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Tuesday, July 21st, 2026

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More anachronistic language ignored ...

260716-043458-785000

ENOLA HOLMES 3 (2026)

Goof Addition     DECLINED

Sherlock characterises the persistent conflict between Moriarty and the Holmes family as being "on repeat". This phrase only arose with the invention of different electronic devices in the second half of the 20th century. He would probably have used a more era-appropriate term, perhaps something like "vendetta".AnachronismsReason Unable to verify.

Your contribution has been declined.We have been unable to verify your contribution.

Unfortunately, we were unable to accept your submission as we were unable to verify the information provided. 

Submission guides say:

"A goof is an unintentional error in the film making process that in some way breaks the spell and takes us momentarily outside the world created by that movie."

This describes the Goof offered exactly. Using 20th century jargon for the Victorian era does just that. (There is at least one other similar Goof which has been submitted and accepted.) It is a piece of very careless script-writing, especially since there is at least some attempt to have the characters speak in formal, slightly dated English, as per the Conan Doyle stories.

                                                                                  hutch48

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11 days ago

Hi @hutch48,

Thank you for the correct insight regarding the historical period.

Please review the IMDb guidelines on Anachronisms Category:

Linguistic anachronisms are usually excused (modern words in historical films), and always bear in mind that it's entertainment not documentary.

And (a little off-topic but related to) Enola Holmes herself and itself (as a story) can not be a part of the Victorian era. Can you imagine a female detective that time?

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@MAthePA​  Of course, I realise "it's just a story", and attempts to integrate a more modern concept (female agency and independence) into a less welcoming milieu (but also see the life of George Eliot aka Mary Ann Evans), but that's no reason to make the dialogue jarringly unconvincing.

      I'm well aware of the caveat you mention about forgiving linguistic anachronisms in most cases; but then, why accept the Goof involving Moriarty's use of the phrase "behind the curve"?

     Perhaps these intrusive modern phrases would go over most people's heads, but to me it makes the character's speech wrenchingly unbelievable.

                                                   hutch48

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Me too; it makes the character's speech unbelievable, as well as the whole story about a female detective in the Victorian era. However, it may be entertaining. Anyway, I just tried to explain why your contributions might be declined.

Reason is the soul of all law.

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@MAthePA​  Thanks, I appreciate the concern. But this is something I've taken issue with a number of times in the past, and in most cases I've had the rejection successfully overturned.

                                    hutch48

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In my opinion, if linguistic anachronisms can be excused, then another category "Factual mistakes" should be also excused because anachronism is a thing of facts as well. Looks like the editorial team simply hate linguistics, so had set such a rule? :)

Reason is the soul of all law.

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@hutch48​ - Hi, 

Thank you for posting the reference! Further reviewing, the last sentence of the goof is an opinion. You can go ahead and correct it and re-submit it so that we can take another look.

You can post the new reference number here as well. 

Cheers! 

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@Maya​  Thanks, but was the original submission rejected because it contained an "opinion"? I was simply showing that era-appropriate language did exist for the statement in question. Suspension of disbelief is hard when a Victorian character talks like they work at Radio Shack. I've made similar suggestions in past submissions of this type without being queried.

                                            hutch48

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He would probably have used a more era-appropriate term, perhaps something like "vendetta".

is an opinion. But the other goofs of yours could be declined the way I explained earlier.

(edited)

Reason is the soul of all law.

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@Maya​  Here is a new, edited version, which removes the "opinion":

260723-145243-342000

Sherlock characterises the persistent conflict between Moriarty and the Holmes family as being "on repeat". This phrase only arose with the invention of different electronic devices in the second half of the 20th century. Era-appropriate language (perhaps something like "vendetta) certainly exists.

                                  hutch48

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@hutch48​ - Thank you! I can see that it has now been approved.