ELH

ELH is an acronym that can refer to several different things, depending on context. The most widely recognized use in the humanities is English Literary History (ELH), a peer-reviewed scholarly journal that covers English literature and its historical development. The journal publishes articles on a wide range of periods and topics, including literary theory, criticism, and historiography, and it is regularly cited in literary studies.

Beyond the journal, ELH is used as an abbreviation in other domains. In linguistics and language studies, it may appear informally as a shorthand for phrases such as “English Language History” or “English Language and History” in course catalogs, bibliographies, or academic discussions, though these expansions are not standardized and vary by institution. ELH also occurs as an acronym in organizational, program, or project names, where the initials reflect the entity’s title rather than a single universal meaning.

Because acronyms like ELH can represent multiple, unrelated things, readers should rely on contextual clues to determine the intended meaning. When in doubt, consulting the source material or official materials from the relevant organization can clarify which ELH is being referenced.