English in time

Here you’ll find articles tracing the story of English from the Anglo-Saxons to the modern day. Expert overviews are combined with accounts of key episodes and themes to introduce you to the history of English.

New articles will be published regularly in the coming months.

c.700-c.1150

c.1150-1500

1500-1700

1700-1800

  • Eighteenth-century English—an overview, by Joan C. Beal (coming soon)

1800-1900

1900-2000

Aspects of English: as well as the history of the language, explore how English has been shaped and is used, along with the stories behind some everyday words. More>

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