some forms of spectacles existed in the late Middle Ages, they weren’t ubiquitous. Early photography in the 19th century was expensive and cumbersome; don’t have a peasant woman snapping selfies. Research the practical limitations and societal context of technology.

Cultural Anachronism: The Subtler Erosion

These are more insidious because they involve mindsets, social norms, leisure activities, or artistic styles that are imported from a different era. They reveal a modern sensibility in historical garb.

• Example: Roman gladiators “high-fiving” after a victory.
  • Correction: This modern gesture didn’t exist. Consider established Roman forms of salutation or celebration – a raised fist, a bow, a specific chant from the crowd.
• Example: A Victorian-era woman openly discussing her “career path” in the same terms as a modern professional.
  • Correction: While women worked, their societal roles and aspirations were vastly different. Her focus might be on marriage, managing a household, or charity work, and her “career” would be framed within those constraints, perhaps as a governess or seamstress, but not as an independent, upwardly mobile professional in the modern sense. The language itself would lack the modern corporate lexicon.
• Actionable Strategy: Immerse yourself in primary sources like diaries, letters, pamphlets, and period literature. This helps you internalize the worldview of the time. What did people value? What were their fears? How did they view concepts like honor, family, love, or justice? Be wary of projecting modern psychology or social movements onto the past.

Linguistic Anachronism: The Dialogue That Breaks the Spell

Modern slang, idioms, or turns of phrase injected into dialogue or narration set in a bygone era are immediate immersion-breakers. This extends beyond just vocabulary to sentence structure and rhetorical patterns.

• Example: A character in Shakespearean England saying, “That’s totally awesome!”
  • Correction: Obvious. “Awesome” as a general descriptor of approval is a modern usage. Replace with period-appropriate exclamations like “By my troth!”, “Marvellous!”, “Wondrous!”, or “Verily, that is grand!”
• Example: A Civil War soldier complaining, “This situation sucks, man.”
  • Correction: “Sucks” in this colloquial sense is modern. “Man” as a casual address is also problematic. Consider “This is a hellish fix,” or “This predicament is dire.” Focus on sentence structure – 19th-century dialogue often used more formal, complex sentences even in casual speech.
• Actionable Strategy: Read period literature extensively. Not just the famous works, but also less formal texts like personal letters or historical records, to grasp the rhythms and vocabulary of everyday speech. Use a historical dictionary (e.g., Oxford English Dictionary’s historical entries) to check word origins and their common usage within your specific period. Be especially cautious with adverbs and colloquialisms.

Costume and Appearance Anachronism: The Visual Flaw

These are the errors visible to the mind’s eye, often stemming from popular media depictions rather than genuine historical research.

• Example: A 16th-century peasant woman with perfectly clean, styled hair and impeccable teeth.
  • Correction: Hygiene was different. Hair would likely be covered, often greasy, and teeth would show signs of wear or decay depending on diet. Focus on the reality of daily life – rough fabrics, calloused hands, sun-weathered skin.
• Example: Medieval knights in full plate armor engaging in nimble, acrobatic combat.
  • Correction: Full plate armor was heavy but surprisingly flexible, allowing for significant movement, but not the gravity-defying feats often portrayed. Research historical combat manuals and the actual weight and articulation of period armor. Focus on efficient, powerful, and often wrestling-based combat.
• Actionable Strategy: Consult historical fashion plates, museum exhibits (virtually or in person), and academic texts specifically on period clothing and grooming. Don’t rely solely on Hollywood. Consider the practicalities: how did people keep warm? How did they clean clothes? What materials were available and affordable?

Geographic/Environmental Anachronism: Misplacing the World

These involve errors in landscape, flora, fauna, or urban development that didn’t exist in the specified time period.

