Almost every day, Thomas Jefferson wrote letters. “From sun-rise to one or two o’clock,” he noted, “I am drudging at the writing table.” Jefferson wrote almost 20,000 letters in his lifetime, and he needed to keep copies of his letters. Fortunately, John Isaac Hawkins (1772–1855) and Charles Willson Peale (1741–1827) invented this little gadget that …
Here are ten of the oddest interview questions of all time! “If you had $2,000, how would you double it in 24 hours?” — Uniqlo, Management Trainee “How many basketballs would fit in this room?” – Delta Airlines, Revenue Management Co-op “If you were a brand, what would be your motto?” – Boston Consulting Group, Consultant “What would …
We’ve become so intertwined with technology that it feels like talking is turning into a secondary form of communication. Do you know how complicated it once was just to send an email or instant message? Check out this little time capsule from 1984.
Here are the top-ten languages spoken by native speakers: 10. Punjabi. 9. Japanese. 8. Russian. 7. Bengali. 6. Portugese. 5. Arabic. …
Every worthy occupation deserves a theme song. So, here’s one for those of us who are the proud … the brave … the technical writers. Enjoy!
On February 7, 2016, over 114 million viewers are expected to gather around television sets to watch Super Bowl 50. So to honor this American institution on such an important anniversary, this week’s blog honors the language of football with the stories behind some of the strangest football terms. Red Zone. The 20 yard line …
Most things have names. However, sometimes the names are so obscure that they get relegated to being called “whatchamacallits” or “thingamajigs.” Here are ten little known names for everyday items. Paresthesia is that itching and tingling sensation in an extremity. You might have heard it referred to as “my foot’s gone asleep” or “pins and …
Writing and Chinese food just go together like vowels and consonants. Long hours and deadlines are made for good Hunan chicken. You know it’s true. After putting in the 17th round of changes into a 600-page report, have you ever wished that you could get the ultimate writing gig? Let’s say, something like writing the …
This week’s article is especially for people who are truly obsessed with words. How many words can you name that contain the word “word” in it? Hmmm? Here are all the ones we could come up with: afterword afterwords backsword backswords broadsword broadswords buzzword buzzwords byword bywords catchword catchwords crossword crosswords cussword cusswords foreword forewords …
Do you love autumn? The colors on the trees. The nip in the air. This week’s blog post will instantly make you an expert on the origin of the word autumn. Autumn is the season between summer and winter (and yes, that would also be fall.) In the Northern Hemisphere it begins with the September …