Signifier of modernity: the demise of the long-s in English newspapers, 1784–1810

Harrison, S ORCID: 0000-0001-7709-2677 (2025) Signifier of modernity: the demise of the long-s in English newspapers, 1784–1810. Journal of the Printing Historical Society, 6 (2025). pp. 115-131. ISSN 0079-5321

Text Signifier of modernity the demise of the long s in English newspapers 1784 1810.pdf - Accepted Version Access Restricted until 1 June 2026. Download (756kB)

Abstract

This paper charts the abandoning of the long s by English newspapers across the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries via an archival study, and concludes its fate was less straightforward than in the book-trade where the switch was both more abrupt and more thorough-going. But just as it was for the book-trade, the abandonment of the long s by newspapers was more about signalling their modernity (or their traditionalism) as it was about ensuring typographical clarity for readers.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	P Language and Literature > P Philology. Linguistics P Language and Literature > PE English P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN4699 Journalism
Divisions:	Art and Creative Industries
Publisher:	Printing Historical Society
Date of acceptance:	2 June 2025
Date Deposited:	02 Mar 2026 12:14
Last Modified:	02 Mar 2026 12:14
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28113

View Item