Early Modern English

Early Modern English, also called Early New English, was a transformative era for the English language. It spanned from the late 15th century through the mid-to-late 17th century. This period covers the Tudor era, the Elizabethan era, and the Restoration. Many people colloquially refer to this stage as Shakespearean English or King James' English.

It served as a vital bridge between the older Middle English and the Modern English we use today. While Middle English had massive dialectical variations, Early Modern English moved toward a more standardized form. This transition allowed for the creation of an established literary canon that remains influential today.

The standardization of English was driven by several key mechanisms, most notably the rise of printing. In 1476, William Caxton began printing in Westminster. His work reflected various styles and dialects used by original authors. By 1491 or 1492, Richard Pynson began printing in London. Pynson often utilized the Chancery Standard, which was the specific form of English used by the government. In 1509, Pynson became the official printer for the king. These printing developments helped move the language away from local dialects toward a more unified written standard.

Religious texts played a massive role in how people learned and used the language. The Great Bible, published in 1539, was the first officially authorized Bible in English. It was edited by Myles Coverdale and used much of William Tyndale's earlier work. Because this Bible was read regularly in congregations, it familiarized the population with a standard form of English. Similarly, the Book of Common Prayer, supervised by Thomas Cranmer, standardized the wording of church services. Some scholars argue that the repetitive use of this prayer book standardized English even more than the King James Bible did.

Different eras within this period saw unique literary and cultural shifts. The Elizabethan era (1558–1603) was a time of great expansion. During this time, the Geneva Bible was published, which was favored by Puritans for its forceful language. The Jacobean era (1603–1625) followed the accession of James I. This era saw the publication of Shakespeare's sonnets in 1609 and the King James Version of the Bible in 1611. The Caroline era and the English Civil War (1625–1649) brought social upheaval. Later, the Interregnum and Restoration periods saw the rise of important eyewitness accounts, such as the diary of Samuel Pepys starting in 1660.

The significance of this period is seen in the lasting impact of its literature. Most modern readers can still understand the late phase of Early Modern English. For example, the works of William Shakespeare and the King James Bible remain comprehensible 400 years later. In contrast, the works of Geoffrey Chaucer, written only 200 years earlier, are much harder for modern readers to grasp.

The influence of this era even reached the New World. When the Jamestown colony was established in 1607, English began absorbing new vocabulary from indigenous languages, such as "moose" and "raccoon."

Spelling and writing, known as orthography, were much more fluid during this time. Spelling was not yet standardized, so a single word might be spelled differently in one sentence. For instance, the word "he" could appear as "he" or "hee" in the same text. Writers also used a "long s," which was a distinct lowercase form of the letter s. They also used the letter "thorn," which was often represented by a "y" in printing. By the 1630s, modern conventions for using "u" and "v" began to emerge. Eventually, the publication of Samuel Johnson's dictionary in 1755 helped stabilize English spelling.

Early Modern English connects deeply to the legal and social history of the English-speaking world. In 1730, the Proceedings in Courts of Justice Act made English the obligatory language for English courts. This replaced the previous use of Law French and Latin. This change was later extended to Wales and Ireland. This shift ensured that the standardized English developed during the Early Modern period would become the official language of law and governance. The stability of the language helped support the arts and literature during the peaceful periods of the late 17th century.