Category Archives: word choices

How Long May a Body Be Dead Before It Bloats? + the Upcoming Release of “Lady Christiana and the Colonel,” Arriving 18 November 2026

Posted on October 30, 2026 by Regina Jeffers

On a battlefield, bloating generally begins within 3 to 5 days after death. This happens because internal bacteria exponentially multiply and release gases (methane, hydrogen sulfide), causing the abdomen to swell. [How Human Decomposition Works, Its Stages and What to … Continue reading →

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What is the Meaning of “Just Deserts”? + the Upcoming Release of “Lady Christiana and the Colonel,” Arriving 18 November 2026

Posted on October 28, 2026 by Regina Jeffers

My regular editor is very good at finding phrases that I have forgotten to check when writing my stories. Some are appropriate for the time period. Some are not. What about “Just deserts”? The phrase “just deserts” means receiving the … Continue reading →

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What Was the Proper Name for a “Deck” Jutting Out Over the Water During the Regency? + the Upcoming Release of “Lady Christiana and the Colonel”

Posted on October 26, 2026 by Regina Jeffers

When writing a story, I tend to mark all words that I do not think was used in Regency England. I label them with the word “origin” so I can remember to look them up when I begin to type … Continue reading →

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Origin of the Phrase “Ins and Outs” + the Upcoming Release of “Lady Christiana and the Colonel,” Arriving 18 November 2026

Posted on October 23, 2026 by Regina Jeffers

The phrase “ins and outs” dates back to the mid-17th century. It originally alluded to the twisting and turning paths of a winding road, before evolving to describe politicians who are either holding office (in) or out of power. [Dictionary.com] … Continue reading →

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Did Men’s Trousers in the Regency Era Have a Waistband? + the Upcoming Release of “Lady Christiana and the Colonel,” Arriving 18 November 2026

Posted on October 21, 2026 by Regina Jeffers

I know this is probably a crazy idea for a post, but before I wrote the scene I needed to know if men’s trousers in the Regency era had a waistband. So here goes… Yes, men’s trousers in 1813 did … Continue reading →

Posted in aristocracy, book release, customs and tradiitons, Georgian England, hero, heroines, historical fiction, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Pride and Prejudice, reading, Regency era, Regency romance, research, word choices, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Did Men’s Trousers in the Regency Era Have a Waistband? + the Upcoming Release of “Lady Christiana and the Colonel,” Arriving 18 November 2026

Cattails, Great Reedmace, Bulrush – What are the Differences? + the Upcoming Release of “Lady Christiana and the Colonel,” Arriving 18 November 2026

Posted on October 19, 2026 by Regina Jeffers

In the story, Darcy’s men find a body floating in a lake on Pemberley estate. The men must determine WHO the man is? What happened to him? When it happened? Where? How? and Why? When I was writing the scene, … Continue reading →

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Question from a Reader: Is “Debutant” the Correct Word for a Girl Making Her Society “Debut” in the Regency Era?

Posted on June 29, 2026 by Regina Jeffers

Okay, to the best of my knowledge the term “debutant” was later than the Regency Era. The word “debutante” is of later vintage than the Regency. She would be referred to as “coming out”, per Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park, where … Continue reading →

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An Estate By Any Other Name Would Suit Me Fine

Posted on December 19, 2025 by Regina Jeffers

When I write my novels, I keep a “History of …” document that lists the character names with a brief description, a running calendar for the year in which the story is set, including important events from the story itself, … Continue reading →

Posted in Always Austen, Anglo-Normans, Anglo-Saxons, aristocracy, British history, Church of England, estates, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, historical fiction, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, real life tales, Regency era, research, word choices, word origins | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on An Estate By Any Other Name Would Suit Me Fine

Beds? Valances? Dust Skirts? Georgian Bedrooms + the Upcoming Release of “Lyon in the Way” from Dragonblade Publishers

Posted on June 4, 2025 by Regina Jeffers

I confess. I knew little to nothing about a Georgian bedroom. I had seen the ones shown at Williamsburg, Virginia, but that is more to show visitors to the estate something of life in America in that time period, not … Continue reading →

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Writers Require Precision in Language Choices

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

From the MasterClass Articles we learn that “Diction is the careful selection of words to communicate a message or establish a particular voice or writing style. For example, flowy, figurative language creates colorful prose, while a more formal vocabulary with concise and direct … Continue reading →

Posted in holidays, Jane Austen, language choices, Pride and Prejudice, word choices, word play, writing | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Writers Require Precision in Language Choices