abbreviation

The Sound of a Kiss: Etymology of ‘XOXO’

Ever wondered why 'X' means kiss? The answer is a fascinating journey back to the Middle Ages, where illiterate citizens…

3 weeks ago

Anatomy of a Curse: The History of the F-Word

Forget the myths about kings and archers; the true origin of the F-word is rooted deep in the Germanic forests.…

3 weeks ago

Ottoman Ciphers: Turkey’s Secret Script

Journey back in time to uncover Siyakat, the secret script of the Ottoman Empire. This deliberately complex and stylized writing…

3 weeks ago

Lies, Likes & Linguistics

Every text, tweet, and comment you write is embedded with a unique linguistic fingerprint. Forensic linguists are now using these…

3 weeks ago

Decoding Chinese Net-Speak: From 666 to 886

Ever seen "666" spammed in a Chinese livestream and wondered what's going on? This post decodes the clever numerical puns…

3 weeks ago

Why Is ‘An’ Used Before Vowels?

Why do we say 'an apple' but 'a pear'? This fundamental rule is about more than just grammar; it's a…

4 weeks ago

The Zip File’s Hidden Language

Ever wondered how a zip file shrinks data? The secret isn't just computer magic; it's a hidden language built on…

4 weeks ago

The Birth of a Question Mark

The question mark seems like a fundamental part of writing, but it wasn't always there. This ubiquitous symbol of curiosity…

4 weeks ago

Arabizi: The Internet’s Hybrid Arabic Script

Arabizi is the internet’s hybrid Arabic script, an ingenious solution to typing Arabic sounds on Latin keyboards using numbers like…

4 weeks ago

Killing the Verb: How the Telegraph Changed Writing

The telegraph, with its per-word cost, forced writers to perform linguistic surgery, stripping sentences down to their bare essentials. This…

4 weeks ago

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