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 2, 202438Dec 2, 202438
Jack ShepherdThe Surprising Origins of Some Very Famous Pen NamesOr, why Lewis Carroll was almost called Edgar Cuthwellis.Nov 20, 202422Nov 20, 202422
Jack ShepherdThis Is What the Meaning of “Is Is” IsThe strange and fascinating conundrum of Is-Is-ification.Oct 2, 202418Oct 2, 202418
Jack ShepherdThree Common Names That Were Just Made Up By AuthorsPlus, the heartbreaking origin of “Wendy.”Sep 20, 202424Sep 20, 202424
Jack ShepherdA Few Thoughts on the Salad Salad SituationOr, how to win someone over with your cheeky opinions about “reduplication.”Sep 11, 202428Sep 11, 202428
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 14, 202417Jun 14, 202417
Jack ShepherdWordle Starter Words for Dangerous TroublemakersLet’s see if we can make Wordlebot cry.Apr 3, 202426Apr 3, 202426
Jack ShepherdThe Bewitching Magic of the “Ass” IntensifierAn ode to the anal emphatic.Mar 14, 202420Mar 14, 202420
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 6, 202413Mar 6, 202413
Jack ShepherdThese Common Words Are the Result of a Hilarious MisunderstandingI’m calling them “Splittybits.” Arrest me if you want to.Feb 15, 202421Feb 15, 202421
