Too modern?
 
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Too modern?

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(@Anonymous)
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What is the word that describes a word or phrase that appears in a book or movie that doesn't belong because it's too modern? All I can think of is anomaly. Any ideas out there?


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(@Anonymous)
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Anachronism.


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(@robert)
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Though there are no words that make the distinction between too old and too new.


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(@polistra)
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Joined: 12 years ago

It's true that there's no distinction, but in practice the distinction isn't needed. Β  Nearly all major misplacements are in the 'too modern' direction. Β 

 

Could be some localized exceptions in novels or stories set during the period of great inventions, say 1860-1960. Β  For instance, many cities had telephone and electric service long before they had indoor plumbing. Β  A writer could reasonably assume that an outhouse would imply a completely 'primitive' place, but in those cities he'd be wrong. Β  It was common to see a TV antenna and an outhouse on the same home.


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(@robert)
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A lot more the other way, present tense, same as "dated" :

Our education system is anachronistic.


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