Jack ShepherdA Watch of Nightingales: The Origin Story of Collective Terms for AnimalsPlus, some truly delightful collective terms for people, from a “rascal of boys” to a “superfluity of nuns.”Dec 224Dec 224
Jack ShepherdThe Surprising Origins of Some Very Famous Pen NamesOr, why Lewis Carroll was almost called Edgar Cuthwellis.Nov 2019Nov 2019
Jack ShepherdThis Is What the Meaning of “Is Is” IsThe strange and fascinating conundrum of Is-Is-ification.Oct 217Oct 217
Jack ShepherdThree Common Names That Were Just Made Up By AuthorsPlus, the heartbreaking origin of “Wendy.”Sep 2024Sep 2024
Jack ShepherdA Few Thoughts on the Salad Salad SituationOr, how to win someone over with your cheeky opinions about “reduplication.”Sep 1128Sep 1128
Jack ShepherdOK, ok, O.K., okay, Ok! Which is it?And what does it even mean?! A brief celebration of the most common word no one knows how to spell.Jun 1416Jun 1416
Jack ShepherdWordle Starter Words for Dangerous TroublemakersLet’s see if we can make Wordlebot cry.Apr 326Apr 326
Jack ShepherdThe Bewitching Magic of the “Ass” IntensifierAn ode to the anal emphatic.Mar 1420Mar 1420
Jack ShepherdWhat to Do When You’ve “Got the Morbs”“Got the morbs” shows up to delight us every couple of years, but the dictionary where it comes from is a treasure trove.Mar 613Mar 613
Jack ShepherdThese Common Words Are the Result of a Hilarious MisunderstandingI’m calling them “Splittybits.” Arrest me if you want to.Feb 1521Feb 1521