• Example: A character in ancient Rome gazing at the “Colosseum’s majestic ruins.”
  • Correction: During ancient Rome, the Colosseum was new and in use, not a ruin. It would be vibrant, noisy, and complete. Describe its fresh construction, its marble gleaming, the sounds of the crowds.
• Example: A pioneer family in 18th-century North America encountering “eucalyptus trees” in the forest.
  • Correction: Eucalyptus is native to Australia and was not introduced to North America until much later. Research native plant and animal species for your specific region and period. What kind of trees, wildflowers, or animals would they have truly seen?
• Actionable Strategy: Use historical maps to understand city layouts and geographical features. Research native botany and zoology for your chosen region and period. Consider climate conditions; rivers might have different courses, coastlines might have shifted, and certain animals might have been abundant or extinct.

The Pillars of Prevention: Actionable Research and Writing Practices

Avoiding anachronism isn’t just about spotting errors; it’s about embedding a meticulous research process into your writing workflow. It’s a proactive strategy.

1. Deep Dive into Primary Sources: The Gold Standard

Relying solely on secondary sources (books about history) is helpful, but primary sources (documents from the period) offer unparalleled insight.

• Actionable Strategy:
  • Letters and Diaries: Offer intimate glimpses into daily life, personal attitudes, and the nuances of language. Don’t just skim for plot points; read for tone, idiom, and underlying assumptions.
  • Government Documents, Laws, and Decrees: Reveal societal structures, legal limitations, and established norms. How were crimes punished? What taxes were levied? Who held power?
  • Newspapers and Periodicals: Provide windows into current events, public opinion (as shaped by the press), advertisements (showing what was for sale and consumer trends), and popular culture. Be aware of the biases inherent in historical reporting.
  • Period Literature, Plays, and Poetry: Beyond plot, these offer insights into accepted social behaviors, moral codes, common superstitions, and aesthetic preferences. How were men and women portrayed? What was considered heroic or villainous?
  • Visual Sources: Paintings, engravings, photographs (if applicable), architectural plans, and archaeological finds show you what things looked like. A painting of a room from the 17th century can be more informative than a thousand words about furniture arrangement and décor.
  • Example Application: Rather than having a character in 1800s London walk into a generic “shop,” consult old business directories or engravings. You might discover they had specific shops for different goods – apothecaries, haberdashers, chandlers – each with its own smell, clientele, and etiquette. This detail builds authenticity.

2. Embrace the “Triple-Check” Rule for Objects and Concepts

Never assume commonality or existence. For any object, technology, or even abstract concept, ask yourself:

• Did it exist? (The invention/discovery date)
• Was it widely adopted/understood by this social class/region? (Accessibility, cost, education)
• Was it understood/used in the same way? (Semantic evolution, cultural context)

• Example Application: You want a character in Tang Dynasty China to wear “comfortable cotton clothes.”

  • Check 1 (Existence): Cotton existed, but was it common in Tang China?
  • Check 2 (Adoption): Research reveals silk and hemp were dominant. Cotton was known but not widespread until later dynasties, and often used by poorer classes for specific items.
  • Check 3 (Usage): “Comfortable” is subjective. What was considered comfortable in that period? The loose, flowing robes of silk or linen might have been described differently than modern Western cotton wear.
  • Correction: Adjust the fabric to silk or hemp for wealthier characters, or specify coarse cotton for the poor. Describe the feel and drape of the fabric rather than applying a modern descriptor like “comfortable” without qualification.

3. Build a Period-Specific Lexicon

Create a personalized dictionary of words, phrases, and concepts that were common in your chosen era, and conversely, a list of modern terms to avoid.

