Sophie
Is it Okay to use a little bit archaic words in academic writing? Words like: Whence, thereto, therethrough, withal, thence, etc. I don’t why but these words seem more charming than contemporary words. If you have noticed, I am referring only to cohesive ties or connectors.
4 déc. 2019 10:19
Réponses · 5
1
Generally, no. Whence, thereto, and thence might be OK in a suitable subject. Perhaps English literature, and I think that sometimes Law uses archaic terms. But if you used them in something modern like an engineering paper, your editor would hopefully laugh, before sending it back for correction. But therethrough and withal are not 'a little bit archaic'. They are just weird. I don't think I have ever seen them used. Most people would have no idea what you were trying to say. Also 'a little bit archaic words' is not natural. You could say 'words that are a little bit archaic' or 'slightly archaic words'.
4 décembre 2019
As Gary says, no.
4 décembre 2019
'therethrough' I have never heard used. Unlike Gary I don't think 'withal' is weird. I can see why you might find these words charming, and they definitely have their use in writing, but in speech they would never ever be used.
4 décembre 2019
Vous n'avez pas encore trouvé vos réponses ?
Écrivez vos questions et profitez de l'aide des locuteurs natifs !