I have said before that I believe research should be thorough, but should not be invasive in my writing. In particular, the language I use should be easily understandable for a modern reader. I tend to use the language of the mid to late 20th Century so that it feels old, but still comprehensible.

I have recently read a book, set in the 16thC, which is written in modern English, but which uses two forms of cant. One is a form of thieves’ cant: language used by gypsies, vagabonds and criminals to disguise what they were talking about from outsiders. It was not used in this way in the book and seems unlikely to have been in use in this period in London. More to the point, if I really wanted to be sure about what was being said, I would have to use google up to half-a-dozen times for one page. This really doesn’t help the flow of the plot. If anyone finds any of my writing where that happens, please point it out to me straightaway.

The other sort of cant is the jargon of a particular profession. I can believe that this is accurate (I have not researched it), but a little of this sort of thing goes a long way.

It’s a fine line between immersing the reader in the time and place and confusing them.