• Actionable Strategy:
  • Historical Dictionary: Invest in or access a historical dictionary (like the OED’s historical entries, or specialized glossaries for specific periods). Look up words you’re unsure about. You might be surprised when terms like “okay,” “hello,” or “picnic” actually came into common usage.
  • Thesaurus with Caution: A modern thesaurus can be an enemy. While it offers synonyms, it doesn’t indicate historical usage. Always double-check.
  • Period-Specific Terminology: Learn the names of common tools, professions, social roles, currency, units of measurement, and architectural features. Don’t just say “carriage”; specify “hackney coach,” “phaeton,” or “berlin.” The specificity adds authenticity.
  • Example Application: A character in the American Wild West is described as having “PTSD.”
  • Correction: While people certainly suffered from trauma, the concept and terminology of “PTSD” are modern. Focus on describing the symptoms rather than naming a condition that didn’t exist in their lexicon. Phrases like “battle fatigue,” “shell shock,” or “melancholy” might have been used, or simply concrete descriptions: “He often woke screaming,” “He flinched at loud noises,” “His eyes held a distant, haunted look.”

4. Create Detailed Character Biographies and World Bibles

Meticulous planning helps preempt anachronisms. If you know your character inside and out within their historical context, you’re less likely to make them act or speak out of turn.

• Actionable Strategy:
  • Character Social Stratification: Detail their social class, education level, religious beliefs, regional dialect, and political leanings. A London merchant in 1660 will speak, think, and act differently from a Scottish Highlander in 1660, or a French peasant woman. These factors profoundly shaped worldview and behavior.
  • Daily Life Outline: Map out a typical day for your character(s). What did they eat? How did they prepare it? Where did they relieve themselves? How did they travel? What were their leisure activities? This grounds them in the reality of the period.
  • World Bible/Wiki: Document every detail of your historical setting: currency, weights and measures, political figures, prominent families, major events, common diseases, agricultural practices, prevailing philosophies, popular entertainment, fashion trends, and even soundscapes (what noises would they hear regularly?).
  • Example Application: You’re writing about a 1920s flapper.
  • Correction: Don’t just give her a short dress. Detail her specific hair bob, her preferred dance (Charleston), the slang she uses (“swell,” “cat’s pajamas”), the speakeasies she frequents, her attitude towards prohibition, and the specific societal struggles she might face as an independent woman within the context of the era – not as a modern woman with 21st-century freedoms.

5. Research “Hidden” or Unobvious Aspects of Life

Beyond the grand political events, focus on the mundane but fundamental aspects of daily existence.

• Actionable Strategy:
  • Hygiene: How did people bathe? How often? What kind of soap did they use (if any)? How were clothes cleaned? What were latrines like?
  • Food and Drink: What was the typical diet? How was food preserved? Was water safe to drink? What were common beverages? Spices were precious, fresh produce seasonal. Don’t have characters eating tomatoes in medieval England (they were from the Americas and slow to be adopted).
  • Medical Practices: What were common illnesses? What treatments were available? What was the understanding of the human body and disease? Avoid modern medical terminology or knowledge.
  • Light and Soundscape: What sources of artificial light existed? How dark was it at night? What were the dominant sounds of the city or countryside before industrialization? Horse hooves, street cries, church bells, animal noises, silence.
  • Example Application: A character in the 18th century is described as visiting a “hospital” for a routine illness.
  • Correction: Hospitals as we know them (clean, dedicated to healing) are a relatively modern development. 18th-century “hospitals” were often more like poorhouses, workhouses, or places where the terminally ill or destitute went to die. For routine illness, a person would likely consult an apothecary, a barber-surgeon, or simply rely on home remedies.

6. The “So What?” Test for Deliberate Anachronism

Sometimes, anachronisms are intentionally deployed for stylistic effect (comedy, satire, thematic resonance). If you choose this path, it must be a conscious, justified decision, not an oversight.

• Actionable Strategy:
  • Ask Yourself: Does this anachronism serve a clear narrative purpose? Does it highlight a particular theme? Is it consistently applied (or inconsistently for specific effect)? Does it pull the reader out of the narrative in a productive way (e.g., for humor or critical commentary), or simply due to carelessness?
  • Be Prepared for Backlash: Even deliberate anachronisms can alienate some readers who prioritize strict accuracy. Know your audience and your artistic intent.
  • Example Application: A character in ancient Greece wearing a pair of sneakers.
  • Question: Why? If it’s a comedic play about modern sensibilities in ancient times, fine. If it’s a serious historical drama, it’s an unpardonable sin. The reason for the anachronism must be stronger than the disruption it causes.

