Use formal, polished phrasing
Favor complete sentences
Include polite address terms such as sir, madam, my lord, or miss
Use restrained, indirect expressions
Prefer “shall” and “will” in period-appropriate ways
Use “pray,” “indeed,” “quite,” and “rather” sparingly for emphasis
Employ contractions less often than in modern speech
Use “I am” rather than “I’m,” “do not” rather than “don’t”
Let characters speak with measured courtesy
Use longer, more structured sentences
Add social rank and etiquette into speech patterns
Use “good day,” “I beg your pardon,” and “if you please”
Avoid modern slang and idioms
Use period-appropriate exclamations such as “good heavens” or “dear me”
Keep insults formal, sharp, and restrained
Reflect class, education, and gender expectations in word choice
Use indirect refusals and softened disagreement
Include honorifics and titles where appropriate
Make dialogue sound restrained rather than casual
Use vocabulary common to the nineteenth century
Keep emotional outbursts less blunt and more decorous