Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
I'm curious what the problem with the word "aeroplane" is? It's still the word that's used in the UK; is it really perceived to be "old fashioned" in the US?
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Yes. It's a clear indicator that either:
- This book takes place in a Foreign Country, and therefore the main characters are not People Like Me, or
- This book takes place A Long Time Ago, and therefore etc.
It doesn't ruin a story, but it does spoil the option of self-immersion, the ability to visualize the story in a familiar enough setting to not require constant translation effort.
It's not a bad effect, but it does anchor the characters to a particular time and/or place; it becomes definitely *not* an "everyman" story and instead a period/location showcase. Some stories are improved by that; others are not.