Old English
Many people refer to any older form of English as “Old English,” but this is properly a technical term for Anglo-Saxon, the original language in which Beowulf was written. Norman French combined with Old English to create Middle English, one form of which was used by Geoffrey Chaucer to write The Canterbury Tales. By Shakespeare’s time the language is modern English, though it may seem antique to modern readers who aren’t used to it.
There are many “Old English” typefaces which have nothing to do with the Old English language.
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What does the Queen of Sheba have to do with Common Errors in English Usage? Paul Brians' latest blog post explains.
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