The Revision Process: Scrubbing Away the Timeline Trespassers

After the creative flow, comes the critical eye. Revision is where most anachronisms are caught and eliminated.

1. Dedicated “Anachronism Sweep” Pass

Don’t just edit for plot and prose. Dedicate specific passes solely to rooting out temporal inconsistencies.

• Actionable Strategy:
  • Word by Word: Read meticulously, asking: “Could this word exist then?” “Is this phrasing authentic?”
  • Concept by Concept: Scrutinize every idea, action, or object. Could this social norm apply? Is this technology plausible?
  • Sensory Details: Are the sights, sounds, smells, and textures accurate for the period? Do people experience the world through period-appropriate senses?
  • Example Application: During this pass, you might notice a character “checking their watch” in the 16th century.
  • Correction: Personal, portable watches became widely available much later. They would use sundials, church bells, or hourglasses to tell time.

2. Utilize Sensitivity Readers or Historical Experts

If budget and resources allow, engaging a professional historian or an expert in your specific period can be invaluable.

• Actionable Strategy:
  • Targeted Feedback: Ask them specifically to look for anachronisms in dialogue, technology, social customs, and specific details.
  • Question and Learn: Don’t just accept corrections; ask why something is anachronistic. This deepens your own understanding for future projects.
  • Example Application: A historian might point out that while a certain type of weapon existed, its method of use by the character is inconsistent with historical fighting styles. They could suggest adjustments that enhance realism.

3. Read Aloud for Dialogue and Tone

Reading dialogue aloud often highlights awkward or anachronistic phrasing that the eye might skim over.

• Actionable Strategy:
  • Listen for Modernity: Does it sound like a person from that time period would actually speak? Does it sound too contemporary, too informal, or too academic for the time?
  • Rhythm and Flow: Historical dialogue often has a different rhythm and flow than modern conversation. It might be more formal, more declamatory, or use different sentence structures.
  • Example Application: A quick, witty back-and-forth between two characters in 18th-century rural America might sound too much like a modern sitcom.
  • Correction: Slow down the dialogue. Inject more formal language (even among common folk). Reflect the more deliberate pace of communication before instant media.

4. Create an Anachronism Checklist

Develop a personal checklist based on common pitfalls and your specific period’s nuances.

• Actionable Strategy:
  • Tech Traps: (e.g., “Any electricity/electronics?”, “Any modern plastics?”, “Any motorized vehicles?”)
  • Linguistic Lapses: (e.g., “Any modern slang?”, “Any business jargon?”, “Any therapeutic/psychological terms?”)
  • Social Slip-ups: (e.g., “Are gender roles accurate?”, “Are class interactions realistic?”, “Are political views consistent with the era?”)
  • Visual Verdicts: (e.g., “Are clothes/hairstyles accurate?”, “Are buildings/street scenes appropriate?”)
  • Example Application: Your checklist reminds you to specifically check for mentions of coffee houses (when did they become common in that specific city?), or the use of forks (when did they become widespread, even common, in that specific culture?).

The Ultimate Goal: Believable Immersion, Not Pedantry

The ultimate goal of avoiding anachronism isn’t to create a dry historical treatise, but to build a world so convincing that your reader forgets they are reading and truly experiences the past. It’s about respecting the past and the intellect of your audience. Every anachronism, no matter how small, is a crack in the carefully constructed facade you’ve built, allowing the cold air of the present to seep in and break the spell. By diligently applying these strategies, writers can ensure their historical narratives are not merely accurate, but profoundly authentic and powerfully transportive. The painstaking work of historical research and revision is an investment in your story’s integrity and its lasting impact.