On Words and Up Words

On Words and Up Words

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5 Preposterous Words That Wordle Will Actually Accept as Valid
New starter word: "Sloom." They can't stop you!
 • 
Jack Shepherd
17
A Watch of Nightingales: The Origin Story of Collective Terms for Animals
Plus, some truly delightful collective terms for people, from a “rascal of boys” to a “superfluity of nuns.”
 • 
Jack Shepherd
6
The Surprising Origins of Some Very Famous Pen Names
Or, why Lewis Carroll was almost called Edgar Cuthwellis.
 • 
Jack Shepherd
2
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Some of the Most Fun Cryptic Clues Ever Written
 • Jack Shepherd
4
"Lorem Ipsum" Has a Meaning
 • Jack Shepherd
1
7 Secret Portmanteaus That Have Been Hiding in Plain Sight
 • Jack Shepherd
9
A Watch of Nightingales: The Origin Story of Collective Terms for Animals
 • Jack Shepherd
6
Taking Stock of The Oxford Comma Wars
 • Jack Shepherd
12
What to Do When You’ve “Got the Morbs”
 • Jack Shepherd
3
This Is What the Meaning of “Is Is” Is
The strange and fascinating conundrum of Is-Is-ification.
 • 
Jack Shepherd
5
Three Common Names That Were Just Made Up By Authors
Plus, the heartbreaking origin of “Wendy.”
 • 
Jack Shepherd
1
A Few Thoughts on the Salad Salad Situation
Or, how to win someone over with your cheeky opinions about reduplication.
 • 
Jack Shepherd
2
OK, 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.
 • 
Jack Shepherd
11
My Favorite Cryptic Puzzle in a Long Time
Every now and then, something comes along that breaks the mold.
 • 
Jack Shepherd
3
Wordle Starter Words for Dangerous Troublemakers
Let's see if we can make Wordlebot cry.
 • 
Jack Shepherd
9
The Bewitching Magic of the "Ass" Intensifier
An ode to the anal emphatic.
 • 
Jack Shepherd
10
On Words and Up Words
On Words and Up Words
Word nerdery, fun language history, and word puzzles.
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